The Honourable Ladies || REVIEW by Yazmeen Akhtar
One could be forgiven for mistaking The Honourable Ladies for a biography on fierce Amazonian warrior women. The book contains profiles of every woman MP from 1918 to 1996. Attempting to breakthrough an otherwise ruggedly male political landscape, these women certainly emanate Amazonian prowess and heroism.
Whilst offering a fascinating insight into the achievements of the women who served as Members of Parliament, the book also recounts some of the witty, sharp, and sometimes scathing retorts these women employed in response to sexist notions on female intelligence and judgement (or lack thereof, according to patriarchy). One such woman who combined wit and sarcasm to fight for women’s suffrage, nationalism and independence from British rule was 
Constance Markievicz, the first female MP. In the Rising Maverick fought in St Stephen’s Green, and was sentenced to death, but the court recommenced solely on account of her sex. Maverick observed plangently, ‘I do wish your lot had the decency to shoot me’.
And from Markievicz’s military endeavours to her multiple jail sentences one can see that these women fought not only with words, but exhibited immense physical courage. ‘Battling Bessie’ Braddock became the first woman to be expelled from the House of Commons for defying a ruling of the Deputy Speaker. On another occasion, Braddock smuggled two air pistols into the Commons in order to point out how easy it was to obtain unlicensed weapons. Markievicz and her fellow warriors were willing to suffer the consequences of championing female agency and social justice.
One might argue that the book’s preoccupation with the appearance of the MPs somewhat trivialises the women and their achievements. However, I think that the book's focus on what these women look like, how they dress, and how they speak, goes a long way in dispelling a long-standing stereotype of the political woman: a masculinised, sexless and grotesque harridan. Markievicz attended the first meeting of Sinn Féin and the Daughters of Erin society dressed in a ‘blue velvet ball gown with a train and a diamond tiara’. Shirley Williams, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, claimed, ‘People like me because I look as crummy as they do.’ Not only does the book overturn sexist stereotypes, but also demonstrates that politics transcends class and background.
A portfolio that presents women from all walks of life battling their way through the political landscape, this is an all-empowering read!
Click here: The Honourable Ladies by Iain Dale / @IainDale and Jacqui Smith / @Jacqui_Smith1
Published: 4 SEPTEMBER 2018