My blog in March featured inspirational women, but little did I know that April's headlines would be bursting with slogans about powerful women, dominated by tributes to Margaret Thatcher. I have been intrigued by the descriptions of her as a woman, from The Iron Lady, a feminist icon, unsisterly, a surrogate man, to "sacrificed her family life to get the job done", "exuded a combination of femininity and power" and "Some of us were making it long before women's lib was ever thought of" . Whatever we think of her politics, we tend to forget that just by doing her job, she made it easier for other women to occupy the most senior roles.
Across the Atlantic, one of America's most successful women, Sheryl Sandberg, of Facebook, has published a book on being a Superwoman at work. Her 10 Top Tips resonate with MWF's aims, for example, women must support each other; we must work with men, encourage real equality where men and women share domestic tasks; don't go for perfection everywhere- done is better than perfect. She identifies times in a woman's life when it is right to "lean in" to one's career, and when to "lean back", recognising what we at MWF promote, times to focus on family and then times to focus on work.
Closer to home, we are delighted that our members Prof Amanda Howe and Dr Rachel Liebmann are recipients of this year's ACCEA Awards. Among the Radio 4 Woman's Hour Top 100 Women were our members Dame Carol Black and Dr Clare Gerada. We also congratulate our member Su Anna Boddy on becoming a member of the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
I am really delighted to say that our new website has now gone live, which is a triumph of determination and persistence from our office staff, Francesca and Anji. Do have a look at the new site, which is slicker and more user friendly than the previous one. Innovation is the flavour of the month as we launch our new look publication, Medical Woman. Many thanks to our Editor, Sara Khan, I cannot wait to get it through my letterbox!
I am waiting to feel the impact of the Brave New World of the NHS post 1st April, but change is certainly in the air this spring! I look forward to seeing you at our Oxford meeting on 10th May.
Fiona Cornish
April 2013
