11.20.05
Men and fatherhood
Every now and then, I think, Sarah, you really musn’t generalise so much. Lots of men really are “new men” and are well into sharing domestic duties so long dumped on women. Then you read quotes from Michael O’Leary like this (in the ST of course!). (He announced that he will leave Ryanair in 2008 – there is speculation as to why)
“O’Leary denied his decision had been influenced by a desire to spend more time with his first child, Matt, who was born six weeks ago, and his wife Anita, whom he married in 2003.
“I am staying in the guestroom and don’t plan to re-emerge until he is at least two years old and ready to take instructions,†he quipped. “The only thing parenthood has done for me so far is to make my office a more attractive place to be.â€Â
Now, obviously he was joking, but the child is 6 weeks old. I am sure they have a full time nanny. What if a business woman made this joke? She’d be villified. Everyone would think there was something wrong with her. But his crass effort is greeted by knowing laughs and nods from all the other guys. What a wanker. (I know cursing on the internet is very bad, but reaaaaalllly).
Update: HA! I see his biography notes he “studied” at Trinity College Dublin. In other words, he didn’t graduate. Like Bertie “studied” at UCD.
gerry said,
November 21, 2005 at 11:33 am
The lack of a degree has really held him back. Although his Clongowes and Trinity background seems to have prepared him well for his outsider status.
Sarah's Big Gay Friend said,
November 22, 2005 at 2:35 pm
Sarah, you seem to be intimating that not finishing a degree is something you would laugh and look down at.
It must be so satisfying to have a degree AND be normal too.
Sarah said,
November 22, 2005 at 8:08 pm
II am intimating nothing of the sort. I’m not laughing at people who don’t have degrees. I am laughing at people who allow others to believe that they do when they don’t.
Bertie’s “studying” consisted of a minor evening course which took place on the grounds of UCD and he puts on his CV that he “studied at UCD”. The very clear implication is that he has a degree when he does not. There is nothing wrong at all with not having a degree, so why allow people to believe that you do? Studying at TCD is frequently mentioned as a part of Michael O’Leary’s CV. (I will confess I don’t know to what extent he promotes this himself, I was just having a cheap pop at him). What does that mean? He dropped out in first year or fourth year? If it is irrelevant to his career and his education, why mention it? I “studied” Spanish once. Went to a few evening classes and can’t speak a syllable. I don’t put it on my CV. I dropped out and I don’t care. Why should all the other drop-outs care?