Husky girls

Amber Valley MP Judy Mallaber has stuck two fingers up to outdated male attitudes in Westminster in a debate about gender equality.

She produced a 1943 guide to hiring women which gave advice that she claimed many men probably still thought true in the House of Commons today.

Reading out the guide she noted that it suggests men should...

• Be tactful when issuing instructions or making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman.


• Give the female employee a definite day long schedule of duties so that she will keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes.
  

And Lobbydog's personal favourite...

• General experience indicates that "husky" girls, those who are a little on the heavy side, are more even-tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

Judy admitted that "some slight progress" had been made since those days.