Soaps, Stella and sexism

The prevalence of soap operas in the UK has now seemingly become all conquering. Great leviathans that straddle the viewing schedules bolstered by their partners in crime, reality TV shows and trashy lifestyle magazines. Yet another example of modern media enslaving the British public.

It has occured to me however that this particular form of slavery has an even more insidious and unpleasant fascia, one that attacks at the very heart of feminism. Firstly what I am about to say assumes that women are passive victims and, for that I have little defence other than to say that this has now been going on for generations and I think societies crash barriers have forced perpetuation. Secondly it also assumes that men don't watch soaps. There you go, I have got it out in the open. Taking those huge faults and putting them on the back burner, let's continue.

Soaps were designed by media companies to enslave women (oooooh!!). The women, addicted and passive (ouch!!), stay in to watch the soaps (and, by proxy, the children) enabling the men to go to pub and watch football. Watching soaps is inherently a non-social activity and therefore can be done whilst looking after the house at home. Watching football is a far more social tribal activity requiring men to congregate, discuss and argue - preferably out of the domestic environment, in front of a huge plasma screen with a pint in hand. Not easy to do if you have three kids to get to bed.

Enter the soap opera. Now you will want to stay at home my dear otherwise you will miss your daily dose (and if you are staying in you won't have the ability to meet with other like minded women and discuss how shit we are). We have the control. Oh, and by the way, Big Brother is on later so don't even think about joining us in the Horse and Hounds.

As I said this does assume women in this situation haven't seen this or can't see much a way of out. Perhaps we have reached a situation where many women have simply resigned themselves to their fate - this is the way of the world and soaps at least give something to look at - living vicarious lives because the lack of support from their partners mean they cannot fulfil theirs. Bloody hell this is depressing.

This is clearly not true of all women (or even most). These dissenters however do tend to be the women who have been fortunate enough to grab an education before domestic responsibilities hole them below the waterline. They have their own problems anyway - we created role models like Nigella - yes, you can have the career (right on sister) but you will have to do that as well as have kids, and you will also have to look stunning and also be able to cook 3 course dinner parties at the drop of a mezzaluna. There you go, that's feminism for you. You want it, you work for it.

It also goes without saying that this is also not true of all men (although even the newest man will find himself hard pushed to cancel a night out with his mates because one of the kids is playing up).

There is still a worrying, sometimes tacit sometimes explicit view that all we blokes have to do is go to work. We don't have to cook, raise kids or look stunning if we don't want to. If you want a career however, you still have to do it all - because hey, that's equality (but if you don't here's Corrie and 'Enders to keep you happy).