Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 30

Door no. 30:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 29

Door no. 29:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 28

Door no. 28:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 27

Door no. 27:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 26

As always, it doesn't stop with Christmas so here's Door no. 26:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 25

Door no. 25 (MERRY CHRISTMAS!)

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 24

Door no. 24:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 23

Door no. 23:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 22

Door no. 22:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 21

Door no. 21:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 20

Door no. 20:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 19

Door no. 19:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 18

Door no. 18:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 17

Door no. 17:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 16

Door no. 16:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 15

Door no. 15:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 14

Door no. 14:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 13

Door no. 13:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 12

Door no. 12:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 11

Door no. 11:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 10

• Door no. 10:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 9

Door no. 9:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 8

Door no. 8:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 7

Door no. 7:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 6

(Ok so the scheduling function obviously doesn't work)
Door no. 6:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 5

Door no. 5:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 4

Door no. 4:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 3

Door no. 3:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 2

Door no. 2:

Downton Abbey Advent Calendar - 1

For this year's caption advent calendar, I've chosen Downton Abbey. Hope you enjoy it. Here we go with door no. 1:

From The Mind of Merc - Gun Control

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about just how ridiculous the situation in America is regarding gun control.

As of 31st October 2019, 370 mass shootings had occurred in America in 2019. In these shootings, 1,466 people were injured and 441 died, for a total of 1,907 victims.

When there was a mass shooting in Australia in 1996 in Port Arthur, guns were banned - the no. of mass shootings in Australia in 2019? 3
When there was a mass shooting in the UK in 1996 in Dunblane, guns were banned - the no. of mass shootings in the UK in 2019? 0.
And yet, apparently gun control isn't the answer. (The answer to curtailing the bank accounts of gun manufacturers maybe.)

You wouldn't have thought this was a difficult decision, would you?

And for those who 'stand by the 2nd amendment: https://i.4pcdn.org/pol/1522210598579.png

Guess Who 2 sketch - Mercorabilia

When I wrote my Guess Who sketch the other month, an alternative route for it to take also occurred to me... so I decided to pursue it. This is the result:

Fred: Ok – your turn.

Joe: Ok. Does yours have… glasses?

Fred: Yes.

Joe: Yes!

<sounds of tiles flipping down>

Joe: Ok. Does yours have brown hair?

Fred: No.

Joe: So they’ve got red hair.

Fred: No.

Joe: What do you mean ‘no’?

Fred: I mean no – they don’t have red or brown hair.

Joe: But they must do. The only people left who have glasses either have red or brown hair. We’ve already established they haven’t got blonde hair. So what colour hair do they have?

Fred: Black.

Joe: Black?!? Let me see that!

Fred: Hey!

Joe: What the-! What is this?

Fred: What?

Joe: This isn’t the card you got.

Fred: Yes it is.

Joe: But you’ve coloured in the hair with black biro.

Fred: Well, I said they didn’t have red or brown hair.

Joe: But that isn’t how you play!

Fred: It’s how I play.

Joe: And these are even the original glasses – you’ve drawn glasses on. Your card doesn’t even have glasses.

Fred: Well, everyone’s allowed to change their look.

Joe: But these cards aren’t. If you’re like this with Guess Who, I dread to think what you’re like with Solitaire.

Fred: I do get through a fair few packs of cards.

Joe: I’m not surprised. Well, we can’t continue the game now.

Fred: So what shall we do?

Joe: How about another game?

Fred: Ok. We could play snakes and ladders.

Joe: Alright. But leave the biro behind this time.

Fred: Spoilsport.

Frankenstein sketch - Mercorabilia

Bit late for Halloween. Still it's always important to clear up any misconceptions.

Monster: Uuuurrrrr

Villager: What’s that? Who’s there?

Monster: Uuurrrrrr

Villager: Ah! It’s Frankenstein!

Monster: Uuurrrrrrr-oh for pity’s sake!

Villager: What?

Monster: I’m not Frankenstein! Frankenstein’s the man who made me. I’m his creation.

Villager: Oh.

Monster: Why does everybody get that wrong? It’s not as if we look alike.

Villager: (sotto voce) Well, that’s true.

Monster: Just because my creator couldn’t be bothered to give me a name, I get saddled with his. And I get all the bad press.

Villager: Well, you are Frankenstein’s monster.

Monster: Who are you calling monster?

Villager: Well, I mean, look at yourself.

Monster: That’s hardly my fault, is it? Did you choose how you look?

Villager: No.

Monster: Well, then. After all, what do you expect when your creator only has parts of dead bodies to sculpt you from. You’re bound to end up looking a little… odd.

Villager: I guess so.

Monster: Right. So let’s have no more of this ‘monster’ business. It’s just not on. I mean all I want to do is survive – like every other creature on this planet. That’s much to ask, is it?

Villager: No – but evidently a lot to go on about.

Monster: Well, I hope I’ve made my point.

Villager: Yes. Yes. Definitely.

<pause>

Villager: Well… don’t let me keep you.

Monster: What?
Villager: Well, I’m sure you’ve got lots of other non-monster stuff to do. Places to be, other people’s hovels to hide in.

Monster: Are you mad? I’m not going out there. Why do you think I’m hiding in here in the first place? Do you know what they do to monsters out there?

Villager: I thought you said you weren’t one.

Monster: But they don’t know that, do they? No – I’ll just stay here.

<pause>

Villager: So… cup of tea?

From The Mind of Merc - Racism

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about racism.

This is obviously a long and very convoluted topic but also, at the same time, IT IS BO**OCKS!

I’m sorry but what aspect of someone having different coloured skin meaning they are treated differently (or to be more specific negatively) makes the remotest speck of sense???

In that case should we treat suntanned people differently? They’re not ‘black’ or ‘white’ so ergo they must be different and should be treated differently. Er… no.

If you can see a difference in the appearance of black and white people – well done, you’ve got eyes.
If you think this difference means that one is somehow inferior than the other – oh dear, there’s obviously something wrong with your brain.

The only people who should be treated differently are those who think skin colour should mean a difference in treatment because those people need help. They need educating, they need to be helped to realise just how wrong they are, they need to see that the difference doesn’t make a difference.

Black and white people are all human beings and all human beings work and live and thrive better together – as a whole. Not as separate communities; festering hate and prejudice and resentment, not as individuals; struggling to exist in each other’s hostile environments – but as one.

As a final example of just how idiotic racism is and how stupidly prejudiced those who discriminate because of it are, take a look at this 'Spot The Difference' image:

Shower sketch - Mercorabilia

Oh what the heck - have another:

<tense music plays>
A: Right. I’m almost there. Maybe if it turn the dial just slightly to the right.
<sound of a blast of water>
A: Argh! No – too far! Maybe a bit to the left.
<sound of a blast of water>
A: Argh! Too cold! Too cold!
<sound of knocking on door>
B: (Off) What on earth are you doing in there?
A: I’m just trying to get the temperature right on this shower.
B: (Off) But you’ve been in there an hour and a half!
A: I know. But if a job’s worth doing...
B: (Off) There are other people who want to use the bathroom
A: I won’t be much longer.
B: (Off) You said that half an hour ago.
A: Well, it’s delicate work this.
B: (Off) If you have so much trouble with the shower, why not just have a sink wash?
A: I like the shower
B: (Off) So do I. but I can never get in there.
A: You’ll just have to wait your turn.
B: (Off) Wait my…! Right!
<sound of door opening>
A: What are you doing?
B: Are you coming out or not?
A: Not.
B: Don’t make me use the flush.
A: You wouldn’t dare!
<sound of toilet flushing>
A: Argh! Alright - I’m out! I’m out!
<background sound of shower ends>
B: At last! Close the door on your way out.
<sound of closing door>
B: Now then – time for a nice shower.
<sound of shower turning on>
B: Hmm. Maybe a bit warmer.
<sound of a blast of water>
B: Ooh – too hot! Maybe a bit colder.
<sound of a blast of water>
B: Hmm – too cold. This is obviously going to take a while.

Toaster sketch - Mercorabilia

So my laptop broke a few weeks ago. Luckily its replacement has now arrived. So... have a sketch!

General: My lords and… other lords. I, the General of Electric, present to you my latest and, dare I say, greatest invention. Behold <flourish as a cloth covering is removed> a toaster!

<sounds of oohs and aahs>

Scientist A: It’s beautiful!

Scientist B: It’s wonderful!

Scientist A: How does it work?

General: It’s quite simple. The plain untoasted bread is inserted into either of the TWO purpose-built slots on the top here.  I push this lever which lowers the bread into the bowels of the machine. After an indeterminate length of time, there is a ping! sound and the prepared toast emerges back up through the slot. And it is thus that I intend the process of making toast will become fully automated!

Scientist C: Are you sure?

General: What?
Scientist C: Are you sure it’ll be automated? You don’t think the person operating the toaster will be compelled to hover around the toaster to keep an eye on it while it works - just to be on the safe side?

General: No! They won’t! It’ll be absolutely fine!

Scientist C: So how long does it take?

General: Ah. Now - the machine is fitted with 6 time settings numbered 1 to 6 on the dial on the side here.

Scientist C: And these represent the minutes for toasting?

General: <laughs> Of course not! They denote how well you want your toast done.

Scientist C: I see.

General: 1 is for those who enjoy warm bread. 2 is for charcoal. 3 is for ash. 4 is for lightly darker ash…

Scientist C: Excuse me – ash? Who would want ash?

General: Loads of people. Now, as I was saying…

Scientist C: But isn’t there a setting for just nicely done toast? Something between 1 and 2?

General: But that would be 1.5! You can’t have a half measure – that’s ridiculous!

Scientist C: Is it?

General: Of course!

Scientist C: Oh. Well, I’m sorry, General, but I’m afraid I’ll be sticking with more traditional methods.

General: Such as?

Scientist C: Release the flaming arrow!

<sound of an arrow being loosed and striking its target followed by the sound of singeing>

Scientist C: Ah – lovely.

From The Mind of Merc - Motivation

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about motivation – specifically relating to the UK government (twice in as many months but can you blame me).

I'm not the best artist so have resorted to clipart and paint once again to create the analogy that occurred to me

Confucius sketch - Mercorabilia

I was fortunate enough to catch another of John Finnemore's Flying Visits last week and, whenever I'm that fortunate, it always proves rather inspirational. I therefore present my latest sketch investigating the origins of some very wise words:

<sound of buzzing>

Bystander: Blasted mosquito! It just won’t leave me alone. I wonder what it would take to get rid of it.

Confucius: Ah – this is most fortunate. I have been wanting to examine this very conundrum myself.

Bystander: Have you?

Confucius: Indeed so. If you will allow me, I will proceed with my experiments. First we try the hand.

<sound of swiping. buzzing sound continues>

Confucius: Hmm. Ineffectual. Next we move on to the flyswat.

<sound of swatting. buzzing sound continues>

Confucius: Nothing. Hmm. Let us try something else. Would you pass me that newspaper.

<rustling sound of a newspaper being handed over>

Confucius: Now then.

<sounds of swooshing then a thwack>

Bystander: Ow!

Confucius: Sorry.

<buzzing continues>

Confucius: It is a most persistent creature. There’s nothing for it. We’ll have to bring out the big guns.

Bystander: And what does that involve?

Confucius: This.

<rumbling sounds>

Bystander: A cannon? Isn’t that a bit much?

Confucius: We shall soon see. Fire!

<sound of a cannon being fired followed by exploding and collapsing rubble. buzzing stops>

Confucius: Success! I have defeated it.

Bystander: Yes, but you’ve also ‘defeated’ that house. Look - you’ve blown a massive great chunk out of the wall. Who knows what the owners going to think of that!

Confucius: Hmm. Very interesting. I must document this.

<sound of quill scratching on parchment>

Confucius: Confucius say “Never use cannon to kill mosquito”

Guess Who sketch - Mercorabilia

Partly inspired by John Finnemore and his (seemingly) favourite game – as it makes a regular appearance at his shows – and by my trip yesterday to catch his Flying Visit to Nottingham, I present this:

Fred: Now then… I’ve considered all the evidence carefully, and I believe the man I’m looking for… has… a beard!

Joe: Nope.

Fred: Damn!

<sound of Guess Who tiles being put down>

Fred: This is a rotten game.

Joe: You’re just a sore loser.

Fred: Can you blame me?

Joe: Can I blame you for being a sore loser? Yes – absolutely!

Fred: Well, I mean look at it. You’ve only got 4 possibles left. I’ve got half the board. I knew I didn’t stand a chance when I picked a woman card.

Fred: Anyway, it’s your go.

Joe: Right. I reckon the person I’m looking for has… large earrings.

Fred: <after a pause> Maybe.

Joe: What do you mean maybe? They either do or they don’t.

Fred: Well… they might.

Joe: Oh, you’re such a sore loser!

Fred: I am not! I wish you’d stop saying that!

Joe: Well, it’s true. Do they have large earrings or not?

Fred: Alright yes.

Joe: Thank you.

<sound of Guess Who tiles being put down>

Fred: Stupid game.

Joe: Stop being a sore loser – it’s your go.

Fred: Hmph. Let’s see. Whoops!

<sound of Guess Who boards rattling>

Joe: Hey!

Fred: Oh dear me.

Joe: You did that on purpose!

Fred: I did not!

Joe: You did! You’re such a sore loser. There was no need for you to shove the board like that.

Fred: I am not! And I had to grab the board – otherwise I would have lost my balance.

Joe: But it’s completely thrown off the game – we don’t know which ones were up and which were down now. We’ll have to start all over again.

Fred: No – let’s not. It’s a stupid game anyway. How about I Spy instead?

Joe: Alright. I spy with my little eye something beginning with S-L.

Fred: S-L. Hmm. S-L… Hang on – it’s Sore Loser, isn’t it?

Joe: There you are – you actually won something!

From The Mind of Merc - Decision Making

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about decision making – specifically those related to the UK government.

I used to think that maybe this was how it works:

But I’m not starting to think it’s like this:

How on earth did we go from the term ‘Prime Minister’ being an insult (Robert Walpole – the first person to technically hold the position from 1721-1742 – objected strongly to being described thus)

to the Prime Minister himself being an insult – referring to black people as ‘picanninies’ with ‘watermelon smiles’ #notmypm

I mean, come on:

Maybe overall it’s a case of:

And until then the best of British to all!

The Point of No Return - !!!NEW!!!

And secondly, a parody of a classic with a topical twist:

The Point of No Return not by Andrew Lloyd Webber
We are now here
At the end of all our lifelines
In pursuit of ease and comfort we sought and now look
Now look
We are now here
And our hopes are now far behind
If we have only been prepared to try
Dropped all the pretence, committed ourselves to try
Now we are here without a solution
We have arrived, we’ve arrived

Past the point of no return
Don’t want to be here 
All we could have done, it’s just too bad
Past the chance to make it right
No use re(mi)niscing
We threw away every chance we had 
What might have been if we’d done more?
What could have been achieved before
When sweet salvation lay before us?

Past the point of no return
The final countdown
What could be done when we’d the chance to learn
Before the point of no return?

We are now here
At that point at which it’s too late
At that point at which all we can do is stand and look
Just look
We are now here
(Al)ready knowing that it’s our fate
In our hearts we had always imagined we’d find a way out and escape from this nightmare
But now we are here without a solution
We have arrived, we’ve arrived

Past the point of no return
No second chances
Our fate is what we brought onto ourselves
Past the chance to right the wrong
If we’d just listened
Could we have avoided what we now face?
Why did we not notice the
Last of our hopes begin to fade?
Why did we let our greed consume us?

Past the point of no return
The final countdown
The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn

We've passed the point of no return

The Ex-Kniggit Sketch - Mercorabilia

As I'm running out of month you're getting 2 for the price of 1.

First off, a sketch which given my hobby as a medieval re-enactor was pretty much inevitable

(A noble approaches a castle.)
Sir Praline: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.
(The Baron does not respond.)
Sir Praline: Oi, you coward!
Baron: Who you calling Howard?
Sir Praline: (choosing not to correct him) I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
Baron: Sorry, we're closed.
Sir Praline: Never mind that, my lord. I wish to complain about this knight what I purchased not half a year ago from this very castle.
Baron: Oh yes, the, uh, the John de Grey... What's, uh...What's wrong with ‘im?
Sir Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with ‘im, my lord. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with ‘im!
Baron: No, no, 'e's uh... he's resting.
Sir Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead knight when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
Baron: No, no, he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable lad, the John de Grey, innit, eh? Excellent lineage!
Sir Praline: The lineage don't enter into it. He’s stone dead.
Baron: No, no, no, no, no, no! 'E's resting!
Sir Praline: All right then, if he's restin', I'll wake him up! (shouting at the helmet) 'Ello, Mister Jolly Kniggit! I've got a lovely fresh goblet of mead for you if you show...
(Baron hits the armour)
Baron: There, he moved!
Sir Praline: No, he didn't, that was you hitting the helmet!
Baron: I never!!
Sir Praline: Yes, you did!
Baron: I never, never did anything...
Sir Praline: (yelling and hitting the knight repeatedly) 'ELLO KNIGHTY!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your nine o'clock alarm call!
(Bashes the knight about the helmet a couple of times, lifts him up and down a couple of times then lets him go and watches him collapse to the floor.)
Sir Praline: Now that's what I call a dead kniggit.
Baron: No, no.....No, 'e's stunned!
Sir Praline: STUNNED?!?
Baron: Yeah! You stunned ‘im, just as ‘e was wakin' up! John De Greys stun easily.
Sir Praline: Now look, sire, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That knight is definitely deceased, and when I purchased ‘im not 'alf an year ago, you assured me that ‘is total lack of movement was due to ‘im bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged siege.
Baron: Well, he's...he's, ah...probably psyching himself up for battle.
Sir Praline: PSYCHING UP for BATTLE?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why did ‘e fall flat on his back the moment I got 'im to the Holy Land?
Baron: The John De Grey prefers kippin' on ‘is back! Remarkable bloke, in’e, sire? Great lineage!
Sir Praline: Look, I took the liberty of examining that knight when I got ‘im there, and I discovered the only reason that ‘e had been standing up in ‘is armour in the first place was that he had gone stiff.
Baron: Well, o'course ‘e’s gone stiff! But listen once all that wears off, ‘e’ll grab his sword out of his scabbard, head straight for the nearest Saracen, and POW! 
Sir Praline: "POW"?!? Mate, this bloke wouldn't "pow" if you sent four million concubines at ‘im! 'E's bleedin' demised!
Baron: No no! 'E's preparing!
Sir Praline: 'E's not preparin’! 'E's passed on! This knight is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a corpse! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If ‘e hadn't gone stiff in his armour 'e'd be clogging up the scrap heap! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's ‘opped the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-KNIGGIT!!
(pause)
Baron: Well, I'd better replace ‘im, then. (he takes a quick peek behind the counter) Sorry sire, I've had a look 'round the back, and uh, we're right out of knights.
Sir Praline: I see. I see, I get the picture.
Baron: (pause) I got a squire.
(pause)
Sir Praline: Pray, does it fight?
Baron: Yup.
Sir Praline: Right – I’ll ‘ave that one then.

From The Mind of Merc - Comebacks

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about some of the best comebacks in the world which, perhaps unsurprisingly, have come from women. Comebacks such as when Muhammed Ali was travelling on an aeroplane, he was asked to fasten his seatbelt.

His response: "Superman didn’t need no seatbelt."

The airhostess’s reply: "Superman didn’t need no airplane either."

Or when Noel Coward commented on Edna Ferber’s choice of clothing by saying "You look almost like a man", Edna Ferber replied "So do you."

Not even women are safe from female retorts. For example, when Miriam Hopkins encountered a wannabe starlet and was told "Did you know I’ve insured my voice for a thousand dollars." Hopkins response was "That’s wonderful. What did you spend the money on?"

Ilke Chase experienced a similar situation when an actress approached her and said "I enjoyed reading your book. Who wrote it for you?" An unphased Ilke retorted "Darling, I’m so glad you liked it. Who read it for you?"

And there is, of course, the infamous encounter when Clare Booth Luce moved aside from a doorway to allow Dorothy Parker to go through first and remarked "Age before beauty." To which Dorothy Parker immortally replied "Pearls before swine."

When it comes to comebacks, Dorothy Parker is probably the queen of them all.

For example, on being told Coolidge had died, she remarked "How could they tell?"

After being interrupted on her honeymoon by a query as to why her book review was late she said "I’m too fucking busy, and vice versa."

Talk about Burn!

The wit displayed in these few simple sentences demonstrates how women can be (and are) incredibly funny, intelligent, talented, and capable of contributing so much but for some reason throughout history they have been oppressed, ignored, betrayed and lied to just so men can come out ‘on top’

I personally think it speaks volumes when the word ‘feminism’ doesn’t mean the rise of women to the subjugation of men but instead equality of the sexes (if you don’t believe me – after all, I am a woman – may I humbly suggest you look it up).

Feminism is an incredibly simple idea but a vitally important one for two crucial reasons.

1) Look at this list of women who have achieved amazing things but been sidelined by their male co-workers

- Rosalind Franklin: scientist whose work on DNA with Raymond Gosling led to Watson and Crick’s breakthrough

- Alice Guy: first female studio director and owner whose husband convinced her to combine their studios under his name

- Elizabeth Magie: created Monopoly 30 years before Charles Darrow – who sold it to Parker Brothers for millions

- Lise Meitner: physicist who discovered nuclear fission with Otto Hahn who won the Nobel prize but refused to give Jewish refugee Meitner credit

- Chien-Shiung Wu: a physicist who discovered the law of parity. Her 2 male colleagues men received the Nobel Prize for their work

- Margaret Keane: artist who created the ‘Big-Eyed Waifs’. Her husband convinced her (through threats) to put his name on them.

- Jocelyn Bell Burnell: the first person to observe radio pulsars. Her 2 male colleagues received a Nobel Prize for their work, unlike Burnell.

- Anna Arnold Hedgemann: organised the 1963 Washington march but left out of the “Big 6” who were credited with its organisation

- Margaret Hamilton: wrote the code that put the first men on the moon. But have you ever heard of her?

Imagine what they could have achieved if they’d been supported instead of downtrodden

2) Up until the 1970s(!), women did not have the following (what might be viewed as basic) right

- Women couldn’t protect themselves from workplace harassment

- Women couldn’t refuse their husbands sex – marital rape was not a crime

- Women couldn’t get a divorce for domestic violence – proof of a husband’s infidelity was needed for a divorce

- Women couldn’t get the morning after or birth control pill

- Women couldn’t receive direct consultation about their own physical or mental health

- Women couldn’t own a bank or open a bank account

- Women couldn’t be judges or serve on a jury

- Women couldn’t be astronauts

- Women couldn’t purchase athletic shoes or be part of the Olympic Games

- Women couldn’t get into ivy league university

- Women were obstructed from studying law

And while a lot has been achieved, there is still a LONG way to go.

Feminism is not even a female-only concept. For example:

This is what a feminist looks like:

And there have been many, many, examples of those who grasp just how important it is:

William Golding: I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been.

Hugh Jackman: I’m for gender equality because it should never have been any other way

John Legend: All men should be feminists. If men care about women's rights the world will be a better place.

Mahatma Gandhi: Of all the evils for which man has made himself responsible, none is so degrading, so shocking or so brutal as his abuse of the better half of humanity, the female sex

Prince Harry: We know that when women are empowered, they immeasurably improve the lives of those around them – their families, their communities and their countries

Joseph Gordon-Levitt: What feminism means to me is that you don’t let your gender define who you are – you can be who you want to be, whether you’re a man, a woman, a boy, a girl, whatever

John Stuart Mill: The legal subordination of one sex to the other -- is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement

But if you need further reasons why women are not to be underestimated or indeed messed with, consider this:

- Women are able to bleed for 1 whole week every month and not die

- Women are able to create life inside their own bodies

- Women are experts at doing multiple tasks all at once

- Women use both sides of the brain (men predominantly use only the left side of their brains)

- And finally, women are experts at getting blood out of clothing

Just remember – women are not the subjugators. The majority of women are not out to ‘control’ or oppress men. They do not want to get their own back. They want equality and an equality that will benefit everyone.

So maybe the answer to the question what does a feminist look like should be ‘Look in a mirror’