Hello, it’s me! I’m the Media Mole’s killjoy spinster aunt, and I am here to disagree with my nibling and drop hot feminist takes all over your internet. Just call me Millie Tant. Moley Tant. Whatever. We’ll workshop it.
Today, the internet has been on fire with hilarity over this video of a BBC pundit being interrupted, first, by a toddler. Then a baby in a wheeler. Then a woman desperately trying to retrieve both so that the pundit can get on with delivering his take about North Korea.
Here’s the problem: I can’t enjoy it.
This makes me feel so alone.
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There’s nothing worse than watching everyone else crease with mirth while you’re left thinking: but… no?
Basically, the message this video delivers to me is: being a man is playing life on the easy setting. Once again, the yawning awareness of the patriarchy shits on my ability to enjoy something. I can see why so few female Moles are feminists.
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Here’s the worst/best bit of the video. When Mr Pundit doesn’t even turn round to acknowledge his child, but instead gives the little tyke a gentle shove to get out of the way.
If a woman had done that, we wouldn’t be sharing the video while wiping tears of laughter from our eyes. We’d be knee-deep in a tedious discussion about whether she’s a terrible mother and whether her career of Korea Takes was leading her to ignore the small, simple pleasures of watching a child dance like a loon.
Also – ALSO – Mr Pundit shoves the kid back with the easy reassurance of someone who knows that another person is going to swoop in and deal with the kids. This, you feel, is the kind of guy who refers to looking after his own children as “babysitting”.
It also exposes one reason why there are more men delivering their opinions all over our televisions most days – because women are doing the behind the scenes work needed to make that feasible. True equality will not have been achieved until we see a father desperately clawing at a baby wheeler while a woman talks about the rising threat of nuclear war.
Of course, this is all cruel projection. For all we know Mr Pundit might otherwise be an exemplary hands-on dad. Perhaps he’s changing the nappy of a third, hidden child under the desk with his feet. It’s not his fault that the patriarchy exists, and also annoys me so much.
Still, though, pity me. Once again, an awareness of the unequal nature of caring labour has ruined a great viral video.