Angela Rayner: 'My class and my gender have created obstacles for me'
Labour's Deputy Leader talks to us on International Women's Day
Last updated 4th Sep 2022
Labour's Deputy Leader and Ashton-Under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner has opened up to us about the difficulties she's faced as a woman in politics this International Women's Day.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio the Labour MP said: "The challenges I face now are not dissimilar to the challenges I faced as a young mum at 16", and says she still finds herself "underestimated and pigeon-holed."
She continued: "I think my class and gender have created obstacles for me, as people do not see women as role models for leadership."
Watch our full interview with Angela Rayner here:
As well as her gender, Angela told us that because of her accent and class having certain stereotypes attached to them, she has been abused online for being 'thick'.
In response, she told us that she is "obviously not thick because if I was thick I wouldn't have got to where I am in the speed that I've got to it.
"So if I’m thick I'm not doing bad for a thick person am I?"
"I've got to prove my worth"
The MP told us there was a real difference between being an upper-class man and a working-class woman in politics: "If a man comes from a different background to me, Boris Johnson for example, walks into a room, it's not just because he’s Prime Minister but because of his background and because he’s a male, that people automatically give him some credibility.
"Whereas I have to earn that respect, I've got to prove my worth."
When asked how she deals with instances of this bias on a day-to-day basis, the Ashton-Under-Lyne MP said: "It's that classic phrase of ‘know your place’ and I do get that implied.
"But I've never learned to ‘know my place’, so I try my best to show people that you don’t have top accept that normality and that actually you should push those boundaries because nothing ever changes unless you do."
"Feminism for me is owning your space"
This International Women's Day, Angela stressed to us the importance of feminism stating that: "the sisterhood for me is about encouraging and supporting other women and the more we do that the more progress we make.
"It was the generation before that gave me opportunities, therefore it is my responsibility to do exactly the same.
"Feminism for me is owning your space as well. So if you like ironing, why shouldn’t you? If you want to wear the hijab, why shouldn't you? if you don’t, why should you not?
"If you think you're abusing me online you're not getting anywhere near me"
Angela Rayner also spoke to us about the extent of online abuse she receives, which she believes is larger due to her being a woman.
She stated: "If you look at the abuse women get in politics, regardless of political party, women get a lot more abuse than the men do."
"My staff have to and refer it onto the police if considered dangerous, and mine’s on another level obviously because of the role that I play.
"But I don't look at it, I choose not to look at it. So if you think you’re abusing me online you’re not getting anywhere near me."
READ MORE: Two men charged by police investigating threats to Angela Rayner