BalanceJulyIssue17 - 17

S HE SAYS

The Edith edit
Over the years Edith Bowman has worked with many
great women, so why do so few get the top jobs?
photography by BEN D UF F Y

HAIR & MAKE-UP: MALIN COLEMAN STYLING: SABRINA HENRY EDITH WEARS: JUMPSUIT, SEA; GREY MULES, REBECCA MINKOFF

ave you ever had a female boss? I
have, but sadly they have been few
and far between. Christine Boar was
the woman who gave me my break in
TV and I have everything to thank her
for. She put me on MTV despite my broad Scottish

near 50 episodes we've made, only a handful
involved women. And that's not for want
of trying.
One thing I would like to encourage
women to think about is how we treat
each other: be encouraging and happy

accent when launching their UK channel in 1997.
It was my first job close to what I really wanted
to do and I'd been hired by a woman along with other
women - Cat Deeley, June Sarpong, Sara Cox and
Donna Air - plus I was doing news bulletins for
Lucy, my editor.
It didn't seem like a social milestone for roles in
the industry. I guess because I grew up in a healthy
female environment, (my family's 50-room hotel
was pretty much run by strong willed women).
Cut to 20 years later and I'm the only female solo
radio show host on a national commercial radio
station. What's going on?
I'm not about to man bash; I just believe in
equality. We shouldn't be talking men vs women,
but who does the best job based on their ability.
But I will point out that us women are generally
better at multi-tasking.

for another person's achievements.
Jealousy is an evil beast. I've
succumbed to negative thoughts
and always hated myself for doing
it. I've now worked out a way to
allow myself to feel upset but then

LOVE AND RE SPEC T
The debate on how women are represented in the
workplace has gone on for decades. I can only give
you my experience and I'm grateful that since those
MTV days I've been influenced and educated by
inspiring women all along the way, on and off air.
The problem, I think, lies in the higher ranks.
More often than not, senior positions are filled by
men and I reckon that's mainly because they won't
leave. I know at least half a dozen women who
should be running the show, but have never been
given the opportunity.
There are some very obvious areas where we need
more female voices to be heard. The film world
definitely needs to do more for women. Just look
at how much Wonder Woman kicked ass, helmed
by the formidable Patty Jenkins. In my podcast,
Soundtracking, I speak to filmmakers about their
relationships with music. I'm sad to say that in the

WE SHOULDN'T BE
TALKING MEN VERSUS
WOMEN BUT WHO DOES
THE BEST JOB BASED
ON THEIR ABILITY
base my response on the idea that it's
just not right for me.
My mum used to say - and still does
- 'What's meant for you won't pass you
by.' It's sound advice and hearing that
in my head gives me a shake to move on
and be the best version of myself.
Female or not. B
Listen to Edith at Breakfast weekdays
from 6am-10am on Virgin Radio.
The free podcast Soundtracking can be
downloaded from edithbowman.com.

Share your
thoughts
with me
@edibow and
@BalanceLDN

July 2017 BALANCE

http://www.edithbowman.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BalanceJulyIssue17