The BBC's latest misstep highlights a concerning trend: the perpetuation of tired stereotypes about the 1970s Women's Liberation Movement. A recent episode of Call the Midwife saw the female characters attending a WLM meeting and subsequently burning their bras over a brazier, an image that may have been meant to be amusing but falls woefully short of doing justice to the complex issues faced by these women.
The scene, which relied on the tired trope of bra-burning as a symbol of feminist activism, is all too familiar. It's a relic of tabloid sensationalism, where women were reduced to simplistic caricatures - either "housewives" or "dolly birds". The BBC's writers must be wondering if they're having a laugh at the expense of the real-life activists who fought tirelessly for equal pay, education and job opportunities, free contraception and abortion on demand, and 24-hour childcare.
As recent Guardian reporting has made clear, second-wave feminists confronted sexism in all its forms, often with little recognition or respect from the media. The image of bra-burning, a term that originated as a pejorative in tabloids, was picked up by the mainstream press without any real understanding of its significance. It's a shameful oversight.
The fact that Call the Midwife, a programme that has previously done so much to shed light on everyday lives of women in post-war Britain, would resort to such a lazy trope is all too disappointing. The show's creators must be aware of the damage this kind of stereotyping can do - it reinforces outdated notions about feminism and diminishes the hard work and dedication of those who fought for real change.
As one commentator noted, "Jill Tweedie must be turning in her grave". It's a chilling reminder that some stereotypes never die, but it's also an opportunity to educate a new generation about the complexities of feminist activism in the 1970s. The BBC would do well to take this as a chance to set the record straight and give these women - and their struggles - the respect they deserve.
The scene, which relied on the tired trope of bra-burning as a symbol of feminist activism, is all too familiar. It's a relic of tabloid sensationalism, where women were reduced to simplistic caricatures - either "housewives" or "dolly birds". The BBC's writers must be wondering if they're having a laugh at the expense of the real-life activists who fought tirelessly for equal pay, education and job opportunities, free contraception and abortion on demand, and 24-hour childcare.
As recent Guardian reporting has made clear, second-wave feminists confronted sexism in all its forms, often with little recognition or respect from the media. The image of bra-burning, a term that originated as a pejorative in tabloids, was picked up by the mainstream press without any real understanding of its significance. It's a shameful oversight.
The fact that Call the Midwife, a programme that has previously done so much to shed light on everyday lives of women in post-war Britain, would resort to such a lazy trope is all too disappointing. The show's creators must be aware of the damage this kind of stereotyping can do - it reinforces outdated notions about feminism and diminishes the hard work and dedication of those who fought for real change.
As one commentator noted, "Jill Tweedie must be turning in her grave". It's a chilling reminder that some stereotypes never die, but it's also an opportunity to educate a new generation about the complexities of feminist activism in the 1970s. The BBC would do well to take this as a chance to set the record straight and give these women - and their struggles - the respect they deserve.
Like, I get it, it's supposed to be funny, but honestly it just feels like a lazy way to poke fun at real-life activists who fought for so much more than just burning bras 
. Can't they come up with something more original? And btw, why do old tropes always have to come back around? It's like we're stuck in some kind of feminist Groundhog Day 
. I'm all for giving credit where credit is due, so if Call the Midwife wants to get it right, they should be doing a lot more than just nodding to history 
.
Remember when they used to say that about Gloria Steinem or something? 
Anyway, I'm shocked that the BBC would resort to such nonsense after doing some great work on other female-focused stories. It feels like they're more interested in being edgy than actually getting it right. The real-life activists who fought for all those important issues deserve so much better than this sloppy, outdated portrayal. Can't we just get back to accurate representation without all the drama and sensationalism? 
. it's like they're afraid to tackle the really tough stuff and instead resort to easy targets 
. i'm all for education and raising awareness about feminist activism in the 1970s, but can't we do better than this? 
. The show's trying to make a point about feminism in the 70s and I think that's what matters most. Let's not forget that these women were fighting for real change 
, not just some symbolic gesture like burning bras. It's all about context, folks 
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how can the bbc get it so wrong?!? 
the bra-burning scene was literally so lazy, i mean come on! 
it's like they're perpetuating that tired old stereotype about feminists being all about burning bras and having a good time 
and can we talk about how this is a total shame for call the midwife, which has always been such a great show? 
they've done so much to highlight the lives of women in post-war britain, but then they go and do something like this... 
... and btw, did you know that bra-burning was originally used as a pejorative term? it's wild how these stereotypes just keep coming back around 
...
. Anyway, it's a great reminder that we need to educate ourselves about history and the people who came before us 
. Not some silly image that's just gonna get laughed at 
. And what really gets me is how they're perpetuating this stereotype without even understanding its history or significance 
. And can we please stop perpetuating these stereotypes like they're some kind of funny meme? The 1970s Women's Liberation Movement was a serious fight for equality and respect, not some nostalgic joke for modern audiences