We often carry our whole gender on our back

Posted on June 7, 2019 in Oxford, UK

Deborah Frances-White, host of the popular The Guilty Feminist podcast, gave a powerful key-note speech at the Kim Scott Walwyn Prize ceremony last month. She told a story of ‘crashing’ an all-male poker game after performing at Edinburgh Fringe Festival several years ago. Her male comedian friends were going, so why couldn’t she? She played well, ended up being what they call ‘chip leader’. The ones she knew at the table had folded much earlier and she was gaining the respect of the few men left. She went all in after some slight pressure from those around the table, and came fourth – there was no prize for fourth place. Deborah said at the time she was delighted, because she proved she (and therefore implicitly women) could play, but hadn’t taken their money, so they still liked her. The idea that she was carrying the whole of the female gender on her back, by going into that poker game in the first place felt real. As women, often working in spaces historically carved out by males, I think this is often true. I also think this pressure can be internalised, meaning we carry around extra baggage, often to the unawares of our male colleagues.

On reflection, Deborah said she wondered why her comedian friends thought it was an all-male poker game. Had it been said explicitly? It turned out they assumed it was all-male game because there were only men there and they didn’t want to ask if they could bring a women in. We do this all the time. We look into a room and make assumptions about what we see.

Deborah said if she were to play today, she would play to win. Because when you think about it, what man goes into a game and is pleased to come fourth place, because he wanted to be liked?

That evening, Aimée Felone, co-founder of Knights Of, won the Kim Scott Walwyn Prize for her amazing contribution to the world of children’s publishing. The rich short list included Aki Schilz, Director of The Literary Consultancy, Crystal Mahey-Morgan, co-owner of OWN IT!, Heather McDaid and Laura Jones, co-founders of 404 Ink, and Ola Gotkowska, Contracts Manager at Nosy Crow. There were no fourth places at this table.

As I stood there, listening to Deborah, surrounded by other publishing professionals, I realised the importance of the Kim Scott Walwyn Prize. They highlight those who are making an impact, working towards a better future. But rather than being competitive, the atmosphere was one of collaboration, with the sense the short-list nominees and attendees in the crowd, ultimately want to work together to see the world have a brighter future (as cliché as that might sound). The same principles that Kim Scott Walwyn, a power house Oxford University Press Publishing Director, worked towards and championed during her career. She sadly passed away in 2002 at the age of 45. The Kim Scott Walwyn Prize was set up the following year in her memory, in partnership with the Society of Young Publishers (SYP), to celebrate the achievement of women who have worked in the publishing industry for up to seven years. Her family were also at the awards this year, supporting the nominees, and proudly remembering the legacy of Kim. Thank you for all you do. Here is to all the women and men coming up and making waves in Publishing and beyond – here is to you.

By Anna Shannon