Why I’m happy to be wolf-whistled at the age of 48, by Miriam Clegg
AS the wife of a deputy prime minister, Miriam Clegg became known for her feminist views. She shunned the convention of embracing husband Nick on stage at his party conference speech, and launched the campaign group Inspiring Women.
But the 48-year-old is not offended by the prospect of being wolf-whistled – in fact, she says it would make her ‘really happy’.
The mother of three said women her age often feel ‘transparent’.
Asked if she ever gets wolf-whistled in the street, she told the Sunday Telegraph’s Stella magazine: ‘At me? What would they comment?
‘This is a polite society! I’m 48. If I get something like that, I’m really happy. I’d think, “Wow, I exist!” Women my age just become transparent.’
Mrs Clegg, who goes by her maiden name Gonzalez Durantez in her professional life as a lawyer and partner with international legal practice Dechert, spends time visiting schools as part of her Inspiring Women initiative.
The Spanish-born wife of the former Lib Dem leader has recently released a cookbook – Made In Spain – in which she reveals sur- prise at being served Hellmann’s mayonnaise by Samantha Cameron.
At the book’s launch last week, she said: ‘There is a problem with what I call drip-drip sexism. Little comments here and there. Last week I was referred to publicly on television as “Nick Clegg’s missus”.
‘I know the person, it was not with bad intentions, but it’s just not on. We are not defined by who we have married or who we sleep with.’
Mrs Clegg has previously been outspoken on feminist issues, including defending Charlotte Proudman, the barrister embroiled in a sexism row in the legal profession.
She said Miss Proudman, 27, had been ‘quite right’ to take QC Alexander Carter-Silk, 57, to task after he complimented her for having a ‘stunning’ photograph on networking site LinkedIn.
In July, Nottinghamshire Police banned wolf-whistling. The force is the first in Britain to record misogyny as a hate crime – including complaints against men who whistle at women.
It means ‘behaviour targeted towards a woman by men simply because they are a woman’ will sit alongside crimes in which victims are attacked for their race, religion or sexual orientation.
Misogynistic incidents will include harassment in the street, verbal abuse, unwanted physical approaches, taking photographs without consent or sending unwanted text messages.
Alleged offenders will be investigated and specially trained officers will offer support to the victim.
Nottinghamshire Police admitted that no one can be prosecuted for misogyny, but said its involvement would act as a deterrent.
‘Women become transparent’