Ladies’ day - Flesh-and-frills anachronisms

The air has been thick with accusations of misogyny and antisemitism over recent days. 

The old, enduring chestnut about equal pay for men and women has again provoked raised voices despite the fact that this anachronism should have been consigned to history decades ago.

The issues are unchanging, the arguments reliable and the protagonists all too familiar. The debate seemingly unending.

So much so that it might be at least interesting — and probably dangerous — to ask a few questions from the fringes of the discourse and wonder if there are cultural reasons this debate seems never-ending.

Yesterday was ladies’ day at Galway Races, one of many such occasions that brighten our summer — or do they?

Do these flesh-and-frills parades not reinforce stereotypical impressions of women as objects?

Or is that just a po-faced, stuffed-shirt view of what is a happy, harmless jolly for those happy to wear a fascinator, preposterously priced red-soled stilettoes, and take part in a bit of harmless fun?

Maybe it’s time to move the goalposts a furlong or two; maybe it’s time to reimagine this summer frippery as Best Dressed Racegoers’ Day?

That might chime better in a country happy to celebrate marriage equality.

Just as the debate about equal pay is an anachronism these gender exclusive bubbles are too — and who knows what spectacular joys a unisex best-dressed racegoers’ day might throw up?