We are all Victoria Starmer. No, really – ask any woman if she’s had to fix a smile on her face and grin through gritted teeth while an older man makes “lols” and instigates “banter” about our appearance or demeanour. Then ask her if she eye-rolled, silently, the moment she turned away.
Shocked? You really shouldn’t be – though you might not have seen it. We never let on, you see. We titter and giggle and do all the things you have to do simply to get through the ordeal so they’ll leave you alone – an exaggerated wink, a rib-nudge, an elbow pat, a waggling eyebrow Barbara Windsor would be proud of; Carry On, Mr President, perhaps.
