The long history of men disrespecting women’s voices can be traced back thousands of years. Here’s a corker from Samuel Johnson (playwright, poet, and creator of the Dictionary of the English Language, 1709-1784) ‘…a woman’s preaching is like a dog’s walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.’

The dehumanisation of woman, the diminishment of our capacity and our wisdom, is one of the oldest tricks in the patriarchal handbook.

Which is why, every time you speak, every time you put pen to paper, every time you hit publish on a blog post, or record a podcast episode, or say yes to being the guest speaker at a conference, you are partaking in a revolutionary act.

Be sure to take the time to pat yourself on the back.