Women's lib

Fish in a barrel I know, but the Catholic Church's attempt to embrace gender equality is hardly impressive even by their standards.

As International Women’s Day is celebrated, the Vatican had a novel message for the women of the world: give thanks for the washing machine. This humble domestic appliance had done more for the women’s liberation movement than the contraceptive pill or working outside the home, said the the official Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Romano.

Yes, it was divinely ordained that women have to wash all men's undies in perpetuity. Careers, independence, freedom from violence, social and economic equality? Nah, washing machines.

The article is entitled, “The washing machine and the emancipation of women: put in the powder, close the lid and relax - then shag the postman, open a can of Special Brew and smoke a few fags”. I made the last bit up.

It is a piece of lousy research anyway; they forgot to mention the vacuum cleaner.