June Sarpong on the inspiring new edition of her book The Power of Women 

Virgin Radio

26 Jun 2021, 10:33

The TV presenter, author and the BBC's first Director of Creative Diversity joined the Graham Norton Radio Show with Waitrose to talk about the challenging new chapters in her book, promoting self love and flying the flag for women (and men) from all walks of life. 

She told Graham: “As I'm getting older, I’m now in my 40s, there are so many things that I'm learning about my body that I had no idea about in my twenties that we don't educate women about. So I really wanted to add a chapter about women's bodies and how to create a world where actually we factor that even into the working hours. 

“The way our working days have been configured, it’s not around how our bodies work and so I really wanted to sort of explore that concept. Also, without getting too heavy, with women's safety as well and so that's really what the new chapters are about."

On tackling sexism in the workplace, she said: “I think you also have to pick your battles and you have to find your male allies. There are always going to be great men in the workplace who want to champion equality and I think it's about finding those allies and then going in as a group… I think you need to go in as a collective, so find the people who get it and do it together...

"When change happens there are steps forward and steps backwards and I think that it’s as we get used to whatever the new normal is going to be, of course there will be some resistance. So for me, I'm still hopeful.

"I really do believe that actually if we look at the bigger picture, things are moving in the right direction - they’re not moving fast enough but they are moving in the right direction and of course, there's going be resistance, there always has been. 

“Often we have a clear view of what we've been committed in. Even if you are a woman yourself you might not necessarily think of another woman as a leader and these are the things that we have to challenge ourselves about.

“It’s really about what happens when we unlock that potential and that's something that in the end is good for everyone, not just women, and something that men shouldn't be frightened of. Actually what it does is it raises the standard for everyone.

“When you look at it on a more micro level, a lot of progress has been made, I just look at my own life, what's possible for me certainly wasn't possible for my mother and I think that's the case for most women. So, sometimes even though of course we do focus on all of the problems, we mustn't forget the progress that has been made too."

Working her way up from the bottom, she said: “I got work experience at Kiss FM at 16. I didn't know anyone in our industry and if that hadn't happened, there's no way I'd be doing what I was doing, I didn't have the networks.

"So I think whenever you see somebody that's bucking the trend, they didn't just get there, there's a reason as to why they are there. I think that's what we need to do more of. We need to explore those reasons why people from disenfranchised groups succeed and therefore do more of that for the rest of those groups."

Tackling her imposter syndrome, she admitted: “I don't think it ever leaves you grey and I just think we've been conditioned, particularly women, to think that way and so for me and my friends we nicknamed ours, so in the way that Beyonce has got the Sasha Fierce, we’ve called our insecure selves Agnes. No offence to any Agneses out there.”

What can we do for higher self esteem? She advised: “We're bombarded with negative images that make us feel bad about ourselves and I think it's really important to counter that. So I'm really into affirmations, saying positive statements to yourself every morning.

"I believe in meditation and I think particularly as we get older and our bodies change and we're sitting there looking at our lumps and bumps and thinking, oh god, I don't look the way I did 20 years ago. 

"I think it's important to be naked in front of the mirror and just appreciate what you have. So I suggest women do that - actually, everybody do that - once a week because otherwise you're constantly sitting there thinking about all the things that you're not and I think you have to counter that.”

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