Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

DIARY

Vicky Ward
Monday 06 February 1995 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A Sheffield University survey has released evidence of sexual harassment and racism at the Bar. That it should have taken m'learned friends 10 years longer than everyone else to realise this has, I feel, something to do with the unworldliness of their profession. Only the other evening, I was sitting in a restaurant next to a table of four barristers - two men and two women. The conversation was all about how they wanted to improve race relations at the Bar. "The thing is," said one man in his forties, "that whenI see a black barrister, I want to be able to think of him (clearly, they weren't discussing sexism) as a barrister first and black second." Hearty applause.

Seconds later, he summoned the waitress. "Excuse me, but where do I find transport to take me home?" The waitress looked somewhat startled, the time being 11.30pm and the venue central London. "You could get a taxi," she ventured timidly. "And how," riposted the man, "do I do that?" His friends, looking faintly astonished, gestured towards the street.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in