Transport for London has been accused of sexism after a joke about suffragette Emily Davison’s husband ‘not getting his tea’ on the day he died appeared on a Tube station notice board.
The ‘hugely misjudged’ quip was spotted by commuter Evelyn Clegg this morning – the day after the 100-year anniversary of women getting the vote in Britain.
The 30-year-old was appalled at what was written at Colliers Wood Station, south London and called on TfL to remove it.
The ‘hugely misjudged’ quip (pictured) was spotted by commuter Evelyn Clegg at Colliers Wood Station in south London this morning – the day after the 100-year anniversary of women getting the vote in Britain
Emily Davison died after being hit by King George V’s horse (pictured) at the Epsom Derby in June 1913
Transport bosses have now been forced to apologise about the joke, which read: ‘100 years ago, suffragette Emily Davison died after throwing herself in front of the King’s Horse.
‘History remembers her as being influential in giving women the right to vote.
‘What history doesn’t remember is her husband, who didn’t get his tea that night!’
Emily Davison died after being hit by King George V’s horse at the Epsom Derby in June 1913.
Yesterday marked the 100-year anniversary of the Representation of the People Act being passed, which extended voting rights to women over 30 who owned property.
Women across the UK celebrated the milestone, which suffragettes and the less militant suffragists fought to achieve.
Ms Clegg was ‘furious’ at the joke, which she pointed out was also inaccurate – as Davison died in 1913 and not 1918.
She said: ‘Like a lot of people, yesterday I was celebrating 100 years of the first women getting the vote, and in fact spent yesterday evening at an event celebrating the suffragettes and modern feminists.
‘After such a positive and inspiring day, to see that sign this morning was an unpleasant shock and reminded me how far we have to go until women are taken as seriously as men.’
Other people also tweeted their reactions to the message, including one who said: ‘Wow. Someone hugely misjudged that “joke”. How disappointing of TfL.’
TfL responded swiftly to Ms Clegg’s tweet, saying it would speak to the station and have the sign removed.
She said: ‘I’m pleased with TFL’s response (which was quick and correct).
‘But obviously the sign should never have been put up in the first place and it looks like they need to provide better training for their staff members in diversity and equality.
‘Yesterday was a day for celebration of these brave women, and this sign is so disappointing in its recycling of lazy sexist jokes.
‘It could have been used for a positive and educational purpose, so it’s a waste of an opportunity as well as being disrespectful.
‘I’m sure I’ll be accused of ‘not being able to take a joke’ but humour based on the death of a woman who was fighting for basic equality is completely inappropriate.’
Transport bosses have now been forced to apologise about the joke at Colliers Wood
A TfL spokesperson said: ‘This message was wrong and inappropriate in multiple ways, and completely unacceptable.
‘An investigation is under way in to who thought this was a good idea, and the appropriate action will be taken.
‘We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, and actively work to create more opportunities for women in our industry and celebrate those who fought for the rights of women.’