Sir, - Medb Ruane's column "Women still don't count" (October 19th) echoes my own experience here since I arrived from Australia three years ago: "We'll allow you to participate as long as you don't rock the boat".
In my professional capacity as educator and human resources consultant, I meet people from boardrooms to tearooms and I am quite shocked at how invisible women are in this society. Worse still, no one seems to notice or think there is anything unusual at all in the low number of female decision-makers in our public, private and civic institutions.
I have always admired, and continue to admire, the strength of women here. Unfortunately, their strength is often in being the "Martyr Mammy" to their small and large children alike, and this is where much damage is done. The word "No" is one that women will have to get used to using more adeptly before any change will occur. - Yours, etc.,
Nora Stewart, Team Training Ireland, Park Court, Dublin 4.