We philosophers are inclined to consider and categorise our worldviews. As Make Me A Plan's Philosopher-In-Residence, I am similarly predisposed to this tendency and like nothing more than considering an abundance of perspectives and options in order to try and understand why people do the things they do; what are our underlying motivations?

As a guiding tool, to aid me in these internal and external conversations, I like to ask:

"What do you mind most?"

This helps me drill down into what is important - what would I lose sleep at night about if I didn't address? What is business critical? What is important in my personal life? What are the challenges the world faces - and am I an agent or a bystander when it comes to those?

While the pandemic means that many of us used to minding the gap on our morning Tube commute in London or social trips to the capital haven't heard that familiar warning for some time, there's one gap that will be (or should be) coming to the forefront: the gender pay gap.

Each year, the Fawcett Society evaluates the pay of men and women and is then able to calculate on what date in the year, female workers effectively begin working for free from thereon until December 31st (because males are so widely and extensively paid at higher rates than females in our economy).

This year, that date falls on November 20th - and this in the 50th year on from the Equal Pay Act.

This doesn't even take into account unpaid work in the home or as caring responsibilities, as if 41 days of unpaid labour wasn't already distinctly shoddy enough.

This is a gap that I really mind. It's not something that it's ok to overlook, again, this year, with excuses about the pandemic trying to justify pushing under the carpet one of the pressing issues of our time, our mothers' times, our grandmothers' times.

So this November 20th, in the spirit of deeds not words and simple, conspicuous, conversation-provoking actions, I will be changing my status on all my social media platforms to She/Her. Please join me.

Next fortnight, I’ll be musing On Politics. Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this topic you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning