Is Jane Austen On A Bank Note A Bad Thing?

Is Jane Austen On A Bank Note A Bad Thing?

Jane Austen fans were delighted to learn that Jane was going to be the person featured on the new £10 bank note in 2017, but The Guardian newspaper reporter Eve Livingston was not convinced. In an article published online she argued that:

While the increased presence of women on currency has largely been hailed a feminist success, those struggling at the sharp end of economic inequality might be forgiven for any resentment towards what is largely a symbolic achievement [...] Indeed, what those celebrating this new cast of banknote characters fail to recognise is the inappropriate nature of the symbolism that emblazons women on the very thing most likely to oppress them. This is all grounded in a form of feminism that focuses on representation at the expense of any real change to the material lives of our most disadvantaged women.

This makes a lot of sense, but at the same time we at the Jane Austen News can't bring ourselves to feel that our favourite author on the £10 bank note is in any way a bad thing. Personally we can't wait to see the new notes in circulation.

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