UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador Geri Halliwell says...

How on earth did a Spice Girl become a Goodwill Ambassador? I remember being so disgusted when I heard that. What does Ginger Spice know about population and birth control?

Halliwell is due to talk about a recent charity trip she took to meet mothers in Zambia and a group of 30 or 40 experts have gathered to hear her speak. There are no fans here - just sensibly shoed, middle-aged, Lancet-reading delegates who listen in polite but unimpressed silence. Halliwell has nothing new to tell them about African mothers and, when she speaks about her experiences, she sounds a tad forced. It is not really her fault: the truth is that she is a singer and a dancer, not a public speaker. She is clearly way out of her depth.

Not enough it would seem. Now maybe UNFPA just couldn't get anyone better but my beef with her is her internalised sexism.

I'd like to see it [feminism] rebranded. We need to see a celebration of our femininity and softness."

Her ignorance is astounding. Feminism is not a brand, Geri dear. Feminism is about gender equality and the freedom to make our own choices without reference to the patriarchy. Most women find the notion of feminity and softness abhorrant because embodying those characteristics is to pander to a patriarchy. Be a good girl. Laugh when he makes a joke. Listen to him devotedly. Don't argue or be aggressive. Never complain that he has the sexual skills of a 16 year old. Shut up and take it. That's your softness, Geri. That's the sort of femininity that you would 'rebrand' feminism as. Hands off our movement.

Of course she has to have a crack at the feminist = lesbian argument that is used to scare young women away from feminism.

So, is Halliwell a feminist? The question clearly hits a nerve: what, she asks quickly, do I mean by feminism? Well, I tell her, for me feminism is about the fact that women still aren't treated equally, which raises issues of justice. OK, concedes Halliwell, maybe she is a feminist: but she has a few distinct caveats. One objection seems to be that she fears feminism will emasculate and demoralise men: but her bigger problem is its image. "It's about labelling. For me feminism is bra-burning lesbianism. It's very unglamorous.

Emasculate men? No rational man would be emasculated at gender equality. Men claim to be so rational and logical as opposed to women's perceived emotional state of mind. Then, examine your ideas if you feel threatened by feminism. What are you so scared of? The majority of men that I meet are feminists and believe in equality. The idea that feminism is emasculating men seems to be an appeal to one's maternal side to be gentle and abandon this notion of feminism cos it hurts the menz. Well bollocks to that!

Unglamorous? Wow. If Geri Halliwell thinks feminism is unglamorous then let's run for the hills. What do you mean by glamour? Do you mean being the patriarchy's pet poodle? Be quiet. Sit still. Appear soft and feminine.

The Spice Girls were never a feminist icon. 'Girl Power' was the producers' wet dream; it was nothing to do with asserting female power. It was the cold hard cash. Why on earth did anyone think that that was feminism. At least it's over now, reunion tour aside.