CBB’s Amanda Barrie reveals she was branded a ‘prostitute’ for trying to rent a flat in the 50s
AMANDA Barrie has revealed she was once labelled a "prostitute" for wanting to rent her own flat in London.
The Coronation Street stalwart wasted no time immersing herself in Celebrity Big Brother's Year of the Woman theme last night as she and Ann Widdecombe exchanged their experiences with inequality during a chat in the bedroom.
The 82-year-old admitted she was accused of having promiscuous intent because she wanted to be self-dependant and rent her own home as a single woman.
She revealed: "I remember when I tried to get my flat in Covent Garden originally years ago, 1950 something, they wouldn't rent it to a woman.
"Oh no, 'You're a prostitute'. That was perfectly normal. There were hotels where a woman could not go and get a drink at the bar. A man had to go and get it for you."
Her revelations came after Ann, 70, reflected on the hardships she was forced to overcome because of her gender.
She divulged:"We can remember when an employer could advertise a job and he could put two rates of pay underneath one for a man and one for women.
"You could be refused finance simply on the grounds that you were a woman. You could be refused the right to rent a flat."
Leaving housemates India Willoughby and Maggie Oliver gasping in shock, Ann added: "Yep, all this happened, before 1975. We can remember what was inequality.
"And it isn't now that's what the daft thing is because sometimes so many battles have been won, actually that to harp on sometimes is a little bit..."
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Giving her take on the world's current stance on inequality, Amanda claimed that women are "looking for causes of grievance now".
Ahead of her entrance, Ann told host Emma Willis that the reality show's "women's lib" theme persuaded her to finally appear - after years of rejecting offers.
Ann said: "I've always said no and I was saying no this year - I said yes because of the theme.
"It's slightly more serious, it's about women's lib and eventually I said yes."
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