This interesting thought – implying that it was a potentially non-feminist stance which gave rise to Moira’s intrepid personality, embodying a feminist spirit – was skirted over when Sasha chimed in with some of her own experiences with misogynistic double-standards.

“I get treated extremely differently to my male colleagues. I’ve had mayors flirting with me. Recently, for a work matter, I had a prominent lawyer on the phone and he called me ‘qalbi’ or ‘sweetheart’ three times during that conversation,’ said Sasha.

“That never happens to my male colleagues.”

“Once I changed my profile picture and a sitting mayor did the ‘wow’ reaction to the photo – which was already a bit weird, but I let that slide – then a few days later I messaged him for a comment and after he gave me the comment he added ‘stunning photo by the way’,” Sasha continued.

She then teased a potential project, which should make some politicians think twice before being disrespectful.

“Right now I’m collating a list, and one day I’ll write an article and include screenshots of these conversations. I’ll do it because these men need to be called out.”

“You shouldn’t speak to me inappropriately just because I’m a woman. It degrades you, and I really feel degraded.”

VibeFM’s Martina Zammit has also had to overcome her share of challenges, as a result of her gender and her sexuality. 

“After a few years on radio, I wasn’t sure if I should share that I was in a relationship with a woman,” Martina told Kerr.

“But then I thought, why should I be ashamed? We love each other so much, we’re so happy together, so I shared that part of myself and the feedback was absolutely great. There was no issue at all. I did get comments here and there that made me doubt myself, but I don’t regret anything about it.”

Despite this, Martina also questioned how helpful it was for women to focus on such issues.  

“Is it a good thing that we’re highlighting it?” she asked. “That’s my biggest question and my biggest dilemma. Should we keep highlighting the issue or just say ‘we know about it’ and -“

Kerr interjected, “and sweep it under the carpet?”

“Not sweep it under the carpet,” responded Martina, “I’m not saying we should do nothing about it, but I think we know it amongst ourselves. Does highlighting the issue make us more of the victim?”

Kerr’s response was sympathetic to this perspective – but leaned towards the side of prioritising discussions about the world as it is.

“I hear what you’re saying, but the reality is there’s a difference in the way that we’re treated as women. We may know about it, and ideally we wouldn’t be having this conversation, but unfortunately it’s our reality and there are still so many people who don’t see it, or don’t acknowledge it.”

The balancing act between recognising discrimination and ensuring that women are not portrayed as victims has always been a delicate line to tread. 

Discussions such as these, full of nuance and cooperating perspectives, go some way towards achieving this goal – by calling out and symbolically disempowering those who seek to degrade women – nullifying that disrespect by pointing it out.

When people lift one another up, they help that cause. Though each of the women on the show have achieved a lot, they expressed their admiration for Sasha, as a young person demonstrating excellence across several fields.

“Sasha, if you ever think of going out for politics, being a politician,” said Moira, “I’d work for you for free. We want ballsy politicians like Sasha.”

Lovin Malta’s sub-editor laughed the offer off. “I’ve thought about it, but I don’t think that it makes any real sense in Malta’s current political sphere,” she replied.

“I just hope that women listen to themselves and be fearless, or less fearful, about speaking out,” said Moira when asked what advice she would give listeners, “If your gut feeling is telling you its right, speak out. There’s no wrong way of doing that”.

She added, potentially exposing part of what her future has in store.

“If I’m ever silent on social media, it means I’m pushing other people to the forefront, who need our help to find their voice. I’m not going to stop working, I’ll be hosting and producing my program as long as I can, but I’ll be introducing new faces as well.”

“Use your voice, we all have a voice. Before I became a journalist I tapped into my own voice,” said Sasha, answering the same question.

“We can feel pressured by thinking about what people are going to think, but if you believe in something, go for it. You’ll find much more support than you think you will”. 

Before clinking their glasses together and thanking Trudy for creating a platform through which women could have this sort of conversation, Martina was faced with a challenge summarising a discussion rife with words of wisdom. 

Still, she found her voice to add her own encouragement. “Don’t be afraid, your story matters, your opinion counts. Share with us, because by sharing your story, it’ll help, it’ll make a difference”.

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