I want to set the record straight for flirtatious women,' she says. She is outraged that society encourages masculine charm while female flirts are condemned as flighty teases. Psychoanalyst Adam Phillips agrees. Since Dr Johnson's first dictionary definition of a flirt as a 'pert young hussy', women who smile and lead men on have been seen as deserving of sexual harassment or worse. Women are now using flirtatious charm as a means to empowerment.
Flirtation is taught in a weekend seminar.
For 250, participants start with a crash course in 'charm counselling' - a brainstorming session on the meaning of the word 'flirt'. This is followed by a discussion of their own charm techniques and later the field exercise, in which, to experience 'the positive response charm can bring', participants go out into the street and compliment strangers on their appearance. Californian comedy writer turned 'flirtation guru' Ross Jeffries has made millions from his masterclasses in 'courtship skills for the modern man'. He now has 85,500 visitors a month to his website and 60,000 'pupils', paying vast sums to learn body language and one-liners. He has sold the rights to a film of his life story and launched an international lecture tour for 'business professionals challenged by charm'.