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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

Unison elects first woman General Secretary

23 replies

teawamutu · 11/01/2021 11:16

Which ought to be good news, but anyone know if she's any good on actual women's rights?

www.unison.org.uk/news/2021/01/christina-mcanea-new-general-secretary-unison/

OP posts:
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HermioneWeasley · 11/01/2021 11:30

Doubt it, I think all TUs are in the TWAW camp

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ErrolTheDragon · 11/01/2021 11:35

Hopefully she'll have more idea than a man would about the real issues affecting many women, especially now.

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SunsetBeetch · 11/01/2021 11:38

I was expecting a TW.

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Valkadin · 11/01/2021 11:49

The TU movement has always suffered from people rising to office that have their own political agenda. When I was on UNISON regional committees it was dominated by the SWP. I was criticised for being a reformist many times. Block voting at conferences left me disillusioned. You have a mandate from your branch you could be casting thousands of votes but only the very interested will have bothered to go to that branch meeting to actually have their say. I know it’s down to the individual but it just wasn’t always a true reflection with such a small quorum.

Maybe it’s changed, any current trade union activists care to share how the in house system currently works is voting at conference like this still happening?

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ScoldsBridle · 11/01/2021 11:50

Solid work credentials - raised in Drumchapel, Glasgow. I hope she really stands up for women. She MUST understand the issues surely? I live in hope until I’m informed otherwise.

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WhichOneOfUsIsCaving2 · 11/01/2021 11:51

.... anyone know if she's any good on actual women's rights?

Come to that, does anyone know if [pronoun] is an actual woman?

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Biscuitsanddoombar · 11/01/2021 11:59
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ScoldsBridle · 11/01/2021 12:07

I’m hopeful. She endorsed the use of the following ‘Scottish Women’s Anthem’ by Shaz Martin in what I assume was her campaign to become leader? Or it was for another campaign but either way, if you watch the video with it’s great images of sporting women in a variety of women’s sport including athletics, gymnastics, rugby, football, swimming, netball etc..., you get the impression that she’s at the very least behind fair play for women in sport. It’s a rousing tune with lots of saltires as you’d expect but I found it quite moving - mainly because it showed me the fantastic achievements of women in sport and what is potentially at risk if we chose to lose the definition of what a woman is. m.youtube.com/watch?v=zoL8B3xTKaI&feature=share

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ScoldsBridle · 11/01/2021 12:17

Let’s hope she’s open to some dialogue on this. And not on Twitter. Supportive statements on Trans rights does not (have to) negate Women’s Rights. She has a huge responsibility as leader of Unison to give this issue proper examination. She could do so much good, especially for the women she represents. I’ve got to have some Hope here otherwise I’m fucking going to lose it!

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Floisme · 11/01/2021 12:21

She does look reassuringly sensible. However I cannot imagine she'd have got elected without toeing the line.

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TheGreatWave · 11/01/2021 12:23

Wasn't who I wanted, I'm not sure we should just be pleased because it is a woman.

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Floisme · 11/01/2021 12:28

I agree GreatWave - especially after the Labour leadership contest. The question is whether she'll stand up for women.

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gardenbird48 · 11/01/2021 14:38

@Floisme

She does look reassuringly sensible. However I cannot imagine she'd have got elected without toeing the line.

Oh she does - according to her twitter she is an active and committed trans ally.

So no hope there sadly.
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gardenbird48 · 11/01/2021 14:39

As in she does toe the line (although on the surface she looks fairly sensible)

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highame · 11/01/2021 14:54

Women and unions are anathema, she will be towing the line

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PearPickingPorky · 11/01/2021 14:59

I too support "trans rights", I just don't believe people change sex and I don't care about anyones gender identity in single-sex spaces, services or sports.

There is a chance she is doing the meaningless platitudes.

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WhereYouLeftIt · 11/01/2021 15:11

Is it terrible that when I heard 'the first woman to ...' on the radio, my reflex thought was 'Assuming she is a woman.'? So damned used to 'the first woman to ...' describing a male. Sad

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SunsetBeetch · 11/01/2021 15:46

@WhereYouLeftIt

Is it terrible that when I heard 'the first woman to ...' on the radio, my reflex thought was 'Assuming she is a woman.'? So damned used to 'the first woman to ...' describing a male. Sad

Same here Sad
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EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 11/01/2021 17:54

Me too.

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WhereAreWeNow · 11/01/2021 18:00

I think she's probably pretty good on women's rights. However I suspect she has also bowed to the pressure of a very loud TRA lobby in Unison and will happily affirm that TWAW whenever it's politically expedient to do so.

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ThatIsNotMyUsername · 11/01/2021 18:45

Woman? 😒 I’m sure they are the right type with the right thinking. They don’t like women getting ideas over there do they?

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dyslek · 12/01/2021 10:34

I really would not get excited about this woman.

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ThatIsNotMyUsername · 12/01/2021 10:44

I think Unison has made its opinion of women pretty clear, so I can only assume this is a person who will go along with that.

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