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AIBU?

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Do you think the world would be a nicer place if all politicians were women?

118 replies

Gopin · 01/10/2024 18:15

I’m so heartbroken by what is going on with Israel/Gaza/Lebanon.

The day I became a mum was the day my heart left my body. I see the news stories and just absolutely bloody fear for children, the elderly, animals etc.

We are on this planet for such a short period of time. I can’t stand it!

It makes me hate the men making these decisions. I genuinely believe the world would be a better place if women were in charge. We are naturally empathetic (broadly speaking).

I can’t be wrong, surely?

I’m all cosy in my home and people’s worlds are being obliterated a couple of thousands of miles away. It’s an awful reality I wish I could just ignore

OP posts:
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Jodie782 · 02/10/2024 20:32

Yes op I agree, It's heartbreaking and can't believe how much evil there is in this world in 2024.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 02/10/2024 20:29

NeelyOHara1 · 02/10/2024 20:16

I voted YANBU because I would hope under those circumstances that women would feel freer to not emulate the worst behaviour of men in order to get ahead.

Same - we are judging those women in positions of power, but even on their worst day are nowhere near as bad as the millions of terrible men throughout history. If we didn't live in a patriarchal society and we had as much power as them going back millennia then it would be an easier and fairer comparison .

Ace56 · 02/10/2024 20:27

hydriotaphia · 02/10/2024 13:51

Contrary to many on this thread, I think 100% women politicians would be better and more peaceful for the world.. I don't think you can assume that the same women would succeed in that scenario as have succeeded in a male dominated political world (ie Thatcher/Truss/Patel/Badenoch and the rest would not necessarily rise to the top). I'd like to give it a try anyway...

Yes, exactly this. The women other posters keep listing (Truss, Thatcher etc) rose to the top because they had to think like men to be successful. The patriarchy means that leaders need to possess certain qualities set out by men. If we started completely from the beginning, with a matriarchy, I think it would be completely different yes.

NeelyOHara1 · 02/10/2024 20:16

I voted YANBU because I would hope under those circumstances that women would feel freer to not emulate the worst behaviour of men in order to get ahead.

Lasttraintolondon · 02/10/2024 20:04

We should definitely have as close to equal we can get on numbers of men and women politicians because they should reflect society.

It's hugely niave and unrealistic to expect that putting any one group in charge of all other groups will have a good outcome -so no I don't think women in charge would work.

Faez · 02/10/2024 19:47

I haven't read the whole thread but did anyone see that episode of Sliders 😬

AgileGreenSeal · 02/10/2024 19:46

No.
looking at the current crop in my part of the UK definitely not.

itsgettingweird · 02/10/2024 19:45

cardibach · 01/10/2024 18:19

Nope, sadly.
In evidence I cite:
Margaret Thatcher
!ix Truss
Kemi Badenoch
Priti Patel
Suella Braverman

And that’s just in the U.K. Tory party.

Pretty much what I was going to type as I read the OP

Grin
Createausername1970 · 02/10/2024 19:44

No.

Some women are definitely better than some men. But it works both ways.

Liz Truss was useless. I am not liking Angela Rayner. Wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her.

Basically, the ones who want power, male or female are often not so nice. It's power they want, not what they can do to help. The ones who are happy to work hard in the background achieving stuff are the one you might want to lead, but they don't always want to. They don't always want the agro.

HRTQueen · 02/10/2024 19:37

yes

I think because it’s so difficult for women to get on in politics those that are often as ruthless as those around them will progress

but if the political world wasn’t so deeply misogynistic I think we would see a difference in politics and more women in power

CraverSpud · 02/10/2024 19:34

Liz Truss
Maggie T
Nicola Sturgeon
Arlene Foster
Kemi B.
Diane Abbott
Need I continue...

Novaavon · 02/10/2024 18:26

No. There are good, clever and talented women and good, clever and talented men. I believe in judging people on their merits in every aspect of life. People are people.

FastFood · 02/10/2024 13:57

No I don't think so.
I really don't buy this narrative that women are better because they're kind etc...
Anyone who has worked with women and men knows that both have the potential to be brilliant or insufferable.

Women are not magical creatures, we're human beings, some are good, some are bad.

hydriotaphia · 02/10/2024 13:51

Contrary to many on this thread, I think 100% women politicians would be better and more peaceful for the world.. I don't think you can assume that the same women would succeed in that scenario as have succeeded in a male dominated political world (ie Thatcher/Truss/Patel/Badenoch and the rest would not necessarily rise to the top). I'd like to give it a try anyway...

Dotjones · 02/10/2024 13:43

Liz Truss
Rachel Reeves
Margaret Thatcher
Caroline Lucas
Jess Phillips
Kemi Badenoch
Diane Abbott

Not exactly a glittering line-up.

mildlydispeptic · 02/10/2024 13:37

Good God, imagine a world run my Sarah Palin, Laura Loomer, Suella Braverman, Priti Patel, Kemi Badenoch and Liz the Lettuce. With a side order of Anne Widdecombe.

A significant proportion of humanity sucks. XX or XY chromosome has nothing to do with it.

Anyotherdude · 02/10/2024 13:21

No OP.
The world would be a nicer place if people who didn’t aspire to be politicians were barred from holding power though! The majority who approach it as being a career, I mean.
Only men and women who have held a job for 15+ years (not at butterfly-management level, either) should be considered eligible, imo, and then they should be selected by their local constituents who have examined their peer-reviewed CV that proves they have some area of expertise…

Frowningprovidence · 02/10/2024 13:08

I can't really imagine it. We live in a world where men have the power generally, so we see how women are when they are not as powerful. I can't really imagine what we'd be like if we were as generally powerful. (I'm thinking physical, economic, politically). The women at the top have succeeded in a man's world.

DiscontentedPig · 02/10/2024 13:05

Humans have an unfortunate tendency to look up to arrogant people and put them in charge of things.

If we all just decided we're only going to follow female leaders, then all that would happen is the arrogant men who are in charge now would be replaced with arrogant women. There are far fewer arrogant women than arrogant men, but there are still more than enough to go around.

If on the other hand we decided to stop following arrogant leaders, that really would make a difference. It wouldn't mean exclusively female leaders, though it might mean a majority to begin with. It would also mean fewer people would grow up thinking arrogance is a route to success.

Onand · 02/10/2024 13:00

Soukmyfalafel · 02/10/2024 12:29

It's not about the sex of the leader, but the emotional maturity, level of narcissism and delusion, and how bad their cocaine habit is.

As I have always said, if you got rid of cocaine, you would have a better world as these people are constantly on it. It was certainly rife in the Tory party.

I think what we are seeing now is the intention of what certain people wanted from the outset. I don't want the UK to support it and am deeply disappointed by our government. They need to grow some fucking balls.

Cocaine is a big problem. It makes Alpha types unbearably worse. The world would absolutely be better off without it.

Onand · 02/10/2024 12:57

I’ve worked with enough spiteful vindictive evil women to know this wouldn’t be the case. Margaret Thatcher, Kemi, Suella, Liz, Marjorie TG, there’s plenty of horror political examples to counter your theory OP.

GoForARun · 02/10/2024 12:54

Well I agree with you and generally think this too.

I just feel that the male ego gets tied up in a lot of these aggressive conflicts. That women would try harder and longer to sort things out politically/ diplomatically.

But, yes, as everyone has pointed out, some women are absolute horrors.

candlewhickgreen · 02/10/2024 12:35

SoupDragon · 02/10/2024 12:21

then you quoting me to make your comment makes no sense.

Ok.

OriginalUsername2 · 02/10/2024 12:30

Hahaha. Just look at mumsnet for the “niceness” of women.

There would still be violence in the world. You can’t conversation your way out of everything.

Soukmyfalafel · 02/10/2024 12:29

It's not about the sex of the leader, but the emotional maturity, level of narcissism and delusion, and how bad their cocaine habit is.

As I have always said, if you got rid of cocaine, you would have a better world as these people are constantly on it. It was certainly rife in the Tory party.

I think what we are seeing now is the intention of what certain people wanted from the outset. I don't want the UK to support it and am deeply disappointed by our government. They need to grow some fucking balls.

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