Yet 'more' internet sexism - Louise Mensch sexist abuse on Twitter

@sardinequeen "Incidentally after newsnight yesterday I was talking to DH again about thread on here which had the question. If we need to have more women in power to improve things for women, should feminists always vote for a woman (if there is one available) irrespective of politics. And I still find that a very very interesting question."

^ I would never never vote Tory. They are in no way a progressive party when it comes to women's rights, or for that matter the rights of normal working class people. I'm a strong feminist and I think Thatcher put the women's movement back years.

As to the main point, despite my dislike of Mensch and her party, she does have a point about sexist abuse. I'm all for free speech, but not hate speech.

Today on the BBC apparently a UKIP "spokesman" has called Lady Warsi a "bitch" on twitter.

'The violence of the language used towards women who express their opinions on the internet, is very different to the insults men suffer. Very few men are threatened with rape or murder, their right to be there and assert their views without sexually explicit abuse or threats being thrown at them, is not questioned.'

Very, very true. I don't particularly like Louise Mensch and am far from her politically, but I am so sick of women being treated this way and of people dismissing it or suggesting that 'men get abuse/threats too' and saying there isn't a significant difference in the way that women are treated.

I think it's becoming more and more obvious that misogynists use the excuse of free speech, to silence women on the internet.

They want to make sure that women know that like every other public space, we are only there on sufference and they'll make it very uncomfortable for us to there. If we dare to step out of line, express ourselves in a way they don't like, or say things we don't, like they threaten to track us down, rape us, hit us with hammers, etc.

The violence of the language used towards women who express their opinions on the internet, is very different to the insults men suffer. Very few men are threatened with rape or murder, their right to be there and assert their views without sexually explicit abuse or threats being thrown at them, is not questioned.

It's one of the reasons Mumsnet gets infested with MRA's - because they hate the idea that we are talking to each other without them policing our talk and makign sure we don't step out of line.

It's very telling that many women adopt male usernames on many websites, as then they can express their views without the threat that they'll be tracked down and raped.

I really don't like Louise Mensch but I heard her on R4 this morning and couldn't help feeling a grudging respect for what she was saying.

lottapianos My view is that she is an OK MP and has only held the seat since the last election so a bit early to make any real conclusions. There are issues she will get her teeth into and follow up, she is outspoken and articulate (which you would expect from a best-selling author, even of chick-lit!). However, she is a bit of a diva. For example, she (rightly) complains about sexism and the unfair emphasis on appearance then poses looking glamorous for an up market women's mag. She also makes unwise comments such as she was disappointed not to get a ministerial post and doesn't know how long she will remain an MP as it's hard with three children etc. etc.

There are quite a lot of critical comments about her in the letters columns of the local paper but that could be more because she captured the constituency from Labour in the last election and the town of Corby - an ex-steel town - has traditionally always been Labour. The Tories got in partly (obviously) because of disillusion with Labour but more because the constituency also contains the large rural, traditionally Conservative area of East Northants.

So, brassed-off Labour voters in Corby itself clearly don't take kindly to her.

Just saw this on the BBC

I admire her for speaking out about this and I think it is important that women in the public eye do so.

Politically I am a leftie but I always think this politician comes across very well. I saw Newsnight last night and personally I agree with her re the murdoch comment thing but that is another thread for another topic! I haven't ever heard her say anything that made me want to throw something which is quite something for a tory MP so she is alright in my book.

Incidentally after newsnight yesterday I was talking to DH again about thread on here which had the question. If we need to have more women in power to improve things for women, should feminists always vote for a woman (if there is one available) irrespective of politics. And I still find that a very very interesting question.

Louise Mensch is my local MP. I know, I know.....

Irrespective of whether one agrees or disagrees with her she was only one of the Tories on that committee who refused to sign up to the line that Murdoch was not fit to run a global company. I believe the others were male.

Did they get abuse hurled at them on Twitter I wonder? No prizes for guessing the answer to that...

She was on R4 this morning talking about it if ayone would rather listen to R4 than read the DailyFail :)