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Original poster

Theresa May's childlessness - would this be an issue for a man?

30 replies

maggiethemagpie · 09/07/2016 12:06

Much has been made of Theresa May's childless status in the run up to the PM elections.

Now it would seem Angela Leadsom has capitalised on this by inferring she has an edge over May as she has children.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/09/andrea-leadsom-under-fire-over-misquoted-motherhood-comments

Can anyone imagine this being an issue with male candidates? Does anyone even know if Gove has kids for example? Would it even matter?

Yet it sure seems to matter if a woman is running for PM!

FWIW Theresa May wanted kids, but couldn't have them and then this is apparantly being used against her.... by another woman.

Equality still has a long way to go.

OP posts:
gettingtherequickly · 09/07/2016 12:22

God, the thought of Gove and his wife having offspring?

Confused
MoonriseKingdom · 09/07/2016 12:18

The best example I can think of in recent times is William Hague who was Tory leader but never PM during the Blair years.

He is married but childless. I don't think it was ever suggested that his lack of offspring would interfere with his ability to do the job. However, he ended up having to talk about the struggles he and his wife had trying to be parents I think to dispel some insinuations he might be secretly gay. I imagine both of them would have preferred this most personal information to remain secret.

The main person pushing the angle of TM being childless is Andrea Leadsome and some of her supporters. TM seems to have a lot of support in the press.

HerBigChance · 09/07/2016 12:18

I think it would be an issue for a man in this position these days. Much would be made of him not being a Family Man, but itshouldn't matter for either sex. I hope the comparison causes some damage to AM's campaign.

FWIW I don't think we'll ever see a single person, of either sex, as PM again.

MrsJoeyMaynard · 09/07/2016 12:17

I really can't imagine fatherhood (or lack of) being a major issue for a male candidate.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 09/07/2016 12:16

I don't think it would matter. Wasn't william Hague childless? Don't remember it being a thing? I have no idea if John major had kids, again wasn't a thing.

Angela leadsom also came out with this delight in an interview I read today "I'm not a feminist because I like men". Wtf?