Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Men at Westminster

61 replies

OlennasWimple · 29/10/2017 16:00

In the light of the revelations already out there, and the suggestion that there are plenty more to come, I thought it would be worth having a stand alone thread to discuss them rather than them being caught up in other threads. The way that this is being reported and commented on is interesting in itself.

For example, it's apparently Theresa May's fault that there are "sex pests" in the Cabinet (not the men themselves who are to blame)

Whilst Jeremy Hunt manages to patronise grown women with his suggestion that the people who need reassurance are "the mums and dads" of women in Westminster, not the women themselves...

OP posts:
QuentinSummers · 30/10/2017 20:25

The pictures in here say it all really
m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/women-mps-outnumber-men-during-sex-harassment-debate_uk_59f77941e4b09b5c2568457b/

Angry "Witch hunt" indeed. If anyone needs proof the patriarchy is alive and well this is it. Men can't even be arsed to turn up to discuss how to put this right.
QuentinSummers · 30/10/2017 20:21

I think May is being weak (and the other leaders).
They should withdraw the whip while they investigate at least. And remove cabinet ministers temporarily.

Elendon · 30/10/2017 19:51

May has already deflected solutions to be had onto Bercow. He has rejected this saying it's up to the leaders of each party within Parliament to sort it out, and rightly so.

It's going to run for a long time to deflect from the shambles that is Brexit

sorry to mention Brexit, twice

outabout · 30/10/2017 19:49

Women's hour this morning in a short piece about it highlighted the problem that they are not 'employees' and so can't really be disciplined or sacked. Disgraceful. This definitely needs changing.
To think that collectively they could take us into wars but can't keep their hands off other people.

woman11017 · 30/10/2017 19:36

Tories could lose power over this one. Stakes are high. Channel 4 news has just reported that half of the names on the circulating list are ministers.

QuentinSummers · 30/10/2017 18:38

I just heard Bernard Jenkins going on about how much things had improved compared to 20 years ago. It had an undertone of women should put up with It, it's not that bad. Grrrrr.

Original poster
OlennasWimple · 30/10/2017 13:15

"Sex pests" sound like something along the lines of fleas or bed bugs. Not grown men using their power and privilege to sexually harass (and possibly assault) women

OP posts:
BlueA4Paper · 30/10/2017 09:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

antimatter · 30/10/2017 09:20

I am very upset about media trivializing it as they have so far. This makes them part of the problem and they don't realise.

I am disgusted.

FlorenceLyons · 30/10/2017 09:17

Thanks for starting this thread, Olenna. I'm getting more and more angry about the trivialised way this is being reported. The use of the term 'sex pests'. Nick Robinson (who frankly is not covering himself with glory at the moment) asking the BBC's Westminster correspondent this morning if this is a real issue or overblown. And yes, Jeremy fricking Hunt and his 'mums and dads' comment.

These are the people who are running the country, for christ's sake. What message does it send to everyone else if they think it's ok to behave like this, and the media thinks it's ok to be all 'lads together' about it?

QuentinSummers · 29/10/2017 17:17

I do think Theresa May (and I expect Cameron before her) should have investigated and dealt with any allegations of harassment when they arose, rather than waiting for it to get into the press.
She needs to grow a spine and deal with it now.

Swipe left for the next trending thread