[1] Let's talk about: Feminist issue policies

All of these especially violence by men to women. But also pensions and what equality really means.

On the basis that the majority of carers in the UK are women - Carers Allowance becomes something of a feminist issue in that the paltry earnings cut-off point means that a carer on NLW cannot work more than about 14 hrs a week before losing their allowance totally even if - here are two examples - their elderly parent with dementia is lucky enough to go to a day centre 3 days a week, or their disabled child is in school for 30 hrs a week. To get the allowance, you have to 'care' for a minimum of 35 hrs per week so that is certainly still achievable even with a weekend's care, let alone the weekday evenings and mornings.
It discriminates against carers (women), blocks them from achieving economic well-being, and limits their opportunities for development and training to prepare them for a time when they no longer have caring responsibilities.
I've written to successive governments on this asking them to implement a sliding scale. No go.

Yes I agree, childcare is of course a shared family expense. But the reason that's trotted out so often on MN is because, imho, so many families still don't see it that way.

I agree with the nod to sustainability in the OP. There have been some really interesting discussions on here about the burden of sustainability being placed disproportionately on women, and the impacts of climate change affecting women more than men in LEDC's.

The deep, deep cuts to adult social care are having a huge effect on women as the majority of carers. Not only on women's careers and earning potential but also their ability to participate in society in more basic ways and their physical and mental health.

Sorry about the guardian link

www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/26/social-care-funding-crisis-putting-tens-of-thousands-at-risk

Removal of legal aid for divorce is a massive problem, leaving women in poverty and stripping them of assets.

I'd be interested in whether others think acknowledging the cost of childcare as a major stumbling block to working women is constructive, or whether this only serves to reinforce the idea of childcare as women's work

Yes it may be but not for the reason you give. In the case of a couple if it is looked at this way- father earns £30,000 , mother earns £20,00 childcare is £15,000- it's not worth working as wife only gets £5,000 after tax to keep.

The real way is family income was £50,000 it reduces to £35,000. Mother remains in the working world.

To my mind it is the rampant unpunished abuse and killing of women, which allows Patriarchy to continue. If all men were punished for abusing and killing of women, Patriarchy would fall in our lifetime.

In a democratic country, if women unite, they can make sure feminist analysis of women’s and men’s behaviour is properly accounted for, so that Police do not ignore Women’s abuse and the rapist does not go free because a woman froze in the moment and did not scream out.

There was an interesting discussion that came up on another thread recently about the cost of childcare and whether it should be subsidised in some way (eg through a tax deduction).

I'd be interested in whether others think acknowledging the cost of childcare as a major stumbling block to working women is constructive, or whether this only serves to reinforce the idea of childcare as women's work.

Excellent. Will contribute later, have to.go out in the pissing rain now.

I think this is a great idea and also explains why I mainly lurk, as this is the best comment I can think to add here.

Will be reading though.

Great idea Grabthar

I think Child Tax Credits is a massive one with the utterly horrible introduction of “the rape clause” where women can only claim tax credits for their third child if they can prove they have been raped.

Probably Benefits in general as a topic. Women are more likely to be on a low income and so more likely to be reliant on a range of benefits. Universal Credit has had a horrible impact on huge numbers of people, particularly women for a variety of reasons.

I personally would never vote for any party or politician who supports lower rates of benefits, or changing the system to disadvantage poor and/or disabled people.