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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Labour MP for Leeds says he OPPOSES single-sex spaces

143 replies

PotholeParadies · 04/02/2021 20:58

This was the question:

Do you agree that there should be sex-segregated facilities for women in hospitals, schools, refuges and prisons?

Alex Sobel, Labour MP for Leed NW said: No.

twitter.com/alexsobel/status/1356382772152184832?s=19

Labour MP for Leeds says he OPPOSES single-sex spaces
OP posts:
boatyardblues · 05/02/2021 07:21

Isn’t there a process by which the local population can recall an MP and trigger a by-election? That’s what needs to happen in this case.

ChattyLion · 05/02/2021 06:57

Doesn’t a Labour MP arguing for sexist policies which make multiple women feel discriminated against and unsafe and marginalised in their own claims to standard human safety dignity and privacy away from men when vulnerable.. appear to break the Labour party’s ‘code of conduct on Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination’ (....that last part should be ‘sex’ not ‘gender’ Hmm but stick with it...) because this says:

Code of Conduct: Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination

All codes of conduct and NEC statements form part of the agreed relationship between individual Labour Party members, and set the minimum code of conduct expected by the Party of all its members.

The Labour Party is the party of equality and has fought to ensure that society provides equal opportunities for all and will continue to do so. Labour strongly believes that no one should feel disadvantaged, discriminated against or harassed due to their gender either inside the party or in the wider society.

The Labour Party understands that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that takes place when someone is subjected to unwelcome and unwanted sexual behaviour or other conduct related to their gender. This can range from inappropriate comments to assault, can be verbal, non-verbal or physical and can take place both in person or online.

The Labour Party will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. Labour is committed to ensuring the party is a welcoming environment for all who share our aims and values to engage in political activity and debate without feeling disadvantaged or unsafe. Any behaviour that is perceived to discriminate against or harass another due to their gender has no place within the Labour Party.

labour.org.uk/members/my-welfare/my-rights-and-responsibilities/coc-sexual-harassment/

If they’re going to have a policy which is feelings based then a lot of us seem to have been made to feel in ways which would not fit with their policy by these comments.

MPs also have a duty to act in the public interest and it’s arguable that given the evidence of increased risk shown to women of being vulnerable in mixed sex spaces that this MP’s position is not in the public interest.

I feel like if these apparently anti-sexist structures and processes are there within political parties’ self-regulation, then it’s worth using them to bring wider attention and consideration to women’s issues, rather than allowing male MPs to behave as though fundamental practical matters of women’s rights as both negligible and inconsequential.

Awning10 · 05/02/2021 06:42

I've just filled in the complaint form. The replies on Twitter are worth a read.

Anordinarymum · 05/02/2021 02:04

When we had the elections and I went to vote, this guy was living in a room above a pub. He was not from this area at all so how could he even care about the local community? The MP for this area - a good man was ousted by this guy. I do not like him and he does not represent me.

Datun · 05/02/2021 02:01

@FoxBaseBeta

Just seen this shared on Facebook Shock So, according to Alex Sobel, vulnerable and abused women don't deserve the safeguarding they're entitled to under law Angry
And, when one girl every school day is raped in school, he wants to force them to undress in front of males.

And they're bigots.

He's proud of his women hating.

Impatiens · 05/02/2021 00:25

[quote JackOffJill]I'm a Labour member and have made a formal complaint. It's quite easy to do, whether you're a member or not.
labour.org.uk/members/my-welfare/making-a-complaint/[/quote]
Just done this and it was very quick and straightforward. Thanks

PotholeParadies · 05/02/2021 00:23

(30 followers is me. It's not getting any traction if I post it.)

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PotholeParadies · 05/02/2021 00:16

If any of you have got more than 30 followers on your twitter account, could you please ask people to email their MP with Mary's question?

Do you agree that there should be sex-segregated facilities for women in hospitals, schools, refuges and prisons?

And if anyone is a member of ovarit, please ask the Brits on there to join in.

OP posts:
radicalnotion · 04/02/2021 23:51

HeadPain I am done with Labour forever. They are an embarrassment.

HeadPain · 04/02/2021 23:46

They fkin can though can't they. They get to vote on these things.

I don't know if I will ever vote Labour again. I actually didn't vote at all last election.

HeadPain · 04/02/2021 23:45

Oh Alex. Wow.

I wonder if he has always been against single sex prisons, refuges, and hospital wards? Of course he wasn't. He's just been woked into it. Fking hell. Mixed sex prisons.... Refuges... Has he thought this through? Right, a male in prison for raping women should be housed with women? Heard of Karen White? A male should be placed in a refuge with women who are domestic abuse survivors? Also why the f do men think they can give away our rights?

foxhat · 04/02/2021 23:45

Place marking so I can also make a complaint tomorrow. Disgusting in every way. Clear stupidity too as he appears to not understand the concept of 'bigot'

radicalnotion · 04/02/2021 23:32

I will complain about this MP too. Even though Ieft the party a few years ago when the misogyny really ramped up under Corbyn. I have had enough. Starmer needs to step up and stop pretending that this will all go away. His silence is giving these women haters the green light.

anotherhumanfemale · 04/02/2021 23:24

@merrymouse

I really want the DM to run a headline saying ‘Labour: mixed prisons are the future’ so that Starmer and other MPs are forced to get off the fence and explain where they stand on this.

I agree. But the response would probably just be "It's the DM, it's hate-filled bigotry and I'm not responding".

Ifyourefeelingsinister · 04/02/2021 23:14

Thanks JackOff. I am a party member too (beginning to wonder why) - I will make a complaint.

JackOffJill · 04/02/2021 23:03

I'm a Labour member and have made a formal complaint. It's quite easy to do, whether you're a member or not.
labour.org.uk/members/my-welfare/making-a-complaint/

Ifyourefeelingsinister · 04/02/2021 23:02

Will email my Labour MP and Keir Starmer. I can't get over how enthusiastically men in power wish to throw away women's rights

PotholeParadies · 04/02/2021 22:56

Thank you. I've just done it - sent my MP an email and cc'd Keir Starmer. I had to include my postal address and phone number, which makes sense to show I'm a constituent, but is also terrifying considering the toxicity of this issue. Isn't it mad that I am literally shaking now for having entrusted my own MP's office with my opinion and home address?

I have similar reservations. But I am going to do it anyway. I've always deeply admired Elizabeth Fry, whose work campaigning for the welfare of imprisoned women's was covered in child-appropriate detail in the history textbook I had.

It is absurd that anyone could want to go backwards.

OP posts:
merrymouse · 04/02/2021 22:53

I really want the DM to run a headline saying ‘Labour: mixed prisons are the future’ so that Starmer and other MPs are forced to get off the fence and explain where they stand on this.

Lottapianos · 04/02/2021 22:51

'Keir Starmer needs to climb down off the fence and sort this shit out, or check if there’s space back at the CPS for when he’s unemployable along with the rest of the party.'

Well said. I'm sick to death of him avoiding this issue and hoping it will all blow over. It wont. Women's safety and dignity is at stake here, and being undermined by members of his own party. What an utter disgrace

SuperHighway · 04/02/2021 22:49

@PartyofPun

Hard drive check time.
My thoughts exactly.
Labour MP for Leeds says he OPPOSES single-sex spaces
NiceGerbil · 04/02/2021 22:48

To pretend they didn't just say they didn't think women deserved single sex prisons, refuges, showers etc etc

EdgeOfACoin · 04/02/2021 22:45

I see his follow up Tweet was about gender neutral toilets. Why do these people always bring it back to toilets???

FoxBaseBeta · 04/02/2021 22:43

Just seen this shared on Facebook Shock So, according to Alex Sobel, vulnerable and abused women don't deserve the safeguarding they're entitled to under law Angry

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