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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

If a general election was called, who would you vote for?

443 replies

Anothernamechange3 · 07/12/2021 22:42

Or really, who can I vote for? I don’t want to vote Tory, especially after today’s revelations. I also don’t feel happy voting Labour or Green, for reasons often discussed on this board. Is there a party you’d feel happy to vote to be in power if you had a chance to, say, tomorrow? Feeling pretty despondent

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Blibbyblobby · 20/12/2021 15:52

@Fifteentoes

There is literally no issue more important than climate change (and that includes my one about democracy vs fascism). There can't be, because all questions about how society works become meaningless if the planet is rendered incapable of habitation by a society in the first place.

How people don't get this (not here specifically, but when considering all aspects of politics) is beyond me.

There is always something more important than being fair to female people. You either suck it up, this time and all the other times, or you say "You want my support for X then you need to include female people's voices and priorities NOW, not at some future point when all the other "more important" (ie "affect males as well") problems are solved.

And let's be clear-eyed about this...we are not even talking about voting for parties who are deciding to do nothing in particular to make things better for female people, we are talking about whether or not to vote for parties who have actively and publicly committed to make things worse.

I would never expect a Jewish person to overlook Labour's anti-Semintism because "the Tories are worse", and I would not expect a female person to overlook misogyny for some imagined Greater Good (for males).

Blibbyblobby · 20/12/2021 15:31

@NoNotMeNoSiree

Enduring female. See, I just don't get that. I find it sad that people would find being female an endurance.
In a structurally sexist society being female is a disability. That is not because there's something wrong instrinsically with being female, but because there's something wrong intrinsically with society.

And female people endure that unfairness in a myriad of social, political, economic, cultural and at times physical ways.

I'm surprised you don't notice that TBH.

MoonlightApple · 20/12/2021 15:20

I’ve a list as long as my arm who I wouldn’t vote for, but who I would really like to vote for is a Blairite socialist who knows what an f-ing woman is. Anybody know one?

BasiliskStare · 20/12/2021 01:07

@CheeseMmmm - does that explain it any better ? Not sure (insert embarrassed emoticon of your choice ) I was doing it in the context of not voting at all ( & I include spoiled ballots in that for pragmatic reasons)

BasiliskStare · 20/12/2021 00:52

@CheeseMmmm I may be wrong but I take armchair general to be someone who likes to sit on the side and give their opinion rather than getting involved. I did mention it in the context of spoilt ballots.

I am not trying to tell anyone else what they should do or what they should think - but I do think if you do not cast a vote - then say what you like - you haven't given yourself a stake. (my opinion)

But but but - anyone is allowed to say what they like whether they vote or not

It's just an opinion - I think people should vote and preferably not spoil a ballot because realistically that vote is just chucked in the bin. It is just my opinion (others are available )

SantaClawsServiette · 20/12/2021 00:35

Given that none of the political parties have plausible climate plans, is that a very compelling reason to vote for anyone?

BigHuff · 19/12/2021 22:43

[quote Awkwardy]Some of the parties are fighting back from the inside - this is the Lib Dems self-organised "voice for women". The genderwoo misogynists hate it.

liberalvoiceforwomen.org/[/quote]
This is heartening. Although I disagree with the lib dems on several things (self ID, natch), I respect that they have long supported PR and that they are against some of the more restrictive covid measures.

I am appalled by the state of labour as a whole - they are a gutless, authoritarian mess. How did it come to this?

Artichokeleaves · 18/12/2021 10:26

@ScreamingMeMe

Listening to the locals in Shropshire they were hugely pissed off with the sitting Tory MP, and even more pissed off that some bloke was parachuted in from another part of the country who knew nothing about the area, didn't live there and cared less. It was a massive protest vote.

Sounds a lot like what happened in Hartlepool (with different parties, obviously). Parties take votes for granted at their peril.

Completely agree. It was a really stupid thing for the Tories to have done with that seat, showing yet more head in the clouds arrogance. They also are unwilling to clock the inconvenient fact that the voters do not like professional politicians.
ScreamingMeMe · 18/12/2021 09:39

Listening to the locals in Shropshire they were hugely pissed off with the sitting Tory MP, and even more pissed off that some bloke was parachuted in from another part of the country who knew nothing about the area, didn't live there and cared less. It was a massive protest vote.

Sounds a lot like what happened in Hartlepool (with different parties, obviously). Parties take votes for granted at their peril.

ScreamingMeMe · 18/12/2021 09:38

The greens who should are focussing on gender ideology. I say that as someone who joined so I could vote for a leader who would reset the party back to environmental issues which means I can see the agenda for the local party meetings. I’m even more disappointed in them seeing the local reality of gender ideology obsession. I’m staying so I can vote for a women to lead the green woman’s group then leaving regardless they are a joke.

I did this too but I tapped out as I feel they are beyond hope now. I genuinely wish you the best of luck though. It would be great to have a proper Green Party again.

Artichokeleaves · 18/12/2021 09:37

Listening to the locals in Shropshire they were hugely pissed off with the sitting Tory MP, and even more pissed off that some bloke was parachuted in from another part of the country who knew nothing about the area, didn't live there and cared less. It was a massive protest vote.

This is what terrifies me. The Tories are going to piss off enough voters to go for Labour out of sheer desire to have something different, and effectively women's rights are gone. Overnight. Stonewall in power, male supremacism in place, safeguarding in bits, and a government that will be openly and enthusiastically anti women. I can't stand the current Tory party, but Labour are fucking dangerous.

ScreamingMeMe · 18/12/2021 09:35

@CheeseMmmm

Sorry

Tldr.

Climate change? Go and tell it to men.

And stop telling us that there's (always) something more important we should sort out before we think about our half of the population.

Totally agree. We're always back of the queue, but expected to care for everyone else and solve their problems. Rather sick of it now.
WomanStillNotAFeeling · 18/12/2021 09:24

Fifteentoes
There is literally no more important than climate change

I agree with you, and there is literally no political party in the UK paying any attention to it. The greens who should are focussing on gender ideology. I say that as someone who joined so I could vote for a leader who would reset the party back to environmental issues which means I can see the agenda for the local party meetings. I’m even more disappointed in them seeing the local reality of gender ideology obsession. I’m staying so I can vote for a women to lead the green woman’s group then leaving regardless they are a joke.

CheeseMmmm · 18/12/2021 01:48

15 I went on a bit of a rant earlier about environment, women, men, power, UK ability to impact global change etc.

I don't think you responded to any points which is fine.

The other thing I would say is that-

Women and children are way more impacted by climate change than men. And being impacted now and for a fair while.

When it comes to what about children's future, future generations. It's not a secret that anything to do with children- health, poverty, education, crime, abuse, standard of living... Everything. Is everywhere in the world more important to women.
In fact often issues for children are in 'women's' section.

Think of the children is a much derided point. And saying to women? Like we're the group who need a reminder that children matter too? It's men who need to be told. And take interest. We already do.

WandaWomblesaurus · 18/12/2021 01:46

JKR. None of the political parties know what a woman is.

CheeseMmmm · 18/12/2021 01:31

I like the best thing for women who care about women's rights should do about constantly being told off by all and sundry for not proritising xy or z.

Is to pick one to prioritise over women's rights.

And the one to pick is 15s one.

Grin
CheeseMmmm · 18/12/2021 01:28

Yes Shropshire! Blimey.

I said to DH the timing prob helped with the Xmas parties fresh in minds.

Then he said ah and the fact their MP was Owen Patterson might have had a bit to do with it as well Grin

Hahahaha n Shropshire nice one!

VelvetChairGirl · 17/12/2021 18:32

unless someone stands up for womens rights, redistribution of wealth/ending poverty, tackling climate change seriously, fixing ties with the EU and bringing the establishment to justice and ending their tax dodging and corruption, I will spoil my vote.

prudencepuffin · 17/12/2021 09:29

As a political activist for god knows how many years, I am not used to sitting on the fence! But nonnymouse and "fifteen toes*, I think you both have a point. True that huge numbers of people are more worried about whether they will keep their job or even if they can keep putting food on the table. But also true that the planet is fucked unless immediate action is taken (and yes, I know all countries need to sign up to this). Its what keeps me awake at night and what makes it bloody difficult to vote, given that I`m furious about womens rights being threatened as well. Thousands of us must feel like this and its not a good place.

catzwhiskas · 17/12/2021 09:26

Interesting result in Shropshire today. Do we know if the new woman LD MP is fighting for women, or accepting the nonsense put about by the party?

Fifteentoes · 17/12/2021 09:25

Lib Dems take North Shropshire from Tories with 34% swing.

Clearly not many mumsnetters in North Shropshire. Smile

NonnyMouse1337 · 17/12/2021 09:04

@Fifteentoes

There is literally no issue more important than climate change (and that includes my one about democracy vs fascism). There can't be, because all questions about how society works become meaningless if the planet is rendered incapable of habitation by a society in the first place.

How people don't get this (not here specifically, but when considering all aspects of politics) is beyond me.

Because short-term and more immediate concerns and worries are always going to top people's lists. Uncertainty and instability of the job market, rising costs of living, lack of affordable housing - these are some of the things that impact people on a daily basis. A lot of people are not going to give a flying fuck about some future doomsday when there are more pressing issues like what are they going to do if the landlord hikes up the rent again. Armageddon style scenarios might get some folks fired up, but for many others it feels depressing, hopeless and too big of a problem to contemplate. It's human nature.
Fifteentoes · 17/12/2021 08:58

And you could easily turn that argument on its head: Why is it that young people, when they make the really quite modest demand of expecting to have a habitable planet to grow old on, just as every previous generation has assumed, are told that there's always some other problem to be addressed first?

Fifteentoes · 17/12/2021 08:48

Why are women who are interested in women's/ girls rights, their situations all over the world.

ALWAYS been told to prioritise something else?

Does this happen to other rights groups?

For me personally, it would in this case, yes. I support struggles against racism, homophobia etc, but I don't think any of them are more important than climate change, simply because it's not going to do any of those groups any good to achieve equality in a world of unlivable climate catastrophe.

twinklystar23 · 17/12/2021 06:48

Am so pro voting, my g.grandmother was a suffragette as well! I am so politically homeless, time to make our concerns heard as we are 51% of the electorate.

On a lighter note, reading these reminds me of a quote on the film bad education

"The mums put down their giant glasses of prosecco, got off mumsnet and picked up their pitchforks!"

Time to make our voices heard? With two years to organise and put the pressure on....

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