David Cameron tells Angela Eagle to "calm down dear" at PMQ

[Bennifer]

I posted this in feminism but think this is appalling, if true.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13211577

I'm just not getting the gender stereotyping. Men call women dear. Women call men dear. People of either sex refer to children or other loved one's as dear. Certain luvvies refer to everyone and their dog as dear. Cameron has previously referred to another male colleague as dear.

Intentionally patronising- absolutely, as is so much of what goes on in parliamentary 'debate'. But the fuss sounds a bit like he has broken some rule that not everyone understands or accepts, that an intentionally patronising comment is immediately sexist because it is said by a man to a woman.

I think I disagree, it was patronising, it was meant to be patronising, and I can quite believe in that same moment he would have said the same thing to a man that was shouting above him. I don't think it requires an extra label of sexism just because she was a woman.

Still, clearly some people disagree, but life would be dull if we all agreed (for a start politicians would have nothing to shout at each other about and there would be no need for unimaginative putdowns nicked from irritating tv ads).

benne - he did say it to a man apparently some time ago. Which must have made him look/sound a bit camp and nothing else. This time it reveals his nasty littel sexist turn of thought.
but yes, how posters here defend him makes you wonder what other shit they are prepared to put up with day by day.

Its a very patronising remark especially in Goverment etc but tbh If someone said that to me I'd be mildly annoyed. but I think the fact its on tv etc v. patronising

CR - you're as lacking in wit as DC.

'If you are female you are used to it.' One of the saddest sentences in the English language or what?

It was most certainly MEAN'T to be patronising.

It was most DEFINATELY gender stereotyping of the hysterical female who needs to calm down.

I find this all very depressing. Not because I am loony leftie lesbo or anything else, nor an oversensitive flower, but merely because I expect our Prime Minister to behave better than that.

The Prime Minister is a professional, at work, in both a professional meeting and a public forum. There is no way in the world that any male CEO, line manager or general dogsbody would ever think it acceptable to behave in that way. The fact that people claim this is just the way parliament is says more about our political system (and why people feel so disenfranchised) than anything else.

Regardless of whether offence was intended or not, it shows the PM up to be the bullying, jobs for the boys frat boy that he really is.

30 years ago, ethnic minorities had to put up with jokes and jibes, all in a humorous context you understand, and if they objected they were told to get a sense of humour, some perspective, get a grip etc. This situation is no different.

And also, the fact that it is based on a Michael Winner advert is laughable in itself. For one, Winner has never really been the paragon of all things modern and acceptable and two, in the advert he portrays a condescending old dinosaur, completely out of touch with the situation, patronising a woman who he clearly feels is inferior and not quite the full ticket.

Oh hang on

Bunglie, if my boss ever called me love there'd be more than a couple of creme eggs at stake.

same old tories.

Animation, why did you put the two words in your post you cannot spell in capitals?

Bunglie, if you kicked your boss in the bollocks, you would be fired and arrested. You would not have the opportunity to calmly state afterwards that you did not like it.
It's an option that is as closed to the women in the house of commons as it is to you. The only way to stop it is to highlight it as unacceptable, i.e. make a fuss.
The fact that you described such a violent reaction at the thought of you having to put up with it is interesting, especially when your first post was basically 'she should put up and shut up'.

CameronRocks ...can't you go and talk to one of your mates on MSN or FB or something

AIBU to be getting great lulz from the fact that CR is getting no lulz despite his increasingly desperate attempts?

Your not exactly succeeding though are you

Epic Fail dear

It also highlights for me this thing that sexist men do - shut women up with a "you are hysterical and overexcited" put down like this, - and basically saying that they're not even going to listen to anything you have to say because you are emotional and unable to apply logic.

I'm a houselesbo!

you're *

But Angela Eagle is a hysterical (and exceptionally humourless) woman.

bet she's funnier than Michael Winner though.

I resent being called 'dear' you sexist git!

I hear lesbos is lovely at this time of year.

Only if you're a left wing lesbo Tethers.