AIBU to be disappointed with Theresa May's response to "Legs-it"

[Gonzales27]

AIBU to feel that May has missed a chance to take a real stand for feminism here! I'm sick of woman taking this crap lying down for fear of being seen as humourless or hysterical, while all the time the ability of strong females is being seriously undermined.
(Ps not particularly a big fan of May generally)

Quote from sky news :

The Prime Minister has dismissed the sexism row over the Daily Mail's "Legs-it" headline, saying it's "just a bit

The paper sparked an angry backlash after reducing talks between Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon to a battle of the legs with a picture of two women and the headline "Never mind Brexit, who won Legs-it!".
The newspaper was accused of "stealing its headlines from the 1950s" and lambasted as "moronic" and "sexist" by MPs.
But Mrs May said: "If people want to have a bit of fun about how we dress, then so be it."

Theresa May is certainly not friends with Gove. She ditched him for being a backstabber.

I was disappointed in her response. I suppose she chose the best way to make it stop but it IS a shame that she couldn't manage a more robust response.

People STILL thinking this shit is ok is deeply depressing.

She should have in my opinion said something succinct about everyday sexism

Exactly this, instead her "it's just a bit of fun" Just makes her sound like she's trying to be one of the boys, imo. (Albeit I know the author was female)

She may well have better things to be doing, but she wasn't doing them when she responded to that headline - and she did respond. As per the OP, But Mrs May said: "If people want to have a bit of fun about how we dress, then so be it." If she was going to take the time out of her busy schedule to say anything at all couldn't it have been something far less shit??

Instead Mrs. May gives her tacit approval for sexist cronies everywhere to reduce strong, professional women to objects of sexual desire and to pit them against each other as such. So be it?? No thanks Mrs. May, you incorrigible twat!

YABU. Shes the PM. Doesnt get much bigger than that in "making a stand for feminism". Why on earth should she be bothering about some ridiculous reporting in a tabloid rag?

er not really. you can be a woman PM and not a feminist. I don't think she is, really when you look at her position on all sorts of issues that shaft other women.

I think she could have shut it down without appearing to condone it.

But to keep her power she has to keep the patriarchy happy tbh

Epoxy said it better "If she was going to take the time out of her busy schedule to say anything at all couldn't it have been something far less shit?" Quite.

If I wanted a leading female for my daughter to aspire to it would be Elizabeth Warren

Nicola Sturgeon is not one for keeping her trap shut.

I'm surprised she didn't offer the DM a mouthful.

This is exactly the debate I was hoping for. I can see both points of view on this. It's hard to find the line for sensible feminism that will have a positive impact.

I think she could have made a better response. But I also think maybe now isn't the time for her to make a stand against this, and distract everyone from Brexit, the economy etc.

Wormwood, don't know much about Elizabeth Warren (just googled her). Can you enlighten me?

It's hard to find the line for sensible feminism that will have a positive impact.

Sorry, what?

Klaphat

Finding a way to get the point truly understood for those who have subliminal/subconscious sexism without it just being taken for female hysteria or humourlessness.

I have said this before but i am always a tad surprised that so many MN posters look at the Mail site while vehemently slagging it off! I am willing to bet that the outrage over this caused some people to add to their click count - so job done for them really.

It's wrong but threads like this always give it far more oxygen than it deserves

Not disappointed at all. She's a Conservative Prime Minister, not some humourless wilting violet, and thank God for that!

I think she was between a rock and a hard place tbh. She'd have been criticised in some way whatever her reaction.

At the end of the day it's the journalist's fault for writing the article. It almost feels a little like victim blaming to say that May didn't respond in the right way.

I have said this before but i am always a tad surprised that so many MN posters look at the Mail site while vehemently slagging it off!

BBC News shows front pages.

Mango thanks I was searching for words to say how I felt and it's exactly as you say. It's not TM's responsibility what a journalist writes and she wouldn't have 'won' whatever her response.

Can't stand the woman.

I saw it on the tv. Not the paper. What she said can be also interpreted as dismissive and stating what journalists wrote as irrelevant. I think the statement was deliberately vague and open to interpretation.

I know it was reported in several places but I'm willing to bet that plenty of MNers went into the DM site anyway..

Interesting point that it could be seen as victim blaming. I'm not sure where I stand as you could be right.

I guess what I hope for in a Prime Minister is to lead the way and take a stand about something that has clearly frustrated and offended so many. She is in a position where her actions and decisions are questioned every day. She probably foresaw the question coming, why not use the world stage she has to say that this shit has to stop.

Maybe with less swearing for the six o clock news

If feminism is about equality then, given they are
Both the senior politicians in their respective countries, I think they would look stupid if they made an issue of it.

And people would criticise them for making a big deal out of it instead of ignoring it and getting on with, ya know, the job they do.

Its so depressing that we even have to have this conversation

It is Daniel - they are grown women who haven't bothered to enter into a slanging match with the press, and people still expect them to involve themselves in petty things

No YANBU. She's spineless. A simple ' I have more important things to do than acknowledge this pathetic sexism' would have done.