AIBU?
The privileged feminist vote
Home2018 · 09/12/2019 23:33
So, there have been many conversations about intersectionality, always approached from a theoretical standpoint.
However, I think this GE and the focus of the vast majority of threads referring to the GE on the feminism boards may be a good example to highlight some of the points being made by woc.
For comparison, I was listing to a BBC R4 talk the other day and a young northerner spoke about his vote. The interviewer asked him about Brexit, as they did with all interviewees, and he said that focusing on Brexit in comparison to the NHS, welfare state and education as a low paid father of a disabled child in an underfunded state system was a privilege.
Which, sort of brings me to my point.
Many woc feel that the mainstream feminist narrative is centred on privileged women trying to seek equality alongside privileged men, rather than female allegiance focused on trying to ensure equality for those that need the voices of those more fortunate to level thier even lesser playing field.
In the run up to this GE, in comparison to issues such as the NHS, education for the poorest children in our society - half of them being the least privileged girls, state benefits for the poorest, the disabled, carers (again, most of which are women), racism against all minorities etc, can many on these boards say that thier focus has been on using their vote for the most vulnerable, most in need women? Or, unfortunately, themselves and the quest for equality among two of societies most privileged groups?
Whilst self ID is an extremely important issues which needs to be explored, during an election which literally comes down to protecting the rights of the haves and have nots, is spoiling your vote on an issue which isnt affecting women to the same extent to which issues as above are, as we speak, the true, sisterly, inclusive and non self centred feminist way to go?
I speak as a women whose neighbor's cancer suffering aunt was deported as part of the windrush debacle. She was a woman who devoted her life to caring for others. Men and women included. In an election such as this, do we not stand up for the elderly, less politically and educationally astute? For many of whom this election equals life and death. Or do we make a point?Is self ID and the focus on that the same? Is it more important? Does the suffering of those less able in society even feature?
Or, do you spoil you ballot over this one issue over many others that are here, right now, and the poorest most vulnerable women in society are left to suffer from alone?
Do you vote (or abstain from voting) to make a single point knowing fully well that the party that will win will literally disregard the human rights of societies most vulnerable people.
Disproportionately affecting women as result?
Honest question!
GCAcademic · 10/12/2019 00:37
You are making some assumptions there. For a start, why do you think there aren’t women of colour on the feminism board? There are.
And you can blame Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens for putting us in a position where we have to choose between women’s safety and rights and ending austerity. They put self-ID in their manifestoes in full knowledge of how many women are worried about it. No one held a gun to their heads. They prioritised that, knowing it would cost them votes. So don’t tell me they care about the disabled and poor. They care more about pleasing the bourgeois liberal activists in their parties.
Adenosine · 10/12/2019 00:37
Since Corbyn's spent the last two weeks peddling lies about the NHS and his secret dossier, I'd say that your neighbour's aunt isn't going to be any better off under him than she would be under Johnson, given that he's a fantasist and a twat. This is the basis that I'm spoiling my vote on. Hth
LoungeLizardLhama · 10/12/2019 00:41
I totally agree with you op, although perhaps not so eloquently 
I feel that there’s just so much more at stake than women’s rights and we just have until Thursday to do the right thing for education, the NHS, the homeless and disabled and sick people who are already dying in their 10’s of thousands under the conservatives. We will still have the same fight on our hands for the rights of woman and girls on Friday; what would be the point of wasting our votes, that our foremothers fought so bloody hard for, to make a point on a single issue that will in no way change if we don’t vote. Maybe just maybe Labour mean what they say about respecting the equality act in the manifesto and we might actually protect women’s rights, I think it’s worth taking my chances on them rather than just throwing the whole bloody lot away on a wasted vote or a vote for the Tories.
wafflyversatile · 10/12/2019 01:04
- But this is the single most important issue.
Really? It's the single most important issue to women going to food banks, women at risk of eviction because benefits don't cover rent, women struggling to get the care their children or parents need, women who cant afford legal services without legal aid?
I'm with you OP. I dont get it. Even if one agrees with GCF, you are throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
MrsTerryPratchett · 10/12/2019 01:24
But it's impossible.
If the Tories get in the economy is fucked and they'll throw the poorest under the bus.
If labour and the Lib Dems get their way no one knows what a woman is and rape crisis, prisons, shelters have predatory men in them preying on the most very vulnerable. Also the left has a very real misogyny problem.
And both Brexit and losing sight of women will take massively more than an election term to sort out.
JingsMahBucket · 10/12/2019 01:35
@Home2018 YANBU and this happens all the time. WOC constantly get thrown under the bus even though they shoulder a large share of the burden of caring for others.
Much like @peachgreen I think I may hide the thread afterward because it’ll likely be flooded by the usual posters denying racism in the UK is real.
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