Argh, this is why I'll never vote Conservative

[HeadFairy]

poor loves can't be the main bread winners and it's our fault!

OMG
am speechless

Those pesky women getting thmeselves an education, couldn't they be happy with learning cross-sitch?

Did vacuous Bridget Jones go to university?

Please, no.

I think David W has something of a point. He's not saying that women shouldn't work or go to university; he's saying that men generally have a problem and are viewed as pretty crapulous (a view which is often shared on MN). On the whole, men do like to provide - but we are very good at telling them that we can do everything so much better than they can (from changing nappies and arranging playdates to loading the dishwasher to earning a living), which could well make them feel redundant and useless.

Personally, I would not much like to be a man!

PS I am learning cross-stitch. I kid you not.

"no longer being given the opportunity of being the breadwinner" what an arse that willett is.

dottoressa i disagree, he is directly suggesting that women should stand aside so that these men should have a chance. he doesn't point out anythign else standing in their way.

The Conservatives just shot themselves in the foot and both knees.

No man finds capable women a problem. Because if he does then he is no man.

I suspect Bridget did go to university I've always assumed (to the extent I gave it any thought it's not a major preoccupation or anything) that that was where she met her assortment of friends.

But PMSL at Emily Thornberry's "Is David Willetts saying that someone as clever, funny and creative as Bridget Jones should not have gone to university?". Half the point of Bridget is that she isn't very clever, and she seems to be only accidentally funny or creative. Could she be confusing the character with the author?

I don't think DW is directly suggesting anything, to be honest -- he's just doing a general soundbite waffle. It could even be seen as a lament for the decline of the traditionally heavily male-employing British manufacturing industry, which happened under... now let me see, which government was it?

I do worry though, as the mother of dss, that education is skewed towards girls succeeding (continual assessment, as is well-documented benefits girls over boys) and therefore they get more Uni places. Over half of law schools, medical schools, accountancy courses are filled with girls. Which is fab and great for girls. But then their drop out rate is astronomical later in their careers when they have babies.

So you could argue it would be better for society to put more boys onto these courses because they will repay their education with more years in these professions.

working mothers is not the issue with family breakdown - it is often no working parents leading to huge money issues, or overworked parents (either one or both) who don't have time and energy for family life.

If they were brave enough to say we have to deal with the long hours culture and at the other end of the scale the no work culture - then they might - just might - have my vote.

The thing that worries me is the implication that girls should step back a bit to let the boys catch up. Or am I reading too much in to it? Why on earth should I carry the burden of responsibility for feckless men who don't get an education and don't work hard and then whinge about not earning enough. I've earned more than my husband for years, he's finally just overtaken me, but only because I've cut my hours back to be with ds more. He's a real man and doesn't whinge about it, but gets on with things and works harder to climb up the ladder and better himself.

yes,wry smile on way to work at all the poor men muscled out by pushy career women,cant even provide a bacon butty

LOL the willets inner caveman popeth out

Am I right in thinking that everyone who has had a knee-jerk reaction to DW's comments wouldn't have voted Conservative anyway?

So is he just there to preach to the converted then dottoressa, or to convert?

I agree with PortandLemon. Emily Thornberry needs a reality check. Is she actually aware that Bridget Jones is a fictional character?

Ach. It's all balls anyway. No country needs an extra gazillion degrees a year being given out free with a packet of cornflakes in any case.
The change in stats is probably something to do with the number of courses on offer in girlie subjects that didn't exist before, and changes in training for traditionally female employement like nursing and other 'service' careers. Hence more chicks hanging around in education instead of shacking up with the nearest clever chap and producing babies. Or just producing babies.
Yes, I am a student. With babies. The stats are probably even more skewed by the number of mners doing it all the wrong way round and going back for degrees after babies. Heaven forbid a woman should be allowed the opportunity of a fulfilling career once she's got a family to look after. Get those padlocks attached to the sink immediately.

employement lol. good job I am a student.
employment natch.

I would rather a politician speak what s/he considers to be true than said whatever s/he felt would gain votes!

lol dottoressa - me too, but it does make me laugh when they prove themselves to be an ass.
oh, i do vote conservative btw. (previous q) they called me maggie in a previous life . but i'm quite normal really.

Where are we again? Afganistan?
I'll just shuffle off barefoot back to the kitchen...

am

Horrible women, taking all the opportunities away from the poor manny-wanny. Oh dear.

I really doubt that David Cameron shares that view. I would not be at all surprised if his wife earns more than he does for a start.

working class women have always worked - hoewver now, we can vote and divorce the fuckers too

stupid middle class myopic twat

I really wanna read the article, but I am all riled up already by them always referring to Bridget Jones as f8cking RZ - IT IS A BOOK!