Something I think we can all agree on, Labour, Liberal or Tory

[HumphreyCobbler]

is the depressing lack of a female voice in this campaign.

Not enough visible women politicians, not enough women in the media, just not enough.

It seems so sad.

There was a study done of the Today programme. On average over the three hours, women were talking for twenty minutes.

Any ideas about why this is?

God Polly, I don't like that thing at all!

Harriet Harman has put the womens' cause back about 200 years, she is strident and opinionated. A feminist who appears to hate men, and think woman are to 'feeble minded' to stand their own ground. That is why this old harridan, was not 'wheeled out' during the election. This woman scares the life out of most men,(including dh) she is akin to 'Jackboot Jackie Smith' who was given her marching orders this election. If women want to be taken more seriously in elections, then I suggest 'jackie'and others act and talk more like women and do not emulate the domineering and masculine tones of some men.

gawd what a bizarre post.
men are scared of Harriet Harman?!

Prinnie. Ann Widdiecombe strong, yet not masculine, a great politician.

You only think that because she has the same mind-set as you Crystal.

I find Anne Widdicombe more scary than Harriet Harman ...

Hazel Blears, however, is the devil.

Shadesofviolet. So you know Ann Widdiecombe and me personally?, I am impressed. More impressed that you know a prominent ex- politician like Widdiecombe. What is she like?

christ crystal opinionated? strident? god forbid when she should really have used her feminine wiles of course

I always find it problematic when adjectives like strident are used, no man would ever be described thus.

pmsl@crystal

Yes, of course, we should all introduce our opinions cautiously, perhaps while serving our husbands their tea. Wouldn't like to cause offence to our men, eh?

completely agree. And I hate the way Harriet Harman has been demonised (by Daily Mail) when she has singly done more for equality than any politician in the last 15 years

I agree with Humphrey about the word strident.

But given that you have used it, I don't see how on earth you can describe Harriet Harman as strident but not Ann Widdecombe

I think 'strident' really just means 'feminist'.

Ironic given that this was meant to be the MN election!

eh hem, to clarify:

actually 'strident' means; Loud; shrill, piercing, high-pitched; rough-sounding , Grating or obnoxious.

"Hazel Blears, however, is the devil."

should we ask her onto MN ?

Am wondering that it seems here, that female MP's are only liked if they are completely and utterly round the twist barking mad and doo lally [Thatcher or Widdecoombe for example] or quiet and non-threatening female Mp's. Interesting...

I disagree that Thatcher was utterly round the twist barking mad. She won three elections, two of them by landslide. You simply don't win elections without being popular and in tune with the mood of the country. You may not have liked her, but Britain certainly did.

Widdecombe, I will grant you...

I totally agree - I got very fed up watching 'men in suits' on the television throughout the campaign. Did go to one hustings where the two women out of 6 candidates were easily the best, most positive speakers.

The difficulty remains that for the average woman with 2.4 children, politics is a very difficult career choice. It is do-able IF you are a back bench MP who lives in the London area, or at the more family friendly, 9-5 Scottish Parliament if you live in the Central Belt. But to be a cabinet member, minister, etc. you have to be prepared to entrust your children's care to someone else or alternatively be childless, but then you may be able to represent but are not representative of the average woman.

My own favourite female MSP - Nichola Sturgeon, currently the extremely able deputy leader of the SNP, is a great champion of equality (was a rights lawyer). Who knows if she would have had the time and energy required to reach her position if she had taken time out to have and rear children?