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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Who to vote for as a feminist

419 replies

WorkingBling · 20/01/2015 11:27

I am really struggling ahead of the elections. I have decided that commitment to feminist principals needs to be a strong part of my voting decision making process. But I honestly am not sure this helps.

Lib dems have terrible track record and while I like nick's wife, I can't vote for a party where there's only one woman I am impressed by.

Instinctively i am more of a labour supporter but with the exception of Harriet H I honestly feel underwhelmed by their female representation and view on women.

This leaves the conservatives. There are a number of woman in the party who impress me. But Dave doesn't strike me as a man who really believes in feminist principals.

Help please. All you lovely informed women must have some thoughts.

OP posts:
KarmaViolet · 21/01/2015 23:11

I can't see any party which pays anything more than lip service to the needs of women voters.

The Greens want to introduce mega-brothels like they have in Germany, which has been very successful in enriching pimps but not much else. Labour and the Tories are fighting over who can be meanest to migrant women. The Lib Dems I don't trust, and they're also keen on the mega-brothels.

Nobody seems to give a toss about

  • the gender pay gap
  • media objectification of women
  • the Nordic model
  • representation of women in the corridors of power
  • male violence against women

And now we have an anti-feminist party because "feminism's gone too far." The irony.

didyouwritethe · 21/01/2015 23:22

I think Fayyive is making some very interesting points, and giving useful links.

FloraFox · 21/01/2015 23:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

didyouwritethe · 21/01/2015 23:43

Sigh. Troll hunting is against Talk Guidelines.

PuffinsAreFictitious · 21/01/2015 23:48

She didn't ask you if you were a troll though, so, what's the relevance?

didyouwritethe · 21/01/2015 23:51

"Welcome to Mumsnet" is always a dog whistle for troll hunting.

YonicScrewdriver · 21/01/2015 23:53

That was me, didyou. Not Flora. Feel free to report.

PuffinsAreFictitious · 22/01/2015 00:03

I thought you'd said that to the new poster, Yonic?

I must be missing something here.

Amethyst24 · 22/01/2015 00:33

This is the Torygraph having a massive hissyfit analysing their policies, but is interesting on the Green party nonetheless
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/green-party/11356354/Drugs-brothels-al-Qaeda-and-the-Beyonce-tax-the-Green-Party-plan-for-Britain.html

didyouwritethe · 22/01/2015 00:42

Interesting link. Grin at "Anti-rave laws will be scrapped."

Guaranteed to get Torygraph readers frothing.

didyouwritethe · 22/01/2015 00:43

Not to mention: "The monarchy will be abolished."

fayyive · 22/01/2015 01:14

"The Greens want to introduce mega-brothels like they have in Germany"

Source?

fayyive · 22/01/2015 01:18

And from a feminist perspective, the Greens have Caroline Lucas who (as you may or may not know) once entered parliament wearing a "no more Page 3" t-shirt.

Who to vote for as a feminist
PetulaGordino · 22/01/2015 06:40

Patronising, nice

PuffinsAreFictitious · 22/01/2015 06:46

Oh, come now, Petula, it was rather kind to get a nice picture for all the politically unaware old women. It's hardly patronising! Especially in light of all the educational posts about how empowerfullising prostitution is. You know we've never discussed it before!

PetulaGordino · 22/01/2015 07:10

True

I'm a huge admirer of Caroline Lucas and Natalie Bennett, which clearly precludes me from critically examining any of their party's policies

didyouwritethe · 22/01/2015 10:00

The word you're scrabbling for, Puffins, is "empowering".

The empowerment of women is generally considered to be a central tenet of feminism. But not, it would seem, in the MN Feminism topics.

HeeHiles · 22/01/2015 10:04

The Greens and Lib Dems support legalisation / decriminalisation of prostitution, principally on an individual liberties basis. I'm definitely not voting for either of them

Have you read their policy on it though? The Green's have a powerful argument - I reacted as you did - until I read their reasons and it made me think.

I'm voting Green!

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 22/01/2015 10:05

None of the parties are going to legalise prostitution. It's a non starter (thankfully) and not a reason I would choose to vote for anyone.

PetulaGordino · 22/01/2015 10:17

Didyouwritethe you are misunderstanding the difference between "empowerment" and "empowerfulising". Te former is very much supported in this section, which perhaps if you stay here longer you might discover

the latter is used to describe those things that women are told are empowering but actually just serve to keep women in their place and/or mollify them temporarily

OmnipotentQueenOfTheUniverse · 22/01/2015 10:23

ifyourehappy prostitution is legal in the UK already.

Further details on what is and isn't legal upthread.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 22/01/2015 10:26

I meant legalise it in the model of NZ etc, as discussed. I honestly do not believe that a single party will actually do anything to significantly alter the current system.

I'm more interested in their pledges around welfare, equal pay, relief of poverty, education and health.

FloraFox · 22/01/2015 10:51

For didyouwritethis

Who to vote for as a feminist
OmnipotentQueenOfTheUniverse · 22/01/2015 10:53

Ah OK

I suspect you are right.

Mistlewoeandwhine · 22/01/2015 21:04

All Green converts here!