Sandi Toksvig and Politics

[sausageeggbacon11]

So Sanda Toksvig has had enough and has decided to put together a feminist party. Which considering MB has started his and the Pirate Party and Sexual Freedom Party are already in place does the party stand a chance? Or like MB and the others is it just going to try and highlight issues?

I do wonder if anyone on the boards will end up standing for the general elections in 2020?

Well the world got interesting read more here

YY Merse it's amazing how different they are and + things have changed so much in the last 15 years (that I've been in it).

The drop-off of women over a certain age in the area of the country I work in is shocking though. You walk around the streets and there are men of all ages, and predominantly young women! There is a tie in with this, and all the barriers that women face when they start their families.

Is there a link to what was said that was unsatisfactory around intersectionality?

Thing is this sort of thing is almost always going to be started by people in a position of privilege, isn't it, for a variety of reasons. Trick is to make sure they are aware of that and eyes are open to what other groups of people are facing etc.

It's further up thread, whirlpool.

"And then the idea is that you get more women into leadership roles and it becomes the norm and they can be people, "

The "being people" thing is key. So it's "a boss" who needs a coffee before functioning, or who likes a quick weekly report on progress, or whatever, not "a woman boss"

Sorry, no it's not! It's here!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/guest_posts/2356808-Guest-post-Weve-set-up-The-Womens-Equality-Party-and-we-need-you?pg=2&order=

Yonic so agree with that. I get infuriated when people refer to a 'lady doctor' or similar - thus implying that the word 'doctor' on its own denotes a man. Language is so much more important and powerful than people think.

I always try to use he/she when writing (rather than defaulting to the usual he). Also sometimes use s/he. But have been reading a good paper in which the researcher changes the gender each chapter. Actually works quite well. Debating which is more effective.

Buffy, I think you were right in your posts, unfortunately that GF then came along and whataboutthemenz'd it up.

GC I think you mean Yonic? I've been busy gibbering elsewhere.

I'm excited about this, only just seen it. It's a shame it won't be a force in this election. Looking forward to having a closer look later.

It just goes to show how many people are just sick to the back teeth with current british politics, and some are starting to do things about it! Might have to jump myself... Nice to get a wider mix and we definitely need women's representation looking at some of the threads on here.

Def didn't mean you Gibbering!

I've not read the full thread yet but so far two things stand out that make me cringe and lose my initial optimism.

And while we're at it, how about an end to violence against woman?

Such privilege in that statement like VAW is an after thought.

And secondly why not pop along to Central London on Saturday and give your thoughts

Yes, mums of the UK - just pop and see us in Covent Garden at the drop of hat!

Oh Tondelayof, I think you've got the wrong end of the stick about the 'how about an end to violence about women?' sentence. Just read it all again and it seems (to me at least) clearly meant in a sarcastic way. It is followed immediately by"

Because it does matter. These things aren't just ‘nice to have’. They are not things that we should just get around to once we've sorted out the deficit and the NHS. They are essential.

So I think they are making it very clear that they think it is most certainly NOT an afterthought.

And yes - of course not everyone lives in London, but this is a brand new party and they are just finding their feet…. Maybe give them a chance? They are just trying to get things going and the truth of the matter is that by having an event in London they will be able to reach more women than if they sited it anywhere else in the UK.

They have my massive respect for getting off their backsides and actually DOING something about the inequality in this country rather than merely carping from the sidelines. More than I can say for myself if honest.

I am giving them a chance. I said on this thread I would like to influence their policies from within and I will be joining. But it's clear from that thread this will be a bigger struggle than anticipated.

There is no getting away from the fact that sentence about VAW was glib. There was a lot of focus on the OP about equal pay and promotions at work and VAW was referenced as a post-script.

I honestly didn't read it like that (as glib afterthought). At all. But I suppose the problem with the written word is that the tone can easily be misunderstood/interpreted differently. Happens the whole time with emails. Hugely looking forward to watching how the WEP develops.

Sandy T is a good broadcaster, with a great sense of humour. Will she be able to take politics seriously?

Of course she's able to take politics seriously.

I get the impression she's capable of taking all sorts of things seriously. Lesbophobia is fairly serious. Sexism also. She's quite clever really....