Womans rights & equality going backwards in 2016.

[Squeakybum]

Never posted in the Feminism board before, but feel compelled after hearing two news headlines in succession on the radio today I feel really disheartened about equality.

The first was regarding the plan to ban abortion in Oklahoma. They are proposing to sentence doctors up to 3 years in prision if they perform an abortion.

The second is regarding Muirfield Golf Club voting to continue to exclude women, thus rendering them unable to host the Open. Concerns from the Muirfield members include 'making women feel uncomfortable' WTF.

Feel so frustrated and I think just had to get it out there and have a rant- we have got so far still to go, but really should we be going backwards?

That's a really good point about it being childcare leave, I would absolutely get behind that. I confess that I had not thought of this angle (thank god for the MN feminism boards). Especially as I reckon more grandmothers would push for this, and have it accommodated by employers, than men are pushing for parental leave. Unfortunately I get the impression that a lot of men, and their employers, still think that parental leave is for mothers.

Almond, good idea. I can see some parents (mums and dads) being pressured to pass the leave on but I see the advantages you suggest too.

Qumby, really helpful, thanks.

Concerns from the Muirfield members include 'making women feel uncomfortable' WTF.

So they are basically admitting that they are a bunch of misogynist assholes who no woman wants to associate with and it would therefore be of no use to invite women to join, as no women would want to?

Or is the concern from the men who want women to be allowed to join? I mean, it sure makes women uncomfortable to not be allowed to become a member ...

@Canyouforgiveher: By making access to abortion difficult, they are doing essentially the same as Ireland and Northern Ireland. Women who have the means and money will still be able to get abortions, but those who don''t ... won't.

Not sure how big Oklahoma is, but the distance between some parts of Ireland and the UK and some parts of Oklahoma and the nearest clinic that performs abortions might actually not be so far apart.

It's both horrible, and I think we can worried about both at the same time.

I also think the left now largely ignores the poor.

I agree. The turn towards identity politics and away from class analysis has been a huge contributor to transforming left-wing politics from a movement giving voice to the poor into a comfortable middle-class exercise in virtue signalling and competitive victimhood. You only need to look at what's happened to Labour.

The positive I have taken from it is that there has been both financial loss and media rebuttal towards Muirfield. The minority membership who led an misogynist campaign have been shown up.

The rest I am struggling with- It brings into sharp focus the discrimination against women, such as access to Abortion clinics in Oklahoma, Ireland & Northern Ireland (and that is just the tip of the iceberg). A two tier system for the rich and poor yet again. Some of the financially poorest getting trapped in a cycle of poverty.