Harriet Harman - Men should sit out of next leadership contest

[FeministBadger]

Haven't seen this posted in Feminism chat yet, but would be interested to understand people's thoughts on Harriet Harman's claim that men should be stepping aside to ensure that the next Labour leader is a woman. (Hope the link works) www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/93837/excl-harriet-harman-says-men-should-sit-out-next

I'm having a couple of reactions to this - first one being it's never going to happen even if you could get Momentum on side. I also wonder if it did happen, whether positive discrimination would instantly damn whichever woman got the post and end up resulting in so much outright and subtle misogyny that she'd never get anything done because of the backlash which would then be seen as proof that she wasn't capable.

What do you think - would it ever happen and should it?

Labour as a party seem to be saying:

• Women should give up their limited spaces and stand aside for transgender people who claim to be women. That is right and proper and for the greater good.

• Men should never give up their spaces and stand aside. For anybody. Ever. That is right and proper and for the greater good.

And a lot of senior figures have convinced themselves that this is the morally right thing to do. Women lose, men gain. No debate.

If you want to look at sexism in the Labour Party, the transgender issue is a good one to look at. Because it is absolutely blatant.

Consider the efforts made by the Party to fast-track men who identify as women into positions of power. Labour has already fielded 3 TIMs as Parliamentary candidates.

Then consider the efforts made by Labour to fast-track women who identify as men. Nada.

I also agree we will see a woman who identifies as a man before we see a woman as Labour leader. Wonder if HH would be happy with that.

If and it's a massive IF, Labour will select a TransWoman for the job.

Welcome to the future.

Sorry that should read:

"I also agree we will see a man who identifies as a woman before we see a woman as Labour leader".

(I also think, if this happens, it will be a trans woman. That will keep both the Woke Penis Feminists™ and the men happy, especially the men who think a women-only leadership contest would be unfair)

I actually think that's very unlikely - it would put the issue right in the spotlight, and I don't think ordinary voters (both women and men) would be impressed.

Errol agreed, I would be amazed if the next Labour leader isn’t a man, but if ever that somehow wasn’t possible, given current attitudes displayed I think they would pick a TW leader over a W leader if given the choice.

I don't think the Labour Party actually want to get into power though. Not when it comes down to it.

I think they're happy being in opposition where they can be self-righteous and sanctimonious and don't have to actually do very much at all other than slag off the Tories. They are in their comfort zone.

And given how they've been operating recently I think that is for the best.

Interesting. Because it makes me question the innate reaction I have to each party. And thus a lot of my own convictions

Previously I’d have assumed the left were inherently more feminist and the right less so.

The recent decent of labour into misogynistic bromentum TRA hell has stripped me of any delusion the left care about women. I’m still not convinced the right do either as conservative social policies seem to disproportionately affect women.

I’m certainly questioning my core political identity. Lifelong labour voter but now...

Argh Popchyk I think that’s true. It’s shit. So different from pre-global financial crisis ‘new’ Labour who wanted to be the party of government.
Where is the electable centre-ground Labour that could actually ever get in to power? That’s a problem for all left wingers even those who think the centre ground is a total sellout.
I feel doubly disenfranchised because, given the denial of any gender critical thinking in party politics, I don’t have anyone to vote for even to show support of their principles, even if they are still well away from getting enough electoral support to get into power.

Predictably, rod Liddell facetiously notes HHs idea plus self ID for AWS could give us Andy burnham in a frock or Sadie Khan in a niqab, but accurately 'Men are endlessly inventive when it comes to getting their own way.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nothing-proves-jeremy-corbyn-is-anti-semitic-just-everything-he-says-anddoes-sh0n23hg0?shareToken=af852b89b79b6e1e0a18f22783d11523

(He also comments, under the heading 'linguists fail' on Mount Holyoke college instructing staff not to refer to its students as women. It's a women's college. (though having googled it appears it's now an everyone-but-men-defined-as-men). 'Misogyny has many faces, doesn't it' ... )

An all woman leadership contest is a ridiculous idea full stop.

Why is that ellen?

An all woman leadership contest is a ridiculous idea full stop.

Do you think an all man leadership contest is also ridiculous?