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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Why would a feminist vote conservative?

178 replies

Littlelamp456 · 11/11/2019 19:41

Pondering this today with the upcoming election. Many of my friends who consider themselves feminists but very openly supporting conservatives...
With the current levels of austerity, rape clauses in tax credits and universal credit falling directly on women’s shoulders, police cuts are undoubtedly bad for women, the women left in terrible situations because of the state pension age rises, scrapping nursing bursaries, the benefit cap, legal aid!...
I know Corbyn has many issues but poor women are literally dying and forced into sex work under a Tory government, children are going hungry, women can’t get sufficient police or medical support and legal aid. I feel Poor women are being hung out to dry.

I know there’s the current ‘trans debate’ but I still don’t understand how women could think a conservative government could be better for women overall?

I really want to understand this. So if you’re a feminist and vote/planning to vote Tory, can you tell me why?

OP posts:
PreseaCombatir · 11/11/2019 22:02

Do you really want to know why some feminists are voting conservative? It seems to me you just want the opportunity to tell people why they shouldn’t, it seems to me you’re not really engaging in good faith

Littlelamp456 · 11/11/2019 22:05

Michelle that’s not what I mean at all. I think self ID is an important issue too. I just don’t see how Tory’s can overall be best for women.

OP posts:
Littlelamp456 · 11/11/2019 22:09

Presea I genuinely do want to understand from a feminist perspective.

So far, I understand the view that conservatives are the least likely to enable self ID from likely candidates. And obviously the lack of effective opposition makes it difficult. I wondered if there was much more too it from a feminist viewpoint.

I obviously am not a supporter of them... so am saying that openly but I’m wanting to hear other perspectives.

OP posts:
Imnobody4 · 11/11/2019 22:14

Well the Women's Equality Party doesn't even know what a woman is. Honestly I'm pleased some feminists vote for the Tories - it seems to me we need feminism to perculate through all political parties, we're not a niche group. Personally I've never voted Tory and will probably spoil my ballot paper.

littlbrowndog · 11/11/2019 22:15

I can’t vote for anyone.

I really can’t.

Women died so other women could vote

How have we got to this

PreseaCombatir · 11/11/2019 22:16

Okay. I’m voting conservative, because, among other reasons, I believe they are the only party that will not remove women’s sex based legal protections. If that goes, all is lost. We will not even be where we were 100 years ago, we will have regressed beyond even that. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is more important to me than that.

I’d also like to note that I have voted for every political party at one point in my life, I honestly believe that people who vote for the same party just because they always have is flawed logic.

HandsOffMyRights · 11/11/2019 22:17

What Zebra said.

Until somebody has the spine to stand up for women and call out self ID then I refuse to give my vote away.

This image as a reminder that Corbyn is the biggest offender of all.

Why would a feminist vote conservative?
BovaryX · 11/11/2019 22:20

Given your op, which is filled with emotive, inflammatory language, I doubt you are remotely interested in why feminists might vote Tory. As has been explained by numerous other posters, not understanding the definition of the word ‘woman’ and pretending it is open to interpretation is fundamental. Some feminists believe in the freedom to exert more control over their own money via lower taxation. What gave you the idea feminist meant conformity to left wing dogma?

LangCleg · 11/11/2019 22:26

But fights against self ID have been fairly successful to date, in the GRA consultation.

No, they haven't. Some minor levels of public awareness have been raised but, despite this, services, institutions and corporations are proceeding with self-ID, unchecked by any serious elected political opposition.

Fights against austerity measures leaving women destitute, without vital services or support and up shit creek, have not

No, they haven't. But even the Tories have realised austerity has gone too far and are promising significant investments in public services. They haven't had a compassionate awakening but they do realise that social cohesion is at breaking point and they need to get a lid on it. And Labour (if this manifesto is similar to the last one) is likely to be devoting 4x the cash on abolishing university fees for middle class students than it is on fixing UC for working class women.

Next?

(I won't be voting Tory, by the way.)

Littlelamp456 · 11/11/2019 22:30

Thats sort of how I feel at the moment, politically homeless. I’m not sure who has my vote, except for a few who definitely don’t.

Bovary I would say factual over inflammatory. I don’t think anyone needs to conform to ‘left wing dogma’ but I struggle to understand what is feminist about putting lower taxation for higher income women above multiple cuts affecting poorer women. I understand the reasons from personal perspectives though.

I do understand the woman definition argument of course, I’m not entirely convinced the Tory’s wouldn’t enact self ID themselves if they felt it would help them politically. They were the ones to raise the question initially, no?

OP posts:
teenageanxy · 11/11/2019 22:33

Damefanny Brown fucked up lloydsbank- he patched together and pushed through an illegal merger to rescue failing banks at the expense of Lloyd's. It was the o my
Bank in a position to weather the storm - it wasn't involved in subprime and had enough stashed away to stay above water. The merger created by Brown killed Lloyd's, lost jobs and put the shares in the toilet.

Brown was an idiot

BovaryX · 11/11/2019 22:33

I don’t think your op is factual at all. This has already been pointed out to you. For a kick off, the Conservatives have pledged to go on another spending spree. Austerity is over.

Justhadathought · 11/11/2019 22:35

Do you have any conservative voters you could ask IRL OP? If not, it might be good to expand your network to encompass them, as it would benefit all of us to broaden our exposure to other perspectives

I suspect for many of us, our party political allegiances are a product of our birth, background & upbringing, as well as our socio & geographical location. In some geographical areas, or in certain types of community - it is going to be quite a rare occurrence when you meet someone who votes Tory, or for others, someone who votes Labour.

The big cities tend towards Labour, as does the north of England, Wales and Scotland ( although now moving towards SNP). The South East ( apart from London) and the south more generally, as well as more rural constituencies tend to vote Tory, and some times Lib Dem.

I'll be spoiling my ballot this election; but by circumstances of birth; background; geographical location, and I guess by instinct, I'm a Labour voter.

To me Feminism has always equated with Humanism, of the strain that values human beings and has compassion for their sufferings as well as their possibilities. I've always perceived Conservatism as precisely that: the protection of tradition and the protection of established privilege and/or wealth.

When I was a lot younger I was heavily involved in radical politics. My first political act was to become a vegetarian, aged 16. From there I went on to help set up and live on 1980's Peace Camps; be part of the movement against Thatcherism; be involved in squatting communities in 1980's London...and so on.......

I became involved in psychotherapeutic method; counselling; earth centred feminism - a bit of a hippy, I suppose. Valuing the feminine; enjoying and celebrating my female body and sexuality.

I have to say in all of those years, I never once came across anyone in my circle who would have even considered voting Tory...so it does depend on the circles you move in.

I was born and brought up in Liverpool/the wirral; but have also lived in Buckinghamshire, London, Aberdeenshire and Gloucestershire - before returning to Liverpool 15 years ago. In that time I have since met a wide variety of people, and encountered different lifestyles and cultures - but do have to say that I still find it odd when a feminist says she votes Conservative. that's not necessarily a judgment, but an honest reflection. To me Tories always seek to protect existing privilege ( reduction of taxes on wealth etc) and also display a sort of moral superiority and judgment. The idea that personal wealth is always the result of hard work and is deserved; and that poverty is the result of fecklessness and lack of personal responsibility. I disagree. My father worked hard all of his life; and his ingenuity in terms of engineering made his company owners very wealthy, but he never was....in twenty years he had not one sick day from work - and then Thatcherite policies encouraged and enabled his company to move to Spain where they could employ people even more cheaply.

To me Feminism is radical politics, and conservatism is anything but that......I'm a radical...but now without a home....It's not that I think Labour is rotten, but that it has become beholden to a very vocal and intolerant crowd - with very foxed ideals and visions. Not everyone in the Labour movement is like this, though - but that is what is holding sway at present.

PreseaCombatir · 11/11/2019 22:35

I also really like the conservatives commitment to apprenticeship schemes. I feel like traditionally labour have tried to force academia on too many people, when not everyone is academically minded. It’s important to enable as many routes into employment/vocations as possible imo.

Trewser · 11/11/2019 22:38

I get more child benefit for my first child than my second child. This hasn't scarred them for life because they have no idea about child benefit.

Justhadathought · 11/11/2019 22:38

For a kick off, the Conservatives have pledged to go on another spending spree. Austerity is over

I don't believe that for one second.

and anyway, I would not see it as a 'spending spree' if true. but a vital and necessary funding of public services and infrastructure: all that makes for a humane & civilised society.

theflushedzebra · 11/11/2019 22:40

Tories have stalled on it - there's been a fair bit of pushback against it in in the main party, and publications like "Conservative Woman" - whereas afaik labour/libdems/greens have all promised it.

I find I'm in a very strange place at the moment, where, having been a lefty all my life, I now seem to have more in common with Conservative Woman than Corbyn's hard left, and libdems.

Strange times. If self D didn't exist as a possibility, I'd vote libdem. But I just can't - and apparently they don't want my vote anyway Confused

BovaryX · 11/11/2019 22:40

Presea, that’s a great point about apprenticeships. The push to have 50 per cent in ‘academia’ has saddled many of the former with debt they will struggle to repay and devalued the latter.

Sittinonthefloor · 11/11/2019 22:42

I will be slightly reluctantly voting conservative. Can’t stand Johnson & I’m a remainer, but I think Corbyn poses a far greater risk to the country & to women. I’m a feminist, but I’m also a realist - with an economy trashed by Corbyn’s 70s style socialism we won’t be able to do anything to improve anyone’s lives, least of all women - I see no evidence that women are a priority for labour. I’m also a feminist who doesn’t want to lose her particular job which has been specifically threatened by Labour!!

Justhadathought · 11/11/2019 22:44

The Tories are always on the verge of re-legalising fox hunting too. I guess that would give Rees Mog something to do when he's not lounging in indolent and entitled fashion in the commons or elsewhere.

When he was on the back benches he was an amusing and charming retro kind of act...but now he's in the cabinet, it doesn't favour him so well.

Trewser · 11/11/2019 22:45

I doubt very much Boris will re-legalise fox hunting!

Justhadathought · 11/11/2019 22:47

But I’m also a realist - with an economy trashed by Corbyn’s 70s style socialism

I'm not sure where you live, but can't say that the economy in my part of the world has that much to trash. We're still awaiting some investment and the feeling that our government actually gives a damn.

Justhadathought · 11/11/2019 22:50

I doubt very much Boris will re-legalise fox hunting!

I wish people would stop referring to him as simply 'Boris'. It kind of dignifies him. The Tories are always intent on re-legalising fox hunting. The fox hunting community is part of their constituency, and always will be.

nauticant · 11/11/2019 22:51

fights against self ID have been fairly successful to date, in the GRA consultation

The fight against self ID has been successful in the same way that Michael Caine and his gang of rogues got away with the gold at the end of The Italian Job.

CarolCutrere · 11/11/2019 22:52

I have to say in all of those years, I never once came across anyone in my circle who would have even considered voting Tory...so it does depend on the circles you move in

How limited a circle can it possibly be?
I thought I lived in my own, narrow bubble yet I have friends and relatives who have voted Labour, Tory, Lib Dem, Green, SNP, Communist and even Brexit. Everything apart from BNP in fact.