Misogyny against Liz Truss

[PersonaNonGarter]

Is anyone else seeing endless misogyny against Liz Truss painting her as ‘thick’ or ‘stupid’? While there’s an acceptance that Rishi is a clever nerd?

I am finding it quite disconcerting. Both she and Rishi Sunak have PPE degrees from Oxford. Yet so many memes about her being dumb. I haven’t seen any attacking Rishi’s intelligence.

Obviously, many many people disagree with them both politically. But that’s not what I am talking about. This is about a specific sort of criticism that really seems directed at her as a woman.

Watching her speak, my theory is that she has menopause induced brain fog, is lacking media training, unable to think on her feet, or some combination of the 3. I don’t like her politics, but she isn’t thick academically.

@antifascist Thank you for the link. I suspect the amendment may have been made because it is already covered by the United Nations 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in particular clause 16e: "(e) The same rights to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to the information, education and means to enable them to exercise these rights;"

You can see all the countries that have ratified CEDAW on this web page

View the ratification status by country

I believe Hillary Clinton adopted a trouser suit uniform for the same reason as Merkel. That went well.

Still an interesting point about Merkel but I'm not convinced that her clothing choices explain it, plus I don't know what kind of media coverage she had in her home country

Ouch at menopausal one

Forty ish women get a hard time professionally without this added

No not misogyny.
I think if she gets voted in as the new Tory leader she will have been promoted above her ability and it will show. I personally feel she's over promoted already. Nothing to do with what sex she is, I don't think she's capable of grasping the concepts she will need to.

Sunak, in comparison to her, gets it, I think his intellectual capacity is greater. I don't like what he says about paying off the debt, but know he's right. I don't think he deserves to win but of the two he's probably the better all round candidate. Depends what the party membership do with their votes now!

I've provided plenty of links on this thread with evidence of her stupidity. Her promise to get rid of all the EU laws by next year if she wins is further proof.

Oh jeeze yes. While making half the civil service redundant, so there's no-one around to do the massive amount of work it would take. I actually face palmed when I read that report.

Leeds is in the north of Islington that makes it Red Wall.

If that's the case why was it unilaterally withdrawn without a a statement tot hat effect and why are other governments complaining ?

the wording is rather differernt in the 1979 protocol. The word responsible doing a lot of lifting.

For example as Ireland signed it in 1985 it was possible to sign the declaration and deny abortion rights

As far as I can see the complainants are charities and other organisations: "The letter was organised by Humanists UK, which first spotted the change. Signatories include Amnesty International UK, Human Rights Watch, ActionAid UK, BPAS, MSI Reproductive Choices, Liberty, Fawcett, Brook, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Article 19, and Maternity Action."

The only two governments involved were representatives from Norway and Denmark.

The wording of CEDAW enables many countries to sign and ratify that agreement which is a good thing. Sometimes it is pragmatic to avoid being too specific with language to gain much wider acceptance to a general principle which, in the context of CEDAW, is that restricting the lives of women and girls in any way across the world is unacceptable and impedes their access to full application of their human rights.

web.archive.org/web/20170402194929/www.indy100.com/article/margaret-thatcher-nicola-sturgeon-photos-similarities-referendum-scottish-photo-7662596

How long does it take before any female politician gets accused of copying Thatcher?

Here's the FT on Teresa May:

'It has been suggested that middle-aged male Tory MPs may be in thrall to May in the same way as some used to lust over Margaret Thatcher. Sarah Sands, London Evening Standard editor, suggested there was something emblematic about May’s penchant for £1,000 Amanda Wakeley leather trousers. “There is a mildly dominatrix style to the prime minister’s centrally controlled leadership,” she wrote. “It is she who wears the trousers indeed.”'

web.archive.org/web/20170402122023/www.ft.com/content/2616fda2-bc06-11e6-8b45-b8b81dd5d080

The leathertrousergate hoo-ha was bizarre when you think about how much Cameron and Osborne must have been paying for those bespoke suits.

@Floisme - no, I do not think my being torn in answering this question is
indicative of internalized misogyny which seems to be what you are implying.
The 'torn' I mentioned is seeing the way female politicians (and women generally) are held to different standards than men, and often ridiculed or insulted. But also seeing that academic prowess does not always translate to thoughtful, intelligent policy and that this candidate, in particular, does seem to struggle to make sensible statements. I feel the same about Dominic Raab. As I mentioned, I felt the tone of the coverage on Priti Patel at times is hateful. But also find they way she conducts herself to be concerning. You appear to be over simplifying.

The room next door- Liz Truss on Brexit

No I was not implying that. I was questioning why so often we seem unable to call out the misogyny without qualifying it. I don’t think our feelings about the women affected or their politics should make any difference. Yes I do think it’s that simple - misogyny is misogyny. No ‘buts’.
It’s something I’ve been guilty of myself in the past. which is probably why I’m quick to notice it now.

No, I don't think people say this because they are misogynists, I think they say it because they feel she isn't that bright. Because of the things she's said and how she says them, mainly.

I don't know if that's true, but it's not a crazy thing to think about a political figure. There are plenty of female politicians people don't say that about, and male ones they do.

I tend to notice the clothes they wear so I don't really mind some gossip on it. It's easier for men to fly under the radar on it though.

you ignored this point last time @MaudeYoung

Ireland signed the declaration in 1985 when all forms of abortion were illegal in Ireland. Therefore it is possible to sign the declaration whilst denying abortion rights.

Maybe you support that. If so I think you should say so.

The other wording - unilaterally changed by Liz Truss' Foreign office- was much stronger. Which is why the NGO's and the government's of Norway and Denmark objected.

She might be academic enough to get a first from Oxford. That doesn't mean she has the right sort of intelligence and aptitude to be PM. Few do. (Blair, Attlee, Thatcher all had probably the right sort of intelligence, though hated one of those! Liz is not sharp or astute.

well played

but yeah ppe from oxford is not the dominant narrative is it?

Surely, the point here is that Ireland has eventually got there, in its own time?

These UN has no power to FORCE countries to do anything. The UN is a co-operative / collaborative enterprise among its member countries that discusses and proposes activity upon which countries can all agree. It is then for those countries to achieve those aspirations as and when they are able. Some countries are able to achieve them faster than others. Ireland took its time but has eventually achieved it. Now Ireland needs to delver it.

Anecdotal, I know, but I’ve met a few people with the the PPE degree who were really dumb. It’s absolutely possible to graduate from Oxford while being stupid. I wouldn’t just assume that Oxford= smart.

This. There is a reason she is not put out to do the media rounds often.

The misogyny that Liz Truss is recieving is nothing compared to the concerted campaign of misogyny against Jeremy Corbyn, as Dominic Raab might well say.