Harriet Harman calls for 50% quota for female shadow cabinet members

Degenerate

tomstickland wrote: »

Where do you stop with identity politics?
Height, weight, racial background, sex, sexual orientation, age, educational attainment etc

And what about gender dysmorphia? If a biological male feels they are a woman, does she get treated the same as the other women, or discriminated against?

fc123

Degenerate wrote: »

I agree with everything you're saying, but just wanted to highlight one thing:



Who is the "we" that has this daft obsession? Honestly, what do you think the demographic breakdown is of those who read/watch all the appearance-focused media claptrap?

How do you mean? The we?

The obsession with looks and looking old pervades everything to the point that Gordon Brown had had a bit of filler prior to the election campaign.

It's a real throw back to the old Greek fables about never ageing, the bounty of youth and so on.
Post menopausal women aren't focussd on attracting a mate or child rearing so have mountains of headpsace to do other things.....look how much grief Anne Widecombe gets for how she looks.

fc123

Degenerate wrote: »

And what about gender dysmorphia? If a biological male feels they are a woman, does she get treated the same as the other women, or discriminated against?

Went to see Priscilla Queen of the desert 2 nights back....a very enjoyable, light hearted night out but touched on those issues.

I imagine it would be reaslly diffficult for a transexual to take on a cabinet or very public position.

Degenerate

fc123 wrote: »

How do you mean? The we?

When you say "we" have this obsession with appearance, you talk as if on behalf of society as a whole. I'm challenging that a bit. IMO, the demographic that takes a serious interest in the appearance of middle aged and older female politicians is overwhelmingly female.

Men are interested in looking at fit young things, we couldn't care less what the likes of Anne Widdicombe looks like, it's an irrelevance if we agree with her politics.

97trophy

hugheskevi wrote: »

Labour should devote more of their time to focusing on equality of opportunity and far less on equality of outcome.

superb, just superb!

misskool

I'm practically a poster child for people like her. I'm ethnic minority, female and working in a male-dominated industry. What I detest is the idea that I'm getting a post because I tick some boxes. I need to be able to get the job because I am the best person for it.

I'm not opposed to the idea of making it easier for women to who choose to have career breaks and to take them into account for progression but I do not want to be treated differently because of my gender. It undermines everything I've worked so hard for because if the quotas are in place, everyone will be looking at you wondering if you were there just to meet the quota and not because you're actually competent.

ILW

I think Berluconis cabinet probably looks a lot better than ours.

fc123

Degenerate wrote: »

When you say "we" have this obsession with appearance, you talk as if on behalf of society as a whole. I'm challenging that a bit. IMO, the demographic that takes a serious interest in the appearance of middle aged and older female politicians is overwhelmingly female.

Men are interested in looking at fit young things, we couldn't care less what the likes of Anne Widdicombe looks like, it's an irrelevance if we agree with her politics.

Ah I understand what you mean now. It;s a women v women thing?

True, my OH couldn't care less what a cabinet minister looks like but other things....like presenting a telly show maybe..it's more important.

Wonder how many of us are so looks-fascist.

I think I am the only person in the world who cannot stand the crew in SATC...never ever watched it and I really should as it's importantt to my job.
PS Another OMG..... I saw a bit of Desperate housewives when I went home....O M G What have they done to their faces?

maginot

I'm sorry, but why does someone have to be exactly the same as you to be representative? I can have different views with people of the same creed/race/religion etc and the same views as someone who is a different sex. This is what is important when you want an MP or cabinet minister to represent you, or is it just me???

fc123

I was waffling and going OT...what I meant was there would be loads of female MP's and cabinet ministers if the Govt at the time didn't just want bright young-ish things and let any 55+ women who wanted to to stand for parliament.