Are we still fighting the same tired old fights?

There have been a number of frustrating incidents in the last few weeks that have really made me wonder if we are regressing in relation to the progress made by women over the last few decades. Yes they are few, and there hasn’t exactly been a move to take the vote away from women, but it does feel as though we are revisiting issues and going back over too much old ground – why is this happening? And is this indicative of a wider cultural shift?

These are the issues that have particularly annoyed me......

Women on radio4 (and newsreaders in general)
Ceri Thomas, editor of the Today programme on radio 4 made comments about the need for a ‘thick skin’ to present Today, and that it was ‘too tough an environment for novices’. Thomas attempts to defend his position, but really, I don’t think it is something he can defend. He shouldn’t have said it. Zoe Williams writing in the guardian draws a striking comparison with Channel 4 news presenters, an excellent daily news programme, the editors of which seem utterly (and brilliantly) blind to the gender or ethnicity of their presenters. I’m a huge fan of the BBC – but it needs to wise up on this issue. Quickly.

Women and the election
What has happened to all the women MPs? The women who are actually quite senior in this government? The women who ought to be senior and prominent in the next government – whatever shade it is?? Jackie Ashley sums it up in this short article.

Leaders wives – we really don’t place the same emphasis on the partner of the Prime Minister in the UK as people in the US do on the ‘first lady’ and I personally think that’s a good thing, because who wants to be defined by what their partner does and the choices that he (or she) makes? Dennis Thatcher was generally left to play golf and drink. Cherie Blair had a hate/hate relationship with the media. None of the same can’t be said of Sarah Brown, who has brilliantly managed to navigate the pitfalls of being married to the PM, and has carved out a strong, independent role for herself – supportive yet separate. However, despite my admiration for @SarahBrown10, there has been way way too much boring and unnecessary coverage and media infatuation with the leaders wives in the build up to this election. No, Samantha Cameron’s pregnancy really shouldn’t (and I hope won’t) impact on the way people vote, Miriam Gonzales should be applauded for staying away from the election trail, continuing her career and life and protecting her children. And I don’t give a figgin about what any of them are wearing either. The media need to stop hyping this non issue.

Feminism vs womanism?
Yes young women don’t identify with ‘feminism’. It’s up to all of us to try and change that by actively talking about what it means to be a feminist. Agreed. Feminism doesn’t mean you hate men. Nor is it the case that if you are a feminist you are white (brilliant feminist blog the f word features posts from people of all sorts backgrounds, interests, ethnicity, disability etc) .

But apparently for some ‘womanism’ is apparently more accessible to non-white women then feminism. Seriously?? Really? What happened to solidarity?? *weeps* I have never done gender studies or any real academic exposure to feminism - and frankly the more academics of all hues insist on discussing feminism in such a theoretical way the more feminists and potential feminists are put off.


And finally, depressingly – abortion and the 24 week rule
Thanks David Cameron. Why why why??? Wasn’t it bad enough this was debated a couple of years ago? Unnecessarily pandering and posturing on exactly the wrong issue. This country does not need it, and it should not become a party political issue.

GE2010 coverage
I don’t think that we’ll be dedicating that much blog space to the UK general election campaigns of the main parties, and we certainly won’t get into specific ‘party’ political comment, sticking mostly to debating issues we are passionate about. But for interesting and varied electoral coverage do go and visit our friends over at Arbitrary Constant (also Chris Addisons blog is pretty good fun too)