Comments on: Increasing the numbers of female MP’s http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:45:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Steve Fri, 28 May 2010 21:22:51 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=311#comment-183 Arthur, your point is about representation, which is a different issue. I'm talking about leadership. I want to see male and female leaders and there is no reason why we shouldn't have both present in the running of our country. Men don't have to lead for women. We are capable. Representation is more complicated.... Arthur, your point is about representation, which is a different issue. I’m talking about leadership. I want to see male and female leaders and there is no reason why we shouldn’t have both present in the running of our country. Men don’t have to lead for women. We are capable. Representation is more complicated….

]]> By: Christopher fagan http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Christopher fagan Mon, 17 May 2010 15:39:22 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=311#comment-161 Sometimes the women are their worst enemies, take TV advertising, it has not changed a lot as far as the role of women is concerned. On their hands and knees cleaning toilets, giving withering looks as another female has apparently not used the correct hair product (you know the one i mean)etc etc. Two guys dressed as women fighting over a brand of kitchen towel, not two good looking guys that in the right lighting could pass as women but two hairy guys obviously not gay/trannie. Why they dress as a pair of scary housewives is beyond me but it is a bit Little Britain so that is OK. Is it? Sometimes the women are their worst enemies, take TV advertising, it has not changed a lot as far as the role of women is concerned.
On their hands and knees cleaning toilets, giving withering looks as another female has apparently not used the correct hair product (you know the one i mean)etc etc.
Two guys dressed as women fighting over a brand of kitchen towel, not two good looking guys that in the right lighting could pass as women but two hairy guys obviously not gay/trannie. Why they dress as a pair of scary housewives is beyond me but it is a bit Little Britain so that is OK. Is it?

]]> By: Jo Christie-Smith http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Jo Christie-Smith Fri, 14 May 2010 14:33:59 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=311#comment-145 Lee, so glad that you agree re quotas. I don't like them instinctively, for the same reasons as you outline, but the only parliaments which have anywhere near decent female participation have used quotas. I think you're analysis is spot on, by the way! Lee, so glad that you agree re quotas. I don’t like them instinctively, for the same reasons as you outline, but the only parliaments which have anywhere near decent female participation have used quotas.

I think you’re analysis is spot on, by the way!

]]> By: Lee Chalmers http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Lee Chalmers Fri, 14 May 2010 13:57:42 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=311#comment-144 Alison, see my earlier post on meritocracy. Quotas are probably a good idea, as the shift in perception we need is not going to happen naturally. Why would it? I agree that quotas, whilst unpopular and essentially illiberal (assuming the existence of a meritocracy), are required while we do not have such meritocracy. Once we have the role models and great examples of female leaders, we can do away with the quotas and the need for quotas. Alison, see my earlier post on meritocracy. Quotas are probably a good idea, as the shift in perception we need is not going to happen naturally. Why would it? I agree that quotas, whilst unpopular and essentially illiberal (assuming the existence of a meritocracy), are required while we do not have such meritocracy. Once we have the role models and great examples of female leaders, we can do away with the quotas and the need for quotas.

]]> By: Lee Chalmers http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Lee Chalmers Fri, 14 May 2010 13:55:20 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=311#comment-143 Arthur, your point is about representation, which is a different issue. I'm talking about leadership. I want to see male and female leaders and there is no reason why we shouldn't have both present in the running of our country. Men don't have to lead for women. We are capable. Representation is more complicated.... Arthur, your point is about representation, which is a different issue. I’m talking about leadership. I want to see male and female leaders and there is no reason why we shouldn’t have both present in the running of our country. Men don’t have to lead for women. We are capable. Representation is more complicated….

]]> By: Alison Clarke, Women's Views On News http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Alison Clarke, Women's Views On News Fri, 14 May 2010 11:06:55 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=311#comment-142 Lee, I can't disagree with anything you say but equally that's why I think we need to introduce a mandatory quota system. We need all women shortlists in winnable seats which have to be imposed on the parties (voluntarism just doesn't work); we need a 40% quota for women in parliament (as Spain does); and we need a 30% quota for women in the cabinet. At the same time we should introduce a 40% quota system on boards as Norway did. Likely to happen? No. But that's no reason for us not to start campaigning for it now. Lee, I can’t disagree with anything you say but equally that’s why I think we need to introduce a mandatory quota system. We need all women shortlists in winnable seats which have to be imposed on the parties (voluntarism just doesn’t work); we need a 40% quota for women in parliament (as Spain does); and we need a 30% quota for women in the cabinet. At the same time we should introduce a 40% quota system on boards as Norway did. Likely to happen? No. But that’s no reason for us not to start campaigning for it now.

]]> By: Arthur http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Arthur Fri, 14 May 2010 09:08:26 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=311#comment-140 Isn't it best to be represented by someone who wants to represent you? I appreciate that the Commons are not representative of the country as a whole but if the people who are there get the laws and conventions of the country right, does it matter which gender or ethnicity they are? Isn’t it best to be represented by someone who wants to represent you? I appreciate that the Commons are not representative of the country as a whole but if the people who are there get the laws and conventions of the country right, does it matter which gender or ethnicity they are?

]]> By: Niklas Smith http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/05/14/increasing-the-numbers-of-female-mps/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Niklas Smith Fri, 14 May 2010 07:45:11 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=311#comment-139 You make very good points. On 3), Dinti Batstone wrote an excellent post for Lib Dem Voice not long ago: http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-make-politics-fit-womens-lives-not-viceversa-18285.html You make very good points. On 3), Dinti Batstone wrote an excellent post for Lib Dem Voice not long ago: http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-make-politics-fit-womens-lives-not-viceversa-18285.html

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