Comments for Lee's random blog http://www.leechalmers.com Leadership, politics and womens stuff Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:20:39 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Why we all need to stop this nonsense about women by Piya Khanna http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/03/31/why-we-all-need-to-stop-this-nonsense-about-women/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Piya Khanna Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:20:39 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=252#comment-244 I wrote a blog about a similar topic recently :) A great read is Pink Brain Blue Brain by a Neuroscientist who essentially says that the actual differences between the genders are so few as to be non-existent from a genetic & biological point of view & her view is that the majority of the differences are conditioned or nurture rather than nature. I wrote a blog about a similar topic recently :)
A great read is Pink Brain Blue Brain by a Neuroscientist who essentially says that the actual differences between the genders are so few as to be non-existent from a genetic & biological point of view & her view is that the majority of the differences are conditioned or nurture rather than nature.

]]> Comment on What’s wrong with MP’s traveling First Class? by David Wilson http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/02/21/whats-wrong-with-mps-traveling-first-class/comment-page-1/#comment-241 David Wilson Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:04:57 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=85#comment-241 Good to see you highlighting what is a very pernicious trend. When wealthy people start to claim that the less well-off are people of a <i>different</i> sort whose needs are less refined (or lacking altogether) we are moving into frightening territory indeed. I believe it is vital to expose this sort of thinking for the small-minded nastiness that it is. Good to see you highlighting what is a very pernicious trend. When wealthy people start to claim that the less well-off are people of a different sort whose needs are less refined (or lacking altogether) we are moving into frightening territory indeed. I believe it is vital to expose this sort of thinking for the small-minded nastiness that it is.

]]> Comment on Increasing the numbers of female MP’s 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….

]]> Comment on What’s wrong with MP’s traveling First Class? by Chris Fagan http://www.leechalmers.com/2010/02/21/whats-wrong-with-mps-traveling-first-class/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Chris Fagan Wed, 26 May 2010 11:35:15 +0000 http://www.leechalmers.com/?p=85#comment-179 Of course the poor dears should travel first class or use a taxi for hundreds of miles if they want. As long as they pay for it from their own pocket Of course the poor dears should travel first class or use a taxi for hundreds of miles if they want.
As long as they pay for it from their own pocket

]]> Comment on Increasing the numbers of female MP’s 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?

]]> Comment on Increasing the numbers of female MP’s 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!

]]> Comment on Increasing the numbers of female MP’s 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.

]]> Comment on Increasing the numbers of female MP’s 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….

]]> Comment on Increasing the numbers of female MP’s 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.

]]> Comment on Increasing the numbers of female MP’s 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?

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