What makes you think women are too gentle for politics?
@allknowing (137553)
India
April 28, 2011 4:23am CST
David Cameron, the British Premiere asking the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Angela Eagle to "clam down dear" at a heated debate, speaks volumes of what he thinks of having women in politics. Would he have used those words directing at a male MP for example?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/27/david-cameron-calm-down-dear-sexist_n_854491.html?ref=tw
What are your views on women in politics?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
28 Apr 11
My views on women are pretty much the same as anyone in politics. Basically if they are competent enough to do their job and to do it well, then they have their place. I think the strange thing about me is I don't care what party or gender or beliefs or whatever, as long as the politician does their job for the good of the people. Personally they could be a rotten human being personally but as long as they benefit the people, they who really cares.
In the end, I am all for competent politicians, whether they be man or woman. Being a politician and holding office of any kind is a thankless job, so you do need to be made of some strong stuff not to snap and pretty much lose sight of anything. Therefore, it really depends on the person, not on the gender and if they are rather competent, then why not.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
29 Apr 11
Competency in politics, what a novel thought. Too bad there is not some kind of exam would could give them to see if they are competent. It is a character trait that seems to be sadly lacking.
@allknowing (137553)
• India
29 Apr 11
The preconceived notion that women need to 'calm down' reduces opportunities despite the tremendous capacity women have to shoulder responsibilities.
@katsalot1 (1618)
•
28 Apr 11
As much as I dislike David Cameron, I really think the reaction to his remark was really over the top. He was being flippant using a phrase from a well-known TV advert - trying to be funny. It was in no way derogatory. I also don't think that it reflects what he thinks of women in politics. He wouldn't have used those words to a male MP, because that would have been in bad taste - in that it would infer that the MP he was addressing was homosexual. It all comes down to the British sense of humour, which can easily be misunderstood. Women are definitely not too gentle for politics, they can be worse than men - you only have to think of Margaret Thatcher!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137553)
• India
28 Apr 11
That's the advantage of interpretations where one finds a situation funny but the other does not and this makes life pretty interesting. For men it is an effort to weigh their words while dealing with women specially in a political world almost a trapeze act I might add. Margaret Thatcher I think was called the Iron Lady. Am I right? But we are not talking about exceptions.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
29 Apr 11
I think women can be very bright in politics and practical as well. They think differently than men, that is for sure, but if he is going to say to her "calm down dear" then she might want to say "lighten up honey" or something just as derogatory.
@allknowing (137553)
• India
29 Apr 11
Women feel it is not ladylike to retaliate and that is our undoing. If you will notice GG how differently women behave at a hen's party and similar is the situation with men. Unless both the genders realise that when together they should shed their inhibitions and only concentrate on positive contribution.
