Susan McKay quits as head of National Wimmin's Council

[20blue]

While I post on many other issues I think this issue is one of the most interesting one in politics. It brings out the subconscious, male tendency towards misogyny. We are in denial about it but we do have a problem with having women in positions of authority.

But it also seems to cause a more complicated subconscious reaction in women. They are very defensive on how they vote on this issue.

The reaction to Susan McKay as a person in this and other threads has being virulent.

Whatever we think of her views, and the organisation she headed up, she is an able and uncompromising advocate. She also has that northern tendency of calling a spade a spade.

Irrespective of gender many of us in this part of the world have a problem with that.

As I said before I think our society would be better served if there were more women in the Dail. I am perfectly willing to take whatever abuse is going on that issue from the male chauvenists.

The classical male chauvenist campaign was waged when Hillary Clinton was a candidate for the most powerful political position in the world. The viciousness of that campaign was an eye-opener and it was tolerated by the patriarchy in the Democratic party in a way that a campaign of similar viciousness would not have been tolerated if it was against Obama's ethnic background.

I see the NCWI does the gender thing on its executive board ie-no men
its slogan "womens equality" means equality just among women no doubt

[delaad]

Is there a National Men's Council ?

Well, in the North, I'ld suggest the Orange Order, but of course you do allow the women to do the traybakes.

Down here, the Irfu, Catholic Church, the Gaa, Fine Gael, Ibec, Siptu,...........

[irish_bob]

Well, in the North, I'ld suggest the Orange Order, but of course you do allow the women to do the traybakes.

Down here, the Irfu, Catholic Church, the Gaa, Fine Gael, Ibec, Siptu,...........

since when are women prevented from being members of all the above orgs ?

[Jezza]

I do not say that democracy is 'wrong' just that it could be more representative if women were more adequately represented.

All us males are to some extent chauvenistic. Leave out the pejorative word 'pig'. But we are in denial about it.

LOL! Unlike women, who are of course not remotely chauvanistic in any way at all.

Can I borrow your hair shirt when you're done with it?

[Jezza]

Hillary Clinton was mentioned as going for the most powerful political position in the world. I have no doubt if Sarah Palin was a candidate for the same position she would be given the same treatment.

Thatcher and Harney got a fair amount of misogynist abuse too.

Misogyny is blind to political persuasion.

The demonising of Thatcher by IRA supporters was certainly so. They never went on like that about Mervyn Rees, the Labour Minister who actually initiated most of the tough policies she is castigated for.

[Harmonica]

Good move by Shatter as it has allowed him to protect funding for worthwhile services. I am unsure why the state needs to fund a lobby group for a special interest group anyway...

[Will Yam]

you still want possitive discrimination at the end of the day , i for one will never support such a move

One womans positive discrimination is another mans negative discrimination.

[Toland]

Evolutionary biology and history tell us there is something to be said for this concept. Males tend to be risk takers so when we have an imbalance in the power structures the risk takers win out. Societies benefit from the balace that results the more women are empowered. ( I'd recommend Steven Pinkers "The Better Angels of our Nature- The Decline of Violence and it's Causes" as a treatise that examines the variables that have resulted in improved cultural institutions. One of the most significant is the pacifying force of women and hence the feminization of our cultures have benefited both men and women.)

As regards the 35% reduction in allocation it seems that no matter how an agency adds to society we have no choice at present but to cut the financial support it receives. This is a harsh fact of life that we all have to work with rather than walk away from so I think resigning is pointless in these circumstances. However it is plain from the reaction to these threads (from the usual suspects) that the need for such an agency is still present in modern Irish society.

You have a point about violence. About the recession I'm not convinced.