[the truth]

for parliamentary seats and council seats too
that means in vats areas of the uk men will be banned from standing for election in a democracy?

[joeysteele]

That's a bit rich, we are having a leadership election with 2 forced candidates on the ballot paper and no woman in sight.

[Vicky.]

Urgh I ****ing hate positive discrimination like this. Its really unneeded IMO...I don't care if the whole place is men or all women as long as they are the best for the job

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

That's a bit rich, we are having a leadership election with 2 forced candidates on the ballot paper and no woman in sight.

Yeah Labour party does seem to go on about equality a lot for a party thats never had a female leader (as far as I know)

[Kizzy]

Didn't Smith effectively railroad Angela Eagle from standing?...

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Yeah Labour party does seem to go on about equality a lot for a party thats never had a female leader (as far as I know)

We have had 2 acting Female leaders, Hattie Harperson( Harriett Harman),and Margaret Beckett.

That is it really, none have come near to the real top job.

[the truth]

the irony is only the women who got there n merit actually got the leadership
this going through the back door is dreadful for democracy
imagine theres a david lloyd george in one of these women only towns, yet hes banned from running for parliament, it reall is a disgrace
Due to This along with a few other self defeating policies corbyn has just lost my vote for good.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by the truth

the irony is only the women who got there n merit actually got the leadership
this going through the back door is dreadful for democracy
imagine theres a david lloyd george in one of these women only towns, yet hes banned from running for parliament, it reall is a disgrace
corbyn has just my vote for good

Like you and Vicky I hate this forcing of names and sexes on shortlists.

People should be chosen,elected and advanced on their merits, not on what sex they are.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Like you and Vicky I hate this forcing of names and sexes on shortlists.

People should be chosen,elected and advanced on their merits, not on what sex they are.

agreed. in fact the vast majority oppose them https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/08/28...en-shortlists/
surely its illegal to say women only? it is to do so when advertising other jobs?

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by the truth

agreed. in fact the vast majority oppose them https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/08/28...en-shortlists/
surely its illegal to say women only? it is to do so when advertising other jobs?

I think it depends on the job..but I thought it was only jobs such as carers (for a certain sex patient) and stuff that you could specify men or women.

Unless they don't specify and just reject all male applicants, which is even worse :S

[joeysteele]

[QUOTE=Vicky.;8963916]I think it depends on the job..but I thought it was only jobs such as carers (for a certain sex patient) and stuff that you could specify men or women.

Unless they don't specify and just reject all male applicants, which is even worse :S[/QUOTE]

That actually happens Vicky, unfortunately.

[the truth]

It happens all the time in case women or gorls make sexual accusations

[lostalex]

what is the percentage of women in the house of lords?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by lostalex

what is the percentage of women in the house of lords?

About a quarter.

[lostalex]

I wonder if the Queen is a feminist, i know she's not allowed to get involved with the politics of parliament, but i am curious, especially since her husband is such a well known misogynist.

[Livia]

As a professional woman in a field where women are underrepresented I have to say I am totally against all-female shortlists. It is totally unfair. Because women have been oppressed in the past that is no reason to shift the oppression to another group now. Vacancies should be always be filled by the best person for the job, whether that's a man or a woman.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

As a professional woman in a field where women are underrepresented I have to say I am totally against all-female shortlists. It is totally unfair. Because women have been oppressed in the past that is no reason to shift the oppression to another group now. Vacancies should be always be filled by the best person for the job, whether that's a man or a woman.

Do you not think there can be a bit of a "boys club" type attitude in certain fields though? Have you ever experienced that? It seems like it could go on in Politics

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Do you not think there can be a bit of a "boys club" type attitude in certain fields though? Have you ever experienced that? It seems like it could go on in Politics

To be honest, I found the Tories to be more classist than sexist. Although I have to say when I've been involved in selections for Councillors the old boys (because it is still mainly old boys, although that's slowly changing) much prefer a young pretty female face to an older experienced female. And they wanted to discount a female applicant because she had a young family... a question male applicants were never asked.

I was kind of head-hunted for my current job, but I am one of only a few females doing it. Things have to change naturally though, I reckon. You can't force change by using tools like biased shortlists because it just builds resentment.

I have a friend who works for an investment bank in the City and the horror stories I hear from her would never be allowed in my own field.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

To be honest, I found the Tories to be more classist than sexist. Although I have to say when I've been involved in selections for Councillors the old boys (because it is still mainly old boys, although that's slowly changing) much prefer a young pretty female face to an older experienced female. And they wanted to discount a female applicant because she had a young family... a question male applicants were never asked.

I was kind of head-hunted for my current job, but I am one of only a few females doing it. Things have to change naturally though, I reckon. You can't force change by using tools like biased shortlists because it just builds resentment.

I have a friend who works for an investment bank in the City and the horror stories I hear from her would never be allowed in my own field.

I suppose you would hope it would die off along with the old dinosaurs like those ones. I take your point about natural change though, you're probably right

[bitontheslide]

the best form of change is that which occurs imperceptibly, because then, there is no question that the person has been given special treatment. When I started work, there were next to no women in offices doing like for like work with guys. Things have changed significantly since then, and its only moving in the one positive direction, there really is no need to force the issue.

[the truth]

improve the chances the circumstances , the social mobility and opportunities and yes keep improving childcare etc etc all of that will bring about opportunities naturally....this one gender only shortlist for something as important as a parliamentary seat is nothing short of a national disgrace and has and will continue to do massive harm to our democracy. I also agree with livia here, the classism and social immobility are still the biggest cause of inequality in this country....oh and while these so called equal opportunists are at it ....hows about improving massively the disabled access to buildings

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I suppose you would hope it would die off along with the old dinosaurs like those ones. I take your point about natural change though, you're probably right

What are we waiting for here? for there to be more female Councillors or for male Councillors to stop employing pretty childless women?... You'll be waiting a loooong time. Old boys never die off, they're just replaced with younger old boys.