Feminisque

[sombrefan]

Realising that's there quite a few left-wingers and/or feminists on my flist, I'd thought I'd give a heads up about this incredibly interesting Guardian article about sexism and socialism in Scottish politics.

I was particularly drawn to this quote

"The time has come to rid the left of male misogynists who view women as appendages"

It's a very telling remark and particularly relevant for Northern Irish politics where a sizeable element on the left (even Sinn Fein) regard women politicians as window dressing.

Here's the link - http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/28/tommy-sheridan-perjury-sexism

Comments

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

Well, left-wingers are not naturally better people - that's why there is an actual need to change society (to change the circumstances under which we interact with each other).

For example, there's a lot of antisemitism in the left wing here in Germany (which just makes my head explode). Just because people think it is a good idea to strive for a better world, doesn't mean these people are actually better human beings.

"There is no right life in the wrong one." (T. Adorno, Minima Moralia, 1944)

[simonf.livejournal.com]

"Well, left-wingers are not naturally better people". True and that's what the article acknowledges. And there's wankers on all sides but personally I prefer left to right, there's more interesting ideas coming of that area.

"For example, there's a lot of antisemitism in the left wing here in Germany "

There's a fair bit of anti-semitism here too, it's usually gets dressed up as anti-Israel sentiment but there's always the codes that give it away.

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

it's usually gets dressed up as anti-Israel sentiment

Yes, that. Itis just so unbelievably sad here in Germany, since the left should be different/more enlightened in that regard, with out history of fascism. Ah well, at heart the Germans are a romantic people, unwilling to learn a single thing.

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

I read that today and while I thought it was interesting, I thought it was also a tad simplistic too. There were male members of the SSP who also testified against Sherridan for example.

Anti-semitism is fairly ramptant in the Scottish left too, it's one of the things that put me off it.

[simonf.livejournal.com]

One of the more extreme socialist republican groups here in Belfast decided to protest against Israeli action against the Palestinians. So they thought the best course of action was to go to the local shopping centre and shout and scream at the Israeli salespeople selling Dead Sea Salt. It was extremely nasty and was totally uncalled for.

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's been a lot of stuff like that in Glasgow too. It's they hypocrisy of it I can't stand, they never protest against Chinese or American people, but it's somehow okay to hold up signs telling Israeli people to get out of Glasgow? Yet they don't want them to be in Israel either, where the f!"£ do they want them to go then?! The whole thing disgusts me.