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By joanneod • 13 years ago

Rant about the lack of women in the new UK cabinet

Cross-posted from my blog:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8675705.stm

Leaving aside for just a second how we may feel about the merits new Tory/Lib coalition, I just checked out the site above and was dismayed – though not surprised – to find not one single person on the proposed new cabinet who is not a middle-aged white male. Yawn. Sigh. This is  so   damn   boring. Not to mention exclusive, patronising, depressing, and I could go on. I don’t know these politicians well enough to judge them and they may well be very good at their jobs, but this cabinet doesn’t represent me fully, not to mention all the many other people who look at them and see an old boys’ club which they are not – and possibly never have been – members of. Never mind electoral reform, why do I feel like UK politics is stuck in the dark ages? Having attended debates in the European Parliament I am almost embarrassed when I watch our lower house on television. A rowdy rabble of bully boys intent on shouting one another down, possibly in the most insidiously insulting fashion they can find. Thick Nigel Farage and his recent comments to the new EU President. It feels to me that our political traditions, and debating traditions, favour those who have been brought up in the arrogance that they are better than everyone else. So little wonder then, perhaps…
By joanneod • 14 years ago

Female spiritual leaders – names please!

I am interested in spirituality and philosophy, eastern and contemporary, etc. I don’t always know how to refer to exactly what I mean, but I hope you get the drift. I read quite a lot about it and was indulging in one such work yesterday when I decided it actually really annoys me that all references to spiritual leaders are male, whether specific individuals (ranging from Krishnamurti to Eckhart Tolle, Mahatma Gandi, and even with references to DH Laurence, Nelson Mandela and such like), or more figurative stories of “masters” and their – inevitably male – “disciples”. Now I refuse to buy that men are just more spiritual than women, so where are all the ladies? If anyone out there ...

I am interested in spirituality and philosophy, eastern and contemporary, etc. I don’t always know how to refer to exactly what I mean, but I hope you get the drift. I read quite a lot about it ...
By joanneod • 14 years ago

Ah, the beauty of hindsight…

A good friend of mine asked me recently why I don’t shave my armpits. Hmmm. Here, with hindsight, is what I would have liked to say:
“It’s funny, because whenever anyone asks me that question I can’t help feeling a bit annoyed. Why not ask me why I’m wearing this jumper or these shoes? The question reveals that there’s something surprising here, something unusual, odd, out of the ordinary, something curious that you want me to explain. If I say it’s a purely aesthetical choice that wouldn’t be entirely honest. I have always preferred a ‘natural’ look, but there’s more than that. The remainder of my answer is in your question: I don’t accept a ‘norm’, a set of ‘rules’ ...

A good friend of mine asked me recently why I don’t shave my armpits. Hmmm. Here, with hindsight, is what I would have liked to say:
“It’s funny, because whenever anyone asks me that question I can’t ...
By joanneod • 14 years ago

Against Western feminists?

I received this in my inbox this morning from a colleague who’s an Iranian feminist activist. It’s a link to what I think can only be described as a tirade against western feminists…
Any thoughts?

I received this in my inbox this morning from a colleague who’s an Iranian feminist activist. It’s a link to what I think can only be described as a tirade against western feminists…
Any thoughts?
By joanneod • 14 years ago

The veil – does it protect or subjugate women?

I recently received this article in my e-mail inbox, written by a colleague of mine who is Iranian living in Belgium. Some tension is being felt across Belgium at the moment to do with the headscarf (similar to recent debates in France. This is her response. I offered to post this on her behalf as she is very keen to find out what other people think.

Yesterday evening I went to the cinema to see a documentary on Iran and I participated in the debate that occurred afterwards. Since I did not have sufficient time to express my deepest thoughts, I decided to write an article in the hope of promoting a discussion which would enrich our multicultural society and a ...

I recently received this article in my e-mail inbox, written by a colleague of mine who is Iranian living in Belgium. Some tension is being felt across Belgium at the moment to do with the headscarf (similar ...