A2K Politics Forum/Where are Our Politically Savvy Women?

Lol, i agree, 'real' women are scary!!
mmm, its a disapointing thing about Aussie politics, i can only think of one women who i respect in Federal politics anyway, and she now holds such a minor position.
The women with power in Aussie politics have become practically deformed. Our minister for womens affairs spent a half hour on the radio ranting about how women expect too much these days...what the hell!? Isn't she ment to be looking after our interests.
I don't know enough of US politics to judge

Cayla- Welcome to A2K!



I think that for women to be taken seriously in politics, they need to perceive their words and acts themselves as serious and important.

What struck me from your paragraph above, is that you began in a strong, forthright manner. You then diluted what you were saying, by that last sentence, which to a reader, would seem frivolous, and possibly ditzy.

Cayla, this observation was not meant to pick on you personally. I think it clearly illustrated though, the double bind that women often put themselves in, when dealing in situations, like political discussions, usually dominated by men. In the political world, a woman needs to be as tough, or tougher, than the men, in order to be taken seriously.

phoenix

Cayla is from Australia, thus that last addendum is a reasonable note.

But, yes. You women are going to have to keep pushing for recognition and inclusion, and for power.

One of the things women in science have been doing here is making themselves available to talk at schools about their professions. That not only inspires and opens up perhaps previously un-concidered options for the young females in attendance, it also helps educate the young males that women have equal roles everywhere.

Wouldn't it be cool if more women activists did the same?

This is one advantage of same sex schools, believe it or not. I have heard of studies that show how when boys/men are in the classroom, the girls/women defer. It may be genetic, hard wired. Still I think women can do well. But it's not as easy for women. Just look at the reputations of women in politics. Like Hillary.

When I played racquetball (back in the days when my knees were good) I didn't like to play with men. It's a rare man who can take being beaten by a woman. I've had men drop out of the league when I beat them (more than once). Really. It was both amazing and understandable. Still, as the game's popularity dwindled, there were fewer and fewer women to play with. There were no longer women's leagues. So I had to play with the men. But most of the men (not all, but most) were very bad sports about it.

So it may be that most women are sensitive to the feelings of men. Maybe it upsets the balance of things. Women like men to like them, just as men want the positive attention of women. It may be that it's harder for women to participate because it causes tension.

I think you're right phoenix, so many girls are torn between proving themselves in their own right, and being accepted, as Lola said. Its a pity these two objectives often collide!!

Sorry Blatham...eh!?

Men unless their Gay, get egos affended easily. Though I do like arguing with them esspecially on Politic's. I'm new here, and you may see me more often.

kjvtrue- Welcome to A2K!

Re: A2K Politics Forum/Where are Our Politically Savvy Women
Hi! The answer to your question is 1 that I'd like to know myself... I consider myself to be quite "Politically Savvy", hope to meet w/some other Folks that are as well...
Respectfully,
Patt

I have not a politically savvy bone in my savvy bod...but, I'll tell you this. I came to A2K in search of an answer to a riddle (which I never found, btw), and I've stayed here for 3 nearly 4 months now. I find that the more I stay, and participate in ANY threads that aren't on the jokes/words/trivia theme, I'm beoming more and more aware of the politics of the U.S. next year this time, I'll be able to start a topic in the politics thread myself. (go me, go me). Thanks to you all, Craven, Phoenix, Setanta, Frank and all the otherw who consistenly post in the political arena. I'm learning so much from y'all.

HI Onyxelle~

oh Dys!!!!!! Hi, I'm glad you're well & back!!!! Thank you for your poli-posts as well!!!!!!!

That's cool Onyxelle. Btw I find that people who just ask honest questions really make the discussions interesting -- it doesn't need to be that you KNOW anything in particular.

<strongly suspecting she's way more politically savvy than she's letting on...>

Cayla - I assume you speak of Carmen Lawrence, and Pru Goward?

Carmen is indeed a person of great skill and presence. She was, of course, destroyed in the Royal Commission in Perth, whether with some reason or not, I do not know. I do know that she was especially targeted because of the threat she presented to the Libs.

Her renaissance in federal politics was impressive - though I have no doubt she has been wounded, or wounded herself, too greatly ever to be PM. However, I do think her resignation from the shadow ministry was an act of great integrity (US folk - she resigned over the Labor policy on asylum seekers, which is perhap a degree, if that, better than the present government's) - however, in terms of power, I think it very significant that she has become Party President - and I hope she is able to use this position to effect change.

Pru Goward is not a minister - she was a media person. She is an EXTREMELY close friend of the Prime Minister's, and strongly aligned politically with him - and had no credentials for her current post except that, and her undoubted intelligence. Some would consider the appointment quite improper. I am one of those people.

I did not hear/read her comments, so I cannot comment on them, but she cannot be included in a list of deformed women politicians!

I do not consider most of the women politicians "deformed". Being a political animal is a hard and tough thing to be - it is I think still harder for women - especially as they reach ranks where they seriously compete with the men - because power is very attractive, if you are the sort of person who wants it, and the men are still not really used to having to compete with damned women, as well as each other! I think this will change - and is changing slowly.

Women like Joan Kirner ARE tough - and extremely political - but they are still perfectly decent human beings, who laugh and hurt and get pissed. In fact, interestingly, at both federal and state levels, the women - regardless of party, often combine to get certain things done, and have great respect for each other.

I do not know how you could call women like Penny Wong, for instance, deformed. Did you hear her maiden speech in the federal senate - it was a wonderful call for fairness and justice in immigration matters.

Actually, I do not consider all that many of the fellas "deformed" either - and I wonder if you are being harsher on the women, expecting them to be softer and such?

The ego thing is present in many of both sexes I think - it is hard, cos you have to be tough and have a tough ego to survive - this selects out for ego-maniacs of various kinds, I think.

I have two women friends, not among my closest friends, but still, I would call them friends, who are in the legislature in California. Both of them are strong and respected and still hold on to integrity. Their common denominator is a capacity for exhaustion - it is one demanding job.

Yeah - I am about to see it up-close and all too personal...

What, you're getting into politics?

LOL! Nah - been seconded to work with a Minister for 6 months -

Oh ho, that should be interesting...

yeah - that's what I am scared about! LOL!

Crippling self-doubt and all...

Yeah, but you're good, you'll be fine.