Modern Misogyny

[Arwon]

Eh, all that article had is using some vulger terms for genitals and some insults towards individual women, not women in general. Its vulgar and insulting, but it is not sexist.

Calling a women the "c" word is not sexist just like calling a dude the "d" word isn't either. Its just a gender specific general nsult.

I have no doubt this dude is your garden variety frat boy douche, but if the examples given in the article is all they are going on every group of young men and women I have ever encountered are just as guilty as he is.

Yeah it was some pretty desperate false equivalence for the opposition to pretend some vulgar texts by a creeper like Slipper are the same thing as Tony Abbott having and repeatedly putting forth sexist beliefs and attitudes publicly as a politician.

Thanks for the 411. It's heartwarming to learn that America doesn't have a monopoly on talk radio scumbags.

Is it safe to assume c_h is anti-Gillard? Yet he makes a valid point. The speech against the opposition leader's sexism was apparently intended to gloss over the sexism of her own ally, the Speaker of the House.

And when will public figures realize that social media is not confidential?

Yes and no. The context of the speech was responding to Abbott's attacks saying the government and Gillard are supporting sexism by not removing him, which obviously triggered her to attack the sheer hypocrisy of that.

She didn't really defend Slipper though, that's a pretty wilful misinterpretation. Rather, she said the SMSes were offensive, but that it would be way over the top and unprecedented to have a vote on confidence in the Speaker over such a thing (which is true). He's got a current court case against him for sexual harassment, so she said let due process work. And she also pointed out the long and personal association between the Speaker and Abbott, since he Slipper was a Liberal MP for 20 or 30 years.

But yeah most of it was about the sheer gall of Abbott, of all people, getting up and decrying the sexism of someone else.

(oh and the messages weren't social media, they were SMS phone texts)

 

[classical_hero]

It was intended to point out the hypocrisy of the opposition leader.

The (now-former) Speaker was originally from the Liberal Party, by the way.

The Liberals had already got rid of him in every sense but in name. He was never going to be endorsed for the next election, which is why he struck a deal with Labor. That is why they got rid of a competent speaker for him, so they could sore up their number. Most people n the left side said it was a stroke of genius, but those who knew Mr Slipper knew it was a bad decision, which it eventually proved to be. He never held any position of importance while he was in the Liberal party and mmany consider him lucky to have even been allow re-election to this parliament.

@Glassfan. I am no fan of hers due to her policy failures.

 

[Masada]

I didn't care enough about the whole thing to keep up to date. But is there any evidence that Gillard knew about the SMSes beforehand? If she did...

Rather, she said the SMSes were offensive, but that it would be way over the top and unprecedented to have a vote on confidence in the Speaker over such a thing (which is true).

I'm not sure something can be "over the top" and "unprecedented" at the same time?

 

[ParkCungHee]

I'm not sure something can be "over the top" and "unprecedented" at the same time?

You haven't played Saints Row 3 then.

 

[Glassfan]

Yes and no. The context of the speech was responding to Abbott's attacks saying the government and Gillard are supporting sexism by not removing him, which obviously triggered her to attack the sheer hypocrisy of that.

...most of it was about the sheer gall of Abbott, of all people, getting up and decrying the sexism of someone else.

The Liberals had already got rid of him in every sense but in name...

Interesting, and a welcome change from the utter preoccupation here with the American Presidential campaign.

So, I noticed in the video that the Chairperson was a woman. Is that the Speaker pro tempore?

 

[Arwon]

That's Deputy Speaker Anna Burke. She's now the Speaker.

 

[Formaldehyde]

The Democrats certainly need women like Ms. Gillard.

 

[Masada]

Ehhhh I'm not sure they do. She's not all that great a politician (which is usually, so far as I'm concerned, a good thing.).

 

[Mise]

That was a bloody good speech.

FWIW, I've replaced the C-word with the D-word in my vocabulary. Having said that, I try not to make a habit of insulting women.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Ehhhh I'm not sure they do. She's not all that great a politician (which is usually, so far as I'm concerned, a good thing.).

What I think they need more than anything else are articulate people who can properly respond in similar ways. This is likely Obama's greatest failing. He is far too conciliatory and willing to compromise when he should be taking a stand and calling people out.

 

[warpus]

Calling a woman the "c" word is extremely unusual and connotes the sexist mindset. Only one step below referring to a woman as "it". A practice quite common in certain circles intra-males. Indicating the complete objectivification of women.

I have read that in Australia it is actually somewhat fine to be throwing that word around, just only as long as you know the person in question.. People have told me that it's much like saying: "How you doin', ya crazy bastard?" over here, for example

 

[Flying Pig]

I have read that in Australia it is actually somewhat fine to be throwing that word around, just only as long as you know the person in question.. People have told me that it's much like saying: "How you doin', ya crazy bastard?" over here, for example

That's right - besides, I don't think it's really that sexist. It's bad form for a man to swear at a woman, in my book, but I'd happily describe a man with that word (and usually with a smile), so I don't see that it's sexist when applied to a woman.

 

[Glassfan]

BBC reports today that Gillard's speech is prompting Australia's leading dictionary, the Macquarie Dictionary, to update the definition of misogyny from "hatred of women" to also include "entrenched prejudice against women".

 

[kochman]

As a completely anecdotal post, I've often heard the men in Oz treat the women poorly... just saying.

 

[Borachio]

Which makes men in Australia unique in what way, exactly?

 

[kochman]

Which makes men in Australia unique in what way, exactly?

Speak for yourself buck-o

 

[Borachio]

Thanks, I will.

I've often heard the men in Oz treat the women poorly

I've often heard the men in the entire world treat their women poorly.

 

[Tschibo]

brillant speach.

she is right to be offended, when women are attacked as a whole. A politican is, to a degree, a public being and has to accept some critique. A personal lawsuit against the offender is the modern way to find truth, here.

The freedom of speach arc is interisting. In a case were pure misogyny is out of question, one could claim to express an opinion. As poorly worded and stupid as it may be. The dedicated offender can circumvent contestability, by saying: 'some people belief', to be safe. (In Germany)

The individuum is only free in it's speech, when the personal rights of others are not offended. Calling somebody names in public very likely violates that, as she was not found to practice black magic or something. or did she?

It is hard to discuss the topic with women in my country. I strongly believe into the one-two-mob rule. Whenever females outnumber males at a rate of 3:1 and sexism is on the line, expect to be yelled at.

 

[Arwon]

As a completely anecdotal post, I've often heard the men in Oz treat the women poorly... just saying.

Oh...?

 

[NinjaCow64]

As a completely anecdotal post, I've often heard the men in Oz treat the women poorly... just saying.

No more than any other country really.