Women in Christian politics

[dutchfire]

The Netherlands has a loony Christian party. These people think women shouldn't be involved in politics (or in general have jobs, I suppose). So they don't allow women on their candidates list. The European court (or the Dutch supreme court, I'm not sure) has said that this is illegal discrimination and that the party should allow women to join. Now, the party is planning to formally allow women to become candidates, but I believe they don't intend to actually let them appear on the list (that is, they can apply but will be rejected.)


Should political parties be forced to have women on their list?

 

[_random_]

How many women are there who want a position in such a party?

 

[Borachio]

It's a very tricky question.

Certainly pubs and shops shouldn't be allowed to ban women. Though certain clubs used to.

But why would this political party want to ban women? Seems a very strange and reactionary attitude. Especially in the Netherlands.

Even the freemasons allow women to apply, don't they?

But if a political party has the express aim of serving the general public, shouldn't they be obliged to consider women candidates in the same way that shops are obliged to serve them, and employ them as staff?

 

[dutchfire]

How many women are there who want a position in such a party?

Is that relevant?

(Not saying it isn't)

 

[JollyRoger]

If a political party wants to be a sacred bond between a man and a group of men, I do not see why we should interfere with this all-male bondage.

 

[ace99]

I used to think that when people used "Christian Taliban" they were just being hyperbolic and hysterical, but I suppose no, there are really people in the world who want Christian Sharia law.

Even the freemasons allow women to apply, don't they?

No.

 

[dutchfire]

It's a very tricky question.

Certainly pubs and shops shouldn't be allowed to ban women. Though certain clubs used to.

But why would this political party want to ban women? Seems a very strange and reactionary attitude. Especially in the Netherlands.

One part of me thinks: Sure if they want to do that, why not? It's their party.
The other part thinks: Replace women by jews (or black people)

Even the freemasons allow women to apply, don't they?

Only in seperate 'lodges', iirc.

But if a political party has the express aim of serving the general public, shouldn't they be obliged to consider women candidates in the same way that shops are obliged to serve them?

In general, it is not unusual to ask more from people who want to be elected than from the general public.

 

[_random_]

Is that relevant?

(Not saying it isn't)

Probably not. I just sort of find it odd that this is an issue that comes up. Since it has, it's admittedly a tricky one. My gut says that they should have to comply with anti-discrimination laws though.

 

[ace99]

Doesn't Europe have laws where you can ban parties, like the Neo-Nazi's, that actively seek to deny civil liberties to people and undermine civil society? I know the German Constitutional Court banned a bunch of the neo-Nazi groups. Sounds like you should use that.

 

[dutchfire]

Doesn't Europe have laws where you can ban parties, like the Neo-Nazi's, that actively seek to deny civil liberties to people and undermine civil society? I know the German Constitutional Court banned a bunch of the neo-Nazi groups. Sounds like you should use that.

As you might have noticed, "Europe" doesn't have a single set of laws (yet...). The German constitution is pretty extreme in how far it allows banning parties. In the Netherlands, it seems that parties can only be banned if they are explicitely involved in criminal behaviour, which this isn't.

 

[ace99]

Too bad, you could have gotten rid of Van...Geert Wilders' Party.

 

[Borachio]

Isn't it an equal opportunities matter? The party is offering employment, in some sense, isn't it? So discrimination based on gender should be illegal.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I have no real issues with a political party setting whatever policies it desires. That said, I certainly don't understand why anybody would vote for them.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Even the freemasons allow women to apply, don't they?

Most Freemason lodges are male-only, but some admit both genders.

 

[caketastydelish]

Thread is misleading because I am a Christian and I have no problem with voting for a woman.

 

[Masada]

I used to think that when people used "Christian Taliban" they were just being hyperbolic and hysterical, but I suppose no, there are really people in the world who want Christian Sharia law.

Because Sharia Law and the Taliban always and everywhere go hand in hand. Riiiight...

 

[Formaldehyde]

Thread is misleading because I am a Christian and I have no problem with voting for a woman.

Are you a member of this particular Dutch Christian party clearly mentioned in the OP?

 

[Masada]

Yes, and I disagree with this policy. Women aren't people; and shouldn't be allowed to speak.

 

[Ironsided]

Saab-drones are sent to Indonesia to bomb some democracy into you savages!

 

[caketastydelish]

How many women are there who want a position in such a party?

Ann Coulter would join.

COULTER: If we took away women's right to vote, we'd never have to worry about another Democrat president. It's kind of a pipe dream, it's a personal fantasy of mine, but I don't think it's going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women.