Harpy friend gherkinfiend kindly volunteered recently to fill us all in on what’s been going on in the UK and what it means for women.
The United Kingdom has just held a General Election, the first since the economic crisis unfolded. Yet you probably haven’t heard about it, because despite being probably the most important election in the country for a generation, the whole affair has been surprisingly muted. Part of this is probably due to the famed British stiff upper lip that abhors a fuss and some was due to the political uncertainty that suggested Britain was heading for its first hung Parliament in over 30 years. The whole campaign seemed slightly apologetic and rather subdued.
And nowhere more so than for the female electorate. In a country where women make up over 50% of population and have long been acknowledged to be the most important cross-section of voters in General Elections, a casual observer could easily have thought that women neither have the full vote or are eligible to represent the electorate.
Right from the announcement of the electoral campaign in early April, it became obvious that this was not to be an election where women were invited to join in on a level playing field. This was abundantly obvious in the treatment of the most senior female politician in the country, Harriet Harman, then Deputy leader of the Labour party. She stood to be in charge of the country (albeit temporarily) if the party retained their majority, but Gordon Brown resigned, yet she was barely seen in public throughout the campaign, even in her London constituency. When she finally appeared on a televised BBC debate in the last week of the campaign in her role as Minister for Women and Equality, the questions centred around her support of abandoning all women shortlists in a constituency where her husband was running for Parliament. While this was a major policy reversal for the whole Labour party, it was presented mainly as a woman being wholly accountable for her husband’s actions.
Despite challenges such as this, more female candidates stood in this election than any previous contest, giving the opportunity for the first female Muslim MPs and black female Conservative MPs in Britain to be elected. Instead of focusing on these women’s political aspirations and experiences, the press continually referred to them as Cameron’s Cuties, Brown’s Babes and even Nick’s Nymphets and featured them in make over style photoshoots in the Sunday glossies rather than the main paper. Even the fact that two of the smaller political parties, the Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP) in Northern Ireland and the UK-wide Green Party, were being led by women was totally sidelined.
Instead all the focus on women in the election was on on the wives of the three main party leaders, particularly Samantha Cameron who happens to be pregnant. While female MPs struggled to be seen on the campaign trails and women’s issues took a backseat, the press squealed with glee when it turned out Gordon Brown’s wife Sarah had oddly shaped toes. Little mention was made of her work to reduce maternal mortality worldwide, but every frock was scrutinised as if it might be the new Prime Minister on May 6th. I half expected these three dynamic women who capably combine motherhood with high flying careers to be asked to bake a nice cake and pack a lunch for their husbands when they appeared on the new televised Prime Ministerial debates that formed the cornerstone of the election campaign.
None of these women, let alone the campaigning MPs were allowed to speak out on female-centric issues such as the UK’s shameful 6% rape conviction, the fact that 2 British women a week die at the hands of a partner or ex-partner, the fact that maternal mortality in the UK is higher than Albania or the fact that British women still only earn 83 pence in the pound for the same job as a man despite the Equal Pay Act of 1970.
Even issues such social housing provision, education and strategies to eradicate child poverty which proportionately affect women more were barely mentioned. Instead all three parties chose to concentrate on ‘the family’ with these policies mainly focusing on Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits which are paid to low income couples with children to supplement their income. Childcare provision was rightly discussed by all parties. However the Tories put forward a tax break for married couples while insinuating that the majority of benefit claimants (predominantly women) were in some way scrounging or fraudulent.
Even as a single childless woman, I understand that childcare and the concerns of parenthood are of course an extremely important issue for many women, but it is patronising to assume that women only care about the issues that affect their offspring or potential offspring. This obsession with women as the sole source of parenting excludes fathers and reinforces gender stereotypes for further generations. It suggests women are only as important as the product of their wombs. Ironically abortion is not the election issue here in the UK that it is in the US, but yet the predominantly male politicians have still managed to reduce women solely to their ability to reproduce.
It also completely ignores the vast number of women in the UK who are not mothers to children under 18 (as well as being heteronormative and managing to exclude all single childless men too). This disportionally affects women over 50, reminding them that their importance in society wanes as their fertility does. It also ignores the estimated 20% of women who are childfree by choice in the UK. In fact it somehow manages to patronise practically every woman in the UK individually.
Despite this minimization of women throughout the campaign, Britain actually elected its highest number of female MPs yet with women making up 22% of the 650 seats in Parliament. Both the female led SDLP and Green Party gained MPs and increased their share of the vote. Three Muslim women were elected for Labour while the Conservative party got their first black female and openly lesbian MPs. It was actually a succesful evening for female representation, but these achievements were barely mentioned. Instead the focus was on Jacqui Smith, first female Home Secretary in the UK, losing her seat over her expense claims for pornographic films watched by her husband. This wasn’t even seen an opportunity to address the loss of feminist politicians in Westminster, but more as a chance to snigger smuttily about porn and women like a saucy seaside postcard.
With this depressing backdrop, Britain moved toward the first hung Parliament since 1974 and political attention focused on the coalition talks between the unlikely bedfellows of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. Five days of intense discussion culminated last night in the formation of first coalition government since the Second World War. Not a single women sat at the talks for either the Tories or the Lib Dems, but I’m sure they were encouraged to make sandwiches and keep the tea flowing behind the scenes…
The details of the historic Conservative Liberal Democrat coalition began to emerge as Gordon Brown resigned and David Cameron became the new Prime Minister. We started to hear what concessions each party had won on the route to power and Cabinet seats started to be announced. At the time of writing, only one woman, Theresa May, has been offered a Cabinet seat, making the previous government’s paltry 4 female Cabinet seats look generous.
Britain’s political climate is fraught and tense right now as the electorate waits to see if the coalition government can work together in a time of deep financial deficit and make the country more stable. Defense, immigration, taxes and education are the main areas mentioned for the parties to work on. It remains to see if any of these policies will address their specific impact on women or if either of parties in power will realise that tackling female-centric issues such as rape conviction rates is in fact beneficial for the electorate as a whole?
As a lifelong Liberal Democrat voter who has always opposed the Conservatives, I do not feel positive about the next five years as a female voter in the UK. I anticipate the coalition giving privately educated straight male politicians the opportunity to squabble like schoolkids over issues that directly them, while ignoring those that keep women safe and respected in society. It’s either time to retreat to a bunker somewhere and live off the land or emigrate…I doubt any of the politicians will miss this hard to please feminist!
Whoa! That was quick – and excellent.
I think the only thing I have to add, is that Theresa May, Minister for Women and Equalities voted AGAINST the repeal of Section 28, a law, which although it never operated effectively, was deeply homophobic. It required that local councils:
“shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28
OMG girl I just moved here and this was SO helpful, I couldn’t tell if I was going crazy or what. They just showed photos of everyone in the cabinet on the news and Jesus Christ what a sausage fest! Not like things are really better in the US numerically speaking but the combination of whiteness and maleness was overwhelming. Thanks SO much for this breakdown, it is EXCELLENT. Also the only shit anyone said about Theresa May all day is that she likes funky shoes. REALLY?
Outstanding! Thanks, gherkinfiend! (Have you been lurking all this time, girlfriend? I haven’t seen you on Jez in forever and I’ve missed you!)
As a shameless Anglophile, I’ve been completely riveted to the UK elections, mostly in a kind of jaw-hanging “whoa” way. The further empowerment of (even more) white Etonian males and the utter lack of women’s representation almost defies belief.
One of my UK friends posted a rant about the lack of women’s representation in her FB status this morning. And immediately, one of her male friends jumped in to say “Well, the Home Secretary’s a woman!”
Never mind that she only got the job because the leading candidate made a homophobic remark and had to be tossed out. I’m sure that PM Cameron, just like the dude on FB, thinks that ONE woman is perfectly sufficient.
I’m holding on to the hope that this coalition government will likely lead to another general election in 18 months or so. I think it’s the case that historically only wartime coalition governments have come close to a full term.
I also take hope from the fact that despite the incredibly aggressive right-wing media campaign and the general malaise within the Labour party there still wasn’t enough support for a Conservative majority.
Gherkinfiend – I don’t know if you’re familiar with fellow disillusioned Lib Dem voter the Noble Savage but she’s made a t-shirt you might like: http://noblesavage.me.uk/2010/05/11/of-tories-and-t-shirts/
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Plum Pie: thank you for adding that. I was scared I might rant myself to an early death if I included it!
JD Regent: welcome to the UK. Get in touch, we’ll teach you how to drink like a Brit to deal with it all!
BeckySharper: I’ve not felt inspired to comment much on Jez recently and I always miss the good comments here with the time difference!
AfterIris: love that!
Great post, completely agree.
Thank you for this. I’ve been trying to do a better job of paying attention to things outside of the US, and I found this summary very helpful.
Emigrate where? I think we need to think bigger than Harpy House. I think we need Harpy Island.
Gherkinfiend, thanks so much for this most excellent post! I’ve been sorely disappointed by the lack of coverage in the US of the UK election. A dear friend of mine from grad school is living back at home in Yorkshire and sends me regular email updates on the election and his fears for the immediate future of the UK.
I didn’t realize how sorry the state of women in politics in Britain was and I’m sad that news coverage in the UK as well as stateside is always relegated to appearances and motherhood/wife status (even when the woman is the politician).
Do you see any potential silver linings in this election and the ensuing coalition government, or is it all looking bleak?
Also, Cameron’s Cuties, Brown’s Babes and even Nick’s Nymphets is fucking horrifying.I have no other words to describe how seeing that in print makes me feel.
Hey Sister G
That is as fine an analysis as I have seen anywhere. Remember as well that several of the lib dems’ top men are Westminster lads so only a toenail less posh than Eton. ;-( While I too wanted to support the demmies, on the basis of their economic policy, I actually voted for my local MP (labour) cos he’s a good bloke and his personal voting record is good.
I agree with afteriris about the right wing media compaign being less effective than Murdoch and Dacre would have liked. It is quite reaassuring. But then it seemed that many voter were becoming more left wing in their views even as they prepared to vote in the Tories. Strange times. Ha!
BTW I have nothing to add to what you have said about women in the election. You have said it all and it makes me too sad. I can only hope that now they’re in the new women MPs will use their votes for us even if the stupid meeja won’t give them airtime to speak on anything serious.
Oh groan…I just saw Time magazine’s article on the coalition gov’t is entitled “Britain’s Hot New Bromance: Cameron and Clegg.” For fuck’s sake, media. This is not a Judd Apatow movie with bros and cuties!
Although this bit from Guanabee on Cameron and Clegg IS pretty funny.
http://guanabee.com/2010/05/cameron-clegg/
Thanks for this. I had heard about the election but haven’t had the chance to look for an article that would explain to me clearly what actually happened.
I have one question. The results show that the Labour party came in second so why aren’t they the party forming a coalition with the Conservatives?
Lyndsay – the Labour Party and the Conservatives hold opposing principles (although in practice it’s difficult to tell them apart.) There would have to be some kind of national crisis to incentivise that sort of alliance, because neither party’s base would ever forgive them for “selling out”. Many, many Lib Dem voters are suffering extreme disillusionment with their party right now. It’s an extremely painful compromise.
Great post, Gherkinfiend! Some friends and I are thinking of starting a group to get this message out (any Brits here, please PM me if you’re interested – we need you!) and this will no doubt be one of our cornerstone texts.
BeckySharper: great link!
The cabinet now has 4 women sitting in it, including Britain’s first female Muslim Cabinet member. Sounds good until you realise she is the only ethnic minority member of this Cabinet right now.
The Lib Dems have no women sitting on the Front Bench for them and in fact only have 7 female MPs out of 57. Looks like their disinterest in representation is one of the surprising thing to unite the two parties…
This article sums it up well. Read the comments if you dare!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/12/new-coalition-politics-diversity-women?showallcomments=true#start-of-comments
Superb, Gherkinfiend!
I’ve been half paying attention to the election and had heard of “Cameron Cuties” but assumed they were cheerleaders, like the Dallas Cowboys. Oh brother. Now I know.
Thanks for the breakdown!
Thank you, gherkinfiend: great stuff. My reading around/hearing about the election seemed so reductive: COALITION GOVERNMENT! BROWN OUT! LADY CABINET MEMBER LIKES EXOTIC SHOES! that I didn’t know what was really going on. I can’t say that my mind is any more at ease, but I don’t feel like I’m totally clueless, either.
Gherkinfiend – why hello my fellow life long Lib Dem voter – 18 bloody years I’ve given those sods.
Anyway great piece – I wanted to add that Katherine Viner has a piece in the Guardian today which also managed to infuriate me. Although ostensibly on the same subject it’s includes this par:
“Those delectable wives did get noticed, of course. Sarah Brown, Samantha Cameron and Miriam González Durántez got a brilliant press – because they are quiet, good-looking, well-dressed and best of all, know their place: as wives and mothers, in support of their powerful men. Herding their beautiful families, looking lush, standing pregnant on the threshold of No 10 like the Virgin Mary in Renaissance blue. The wives were the Madonnas, the good women; the women MPs the bad. All were silenced.”
Quite honestly I would love to know how Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, the head of international trade practice for one of the biggst multinational law firms in the UK and a woman who stated that she would not be campaigning as she had a job, feels about being forced into a box so that Viner can make her point.
Also I see you linked to Katherine Viner’s piece – I see what’s she’s trying to say but I think it’s a really poor piece of journalism which ignores facts to point score. Your piece was much better, in my opinion.
And even in the case of a first-ever female appointment ‘for’ Wales Cameron has shot himself in the foot; here is a copy/paste below from yesterday’s BBConline article:
“Cardiff-born Mrs Gillan, 58, has served as shadow Welsh secretary since 2005 and will be the first woman in the job.
Former Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain, congratulated the Chesham and Amersham MP but asked why none of the 11 Tory and Lib Dem MPs in Wales were suitable.
Plaid Cymru said an appointment from outside Wales was a ‘throwback’.
Mr Hain said the decision to appoint a Welsh Secretary from an English constituency ‘will baffle and indeed anger many people in Wales’.
‘Far from representing the new politics that people want to see, this smacks of the bad old days.’ ”
And look at the photo for today’s story on BBConline re: the first Cameron Cabinet meeting:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/default.stm
So many white boys at Cameron’s table, literally – and so little true representative democracy. It is a DISGRACE.
Also I meant to say this earlier but I feel compelled to point out in a devil’s advocate kind of way that Tony Blair’s first cabinet in 1997 had only one more woman than Camerons and no one from a diverse background.
This ignoring of everyone who isn’t a white male of a certain class is not specific to the Tories and not new to British politics and I think it’s important to address that because actually not one of the three major parties gives a stuff about women. The difference is that the Tories don’t even bother pretending.
Great post. The stuff about Jacqui Smith was particularly telling: why discuss her political legacy (introducing 42-day detention, or cracking down on prostitution), when we can snigger at her husband. Of course even when she was Home Secretary most of the popular press attention was on her cleavage (fun fact: if you type in ‘Jacqui Smith’ to Google the first thing that comes up is ‘Jacqui Smith cleavage’.
Isn’t Baroness Warsi not only the only ethnic minority Cabinet member, but the only ethnic minority Tory MP? Am I wrong about that?
JD Regent: it’s not quite that bad. The Tories do have several other ethnic minority MPs, but she’s the most high profile…and of course, you can only have one person of a minority visible at a time.
Emilyanne: great minds obviously think alike. I have voted for the Lib Dems since I moved to England, and prior to that I was an SDLP voter. I’m not happy right now.
It did find that interesting about Blair’s early Cabinet though. I always thought he was a bit more progressive, but that might just have been the brilliant Mo Mowlam holding him hostage.
This Kira Cochrane article scares me further about the Tories’ priorities on womens’ issues
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/07/women-parliament-election-losses-wins
@ J.D. Regent
Being a baroness, Warisi sits in the House of Lords.
http://biographies.parliament.uk/parliament/default.asp?id=35329
There are 650 MPs in the House of Commons. Of these 142 are women and 27 are from ethnic minorities.
This is modestly encouraging, as there were only 15 MPs from ethnic minorities before the recent election.
http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/members-faq-page2/
However analysis also shows that the new batch are more “socially exclusive” than before, more likely to have been educated privately and have a business background.
When newspapers can still write that the proportion of Conservative women MPs “soared” from 9% to 17%,there’s still some way to go.
To be fair, I did see coverage on Breakfast last week where they had two female MPs (one was a former MP) who both talked about how while the lack of women on the cabinet was upsetting, there were still a lot of good backbench wins for women. But again, there was no specific rhetoric of winning women voters. Though, I’m not sure that’s so horrible a thing, if in fact it means treating all voters as equals who care about the same issues. Also, JD, welcome to the UK, even if I’m only here for another two weeks. You London based?