[Mr. Ripley]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics...-word.html








Ed Miliband has done it. Nick Clegg has done it too. But David Cameron has rejected an opportunity to identify himself as a feminist.
Asked by Elle magazine to wear a Fawcett Society t-shirt bearing the slogan “This is what a feminist looks like,” the Prime Minister is said to have refused five times.

The Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders were both willing to don the garment and pose for pictures in it, but Mr Cameron appeared reluctant to be seen in it.

The magazine described his response to their request as “very disappointing”, arguing that when the “man in charge doesn’t engage, it doesn’t bode well.”

Lorraine Candy, Elle’s editor-in-chief, said: “We asked the Prime Minister five times if he would wear the Fawcett Society’s iconic This Is What A Feminist Looks Like slogan T-shirt and send us a snapshot (it would only take 10 minutes).

“Five times, he declined. This is a shame on so many levels, especially given he knew Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband had agreed without hesitation, alongside many other influential men who were more than happy to call themselves feminists. It seems the Prime Minister still has an issue with the word ‘feminist’.”

The Fawcett Society, which campaigns for women’s equality, agreed it was “unfortunate” that the Prime Minister appeared to be uncomfortable with identifying himself with the cause of feminism.

Mr Cameron’s latest rejection of the label comes after he told Red magazine last September, when pressed on the issue: “I don’t know what I’d call myself... it’s up to others to attach labels. But I believe men and women should be treated equally.”

When asked why he would not wear the t-shirt, Mr Cameron said: “Whether you are a man or a woman, I passionately believe that everyone has a part to play in achieving full equality for women and girls.

“As a parent I feel strongly that my daughters should have the same
opportunities as my son. As a society we have come a long way in gender equality – but the journey hasn’t finished yet, which is why I am committed to doing everything I can do to remove barriers for women and achieve a fairer society.”

[Handsome Creepy Eel]

Wait, weren't Nazis getting slammed for harassing anyone who refused to do a right-hand salute and shout "Heil Hitler"?

[2Wycked]

For me, gender equality = the opportunity to be exploited by the wealthy in the same ways, sex-wise.

Cameron's answers are not foolish, but are hedged out of what he thinks his potential voters want to hear.

What voter hasn't been trained to fight for gender equality? Clearly, Cameron knows that voters want that, but many don't think feminism can answer that call.

A savvier politician would own the dictionary definition of feminism and go from there. Reagan, Clinton, Bush and Obama have manipulated how they define and use feminism to their benefit.

Maybe I haven't been keeping up on my Economist subscription

[Deluge]

I wouldn't get your hopes up. Cameron is socially moderate. And this is by British standards, not American.

[Benoit]

(10-30-2014 05:03 AM)Deluge Wrote:  

I wouldn't get your hopes up. Cameron is socially moderate. And this is by British standards, not American.

Tory policies follow the feminist agenda. He just isn't wearing the t-shirt proclaiming it.

[Mr. Ripley]

(10-30-2014 05:38 AM)Benoit Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 05:03 AM)Deluge Wrote:  

I wouldn't get your hopes up. Cameron is socially moderate. And this is by British standards, not American.

Tory policies follow the feminist agenda. He just isn't wearing the t-shirt proclaiming it.

Here I was thinking the Tories were the last bastion of common sense in your country.

[britchard]

UKIP are the only hope for any red pillers.

[bojangles]

(10-30-2014 06:21 AM)Mr. Ripley Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 05:38 AM)Benoit Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 05:03 AM)Deluge Wrote:  

I wouldn't get your hopes up. Cameron is socially moderate. And this is by British standards, not American.

Tory policies follow the feminist agenda. He just isn't wearing the t-shirt proclaiming it.

Here I was thinking the Tories were the last bastion of common sense in your country.

Unfortunately not but theres a bit of outrage about him not wearing the feminist t-shirt.

[RawGod]

Nice way for Cameron to outmaneuver the other two leaders. Outrage or not, it says I'm the big cheese, bitches.

[Spectrumwalker]

This is akin to a woman asking her man to hold her purse.

[Feisbook Control]

I don't think much of David Cameron at all, and I wouldn't vote for him if I were British. However, I think this is actually classy. I'm so sick of all of those other politicians engaging in these tacky political stunts or dressing down/dumbing down in order to appear "one of the people". Firstly, it's patronising, since who is actually fooled by it anyway? These guys are generally patrician to the core, so it just comes off as insincere. Secondly, I actually think it's beneath them. It makes them, and the whole nature of civic involvement, a travelling roadshow. There's the lion tamer. There's the bearded lady. There's a guy swallowing fire. At the same time, these are the same clowns who won't give the British public a simple In/Out referendum on EU membership. They want everyone to think they're just like them, yet not only do they not think like them, they actively despise the way many people think and don't want them to vote on anything of consequence. If they were out and out elitists, that might be one thing, but I can't stand their duplicity.

[Deluge]

(10-30-2014 09:24 AM)Feisbook Control Wrote:  

At the same time, these are the same clowns who won't give the British public a simple In/Out referendum on EU membership. They want everyone to think they're just like them, yet not only do they not think like them, they actively despise the way many people think and don't want them to vote on anything of consequence. If they were out and out elitists, that might be one thing, but I can't stand their duplicity.

There will be a referendum if the Tory's win next year, which they most likely won't. Even if they did, Cameron has also promised to "renegotiate the terms", which takes the stay vote from a small but firm majority to a crushing victory in the opinion polls. As for elitism, I find it amusing that Cameron and Clegg are both nobility who went straight from the great public schools to Oxbridge. Some things never change.

[TheWastelander]

A man wearing a shirt like that might as well be wearing a shirt that says "I'm a giant faggot."

Why would you demean yourself?

[Tuthmosis]

If I were Prime Minister, I would have answered:

"I'll wear it when you all grow your hair out."

Meanwhile in America:

[Snowplow]

My Halloween costume was gonna be a fat suit, a cat, witches mask and that tshirt

[lskdfjldsf]

Not sure if this is about how conservative/moderate/liberal he is, it's more a matter of political temperament and how far he's willing to go to avoid controversy. Refusing to wear it means he acknowledges there would be backlash from at least some people.

The more mainstream politicians distance themselves from feminism as a brand, the more marginalized feminists become in influencing policy. The looming question mark over them as a group is growing bigger in the eyes of the public as time goes on. Who cares what party the guy is, anyone refusing to be a poster child for that BS needs a pat on the back.

[Foolsgo1d]

Never knew Ed Milliband (Left guy) was such a scrawny, pencil-arm child. And this disillusion fuck thinks he can stand up to the Unions?

He couldn't even bench press his own weight.

[CJ_W]

(10-30-2014 10:33 AM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  

If I were Prime Minister, I would have answered:

"I'll wear it when you all grow your hair out."

Meanwhile in America:

-

To be fair, he didn't wear the shirt. He held the shirt up and smiled, just enough to appease the feminists but not cross the line to look like a fool. 'bama knows what he's doing, he didn't participate with the Ice Bucket Challenge either.

[Que enspastic]

He should have said : "I believe in equal rights but I also believe in gender neutral language, hence I must pass"

[Drazen]

We should start rocking these ironically. Basically kill the power of the shirt by rocking it, while being an asshole/real man about it. How funny would it be to see bros rocking these in Vegas pounding shots all night and grabbing on titties.

Maybe print it yourself so whoever is making them doesn't make any money off them. Maybe use Comic Sans font.

[Que enspastic]

Maybe round up a few hundred carefully selected hideously obese harridans and parade them through the street wearing these t-shirts, holding sexist signs and burning GG bras in return for giving them free Krispy Creme donuts. Film it, broadcast on mainstream news. Terrify hot young women from getting caught up in such a group. It's all about controlling the image.

[TravelerKai]

(10-30-2014 01:29 PM)CJ_W Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 10:33 AM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  

If I were Prime Minister, I would have answered:

"I'll wear it when you all grow your hair out."

Meanwhile in America:

-

To be fair, he didn't wear the shirt. He held the shirt up and smiled, just enough to appease the feminists but not cross the line to look like a fool. 'bama knows what he's doing, he didn't participate with the Ice Bucket Challenge either.

Nope. That's as bad as wearing it. No one would have gotten into his ass for saying no, but that is not what he does. He is as much of a white knight as the next beta loser. He did not put it on because he was wearing a suit at the moment. If they had tossed that to him during the re-election trail at a town hall, (polo shirt) and jeans day, like a Saturday, he probably would have put it on. Especially if the event had a heavy female presence or had women's issues on the discussion list. A real man would have politely given it back or handed it to an aide, so they could toss it in the trash later.

That wouldn't have fit his MO either, because he has laid the foundation of White Knight and SJW too many times before that shirt. The shirt is not the proof. He had proven what he was long before that shirt.

Ice bucket challenge isn't SJW. If anything that might just mean you are a toolbag for charity junk, at worst.

[Praetor Lupus]

I see nothing wrong in a PM who would prefer to look like a statesman.

Next May I hope to see only the Tories in power. If either of those other dipshits are anywhere near the hot seat, I'm bailing.

[Feisbook Control]

(10-30-2014 09:45 AM)Deluge Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 09:24 AM)Feisbook Control Wrote:  

At the same time, these are the same clowns who won't give the British public a simple In/Out referendum on EU membership. They want everyone to think they're just like them, yet not only do they not think like them, they actively despise the way many people think and don't want them to vote on anything of consequence. If they were out and out elitists, that might be one thing, but I can't stand their duplicity.

There will be a referendum if the Tory's win next year, which they most likely won't. Even if they did, Cameron has also promised to "renegotiate the terms", which takes the stay vote from a small but firm majority to a crushing victory in the opinion polls. As for elitism, I find it amusing that Cameron and Clegg are both nobility who went straight from the great public schools to Oxbridge. Some things never change.

It's all funny games on his part. He is pro-EU and he only made that promise knowing that he'd never have to follow through on it. Also, it's not going to happen because the coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats, have scuppered it, which he also would have known when he said there'd be a referendum.

[Praetor Lupus]

(10-30-2014 02:25 PM)Drazen Wrote:  

We should start rocking these ironically. Basically kill the power of the shirt by rocking it, while being an asshole/real man about it. How funny would it be to see bros rocking these in Vegas pounding shots all night and grabbing on titties.

Unfortunately, most people who saw you wearing it would probably take you seriously as most people seem to think that irony is the art of steam pressing your shirts.

Meanwhile, Mr Cameron's refusal to wear the shirt may turn out to be a smart move politically:

62p an hour: That's what workers making Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg's 'This is what a feminist looks like' T-shirts are paid

Quote:

One of the thousands of machinists declared: "We do not see ourselves as feminists. We see ourselves as trapped."