By: Emily Hawkins
Just over two years ago David Cameron was defending criticisms from Labour that his party had a “woman problem.” Cathy Newman wrote at the time that the row of white men sitting on the Conservative front bench were “like sitting ducks” for leader Ed Miliband to call the party out on its apparent lack of commitment to helping women have a political platform. Fast forward to summer 2016 the Conservatives have overcome any “woman problem”, appointing the second female Prime Minister in British history and successfully solving institutional sexism through a merciful ban on pink buses from British streets. Well, not exactly.
But instead of an
opposition working together to highlight the discrepancies between Tory
rhetoric and policy regarding gender equality, the Labour party have spent the
last few months languishing in a civil war that has, among other things,
increasingly been defined with accusations of abuse and misogyny (from both
sides of the leadership contest).
Accusations of
abuse by his supporters have caused Jeremy Corbyn’s pitch of a softer, nicer
politics to sour slightly. In one case, it was revealed that leadership
challenger Angela Eagle endured misogynistic abuse from fellow Labour members;
the words “Angie
the dyke” were
reportedly used at one constituency AGM. Another headline saw 45 female Labour
MPs write
a letter to Corbyn
begging him to take more action on the abuse enacted by members supporting the
leader. The MPs pointed to recent incidents of “rape threats, death threats,
smashed cars and bricks through the windows,” and stated they felt Corbyn had
shown negligence in his duty to protect female Labour members. Some members
agree, one young supporter told me how she felt let down after Corbyn’s vote
against an NEC
proposal to have a
secret ballot, a vote suggested by two female members of the NEC concerned of
online harassment.
The Labour Party is
clearly divided, while a majority of female MPs have voiced concerns, be that
in columns, tweets or the aforementioned letter, 67 per cent of women Labour
supporters have declared themselves to be supportive of Corbyn to YouGov.
Lauren Razavi, a Labour Party member, Director of content and
communications startup Flibl and freelance journalist, told me she felt
that Corbyn and his team were “doing a huge amount of positive work to ensure
the Labour Party is inclusive and fit for purpose,” by engaging in debate and
hearing the concerns and comments of party members.
“As a young female
journalist with left-wing views, I've been subject to a torrent of abuse online
over the past year. The abuse women face for expressing political views is
awful -- but it's hardly a Labour-only problem.”
On the other side
of the leadership debate, challenger Owen Smith has been criticised for a
series of rhetorical comments alluding to violence against women. In one speech
Smith said he would like the party to “smash Theresa May back on her heels,” an
addition to a previous analogy of domestic abuse he made in a blog about the relationship
between the two governing parties of the 2010 coalition. There have been more
incidents too. But
it’s just banter, right? Female Labour members don’t seem to agree with this
counter-argument, with one poll reporting only
33% support Smith.
Some members are
uncomfortable with what appear to be lacklustre and unhelpful statements of
abuse “not being in my name” by Corbyn; others disbelieve that Corbyn’s
leadership has contributed to a more virulent atmosphere for women in the
party, arguing his policy and rhetoric are far more understanding the concerns
of women in the UK today than his political rivals.
Samantha, a young
member says she thinks women are judged more harshly in the party, particularly
when it comes to feminist politics. “People going after Harman and Eagle for
not being feminist enough and writing their entire political careers off yet
praising Corbyn for being a fantastic feminist when, in my view, he hasn't
actually helped women that much does seem like there is very much a double
standards issue,” she tells me.
“I do get the
impression that it is worse on the far left, in terms of sheer violence, though
I fully believe that all sides are sexist but I think there is an attitude
running through the far left of "oh we can't be sexist not us"
because they have a very economic reading of sexism. I've seen hard left men
when accused of sexism just say that Corbyn is better for women so they can't
be sexist.”
Athena, a Labour Students member, also tells me, “I think from the
ownership of 'socialism', many in Labour have been felt they can hide their
sexism or because the guise of an ideology feels so strong to them, they can be
completely deluded about the level of sexism in the party or their own
actions.”
“I think what's happened/happening is a transition into a smug, self
righteous sexism under the guise of 'knowing what's best' and therefore =
socialism. We still face the out of step, old fashioned white men but the
sexist attitudes have morphed to fit the zeitgeist and has hidden under it.”
That misogyny is not an issue unique to the Labour party is true, most if not all main political parties have been accused of incidents of individual and institutional sexism in recent years. Regardless, Labour is at a risk of pretending their problems do not exist, and particularly after a summer of supporters attempting to sweep accusations under the rug so as to defend their particular candidate. There has been a lot of talk about how Labour needs to unite following what is likely to be Corbyn’s victory, but there needs to be a greater dialogue between the leadership and those who feel that the party is not welcoming to women - whatever side of the leadership debate they are on.
Labour's Women Problem?
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