This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/27/david-cameron-this-is-not-what-a-feminist-looks-like

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
David Cameron: this is not what a feminist looks like David Cameron: this is not what a feminist looks like
(35 minutes later)
He’s a man who bravely posed with blacked-up Morris Dancers, was happy to pose with the Sun after the phone-hacking scandal and leaned in for a selfie at Mandela’s memorial service. But when magazine Elle UK asked David Cameron five times to wear the Fawcett Society’s “This is what a feminist looks like” T-shirt, it was a step too far. And, for once, he was right. He’s a man who bravely posed with blacked-up Morris Dancers, was happy to pose with the Sun after the phone-hacking scandal and leaned in for a selfie at Mandela’s memorial service. But when the magazine Elle UK asked David Cameron to wear the Fawcett Society’s “This is what a feminist looks like” T-shirt, it was a step too far. And, for once, he was right.
The question of who calls themselves a feminist is suddenly hard to escape. After years when the only inquiry about the movement was whether it needed to be “rebranded”, thanks to its supposed connotations of man-hating, it’s hard not to feel relieved that the conversation has changed. Now “are you a feminist?” is fast becoming a staple question asked in interviews with celebrities and power-players alike, with women from Beyoncé to Sheryl Sandberg happy to announce their allegiance (despite Annie Lennox’s views to the contrary). For the first time, men, too, are being interrogated about women’s rights – with Daniel Radcliffe and Mark Ruffalo keen to stress their feminist credentials. Even men on Tinder can’t escape. The question of who calls themselves a feminist is suddenly hard to escape. For years, the only inquiry about the movement was whether it needed to be “rebranded”, thanks to its supposed connotations of man-hating, so it’s hard not to feel relieved that the conversation has changed. Now “are you a feminist?” is fast becoming a staple question asked in interviews with celebrities and power-players alike, with women from Beyoncé to Sheryl Sandberg happy to announce their allegiance (despite Annie Lennox’s views to the contrary). For the first time, men, too, are being interrogated about women’s rights – with Daniel Radcliffe and Mark Ruffalo keen to stress their feminist credentials. Even men on Tinder can’t escape.
Of course, we shouldn’t need celebrities to make the idea of equality more palatable. And it’s hard to shake the feeling that all the interminable arguing over Beyoncé’s feminism (“She believes in equal pay!”; “But she twerks!”) or Taylor Swift’s feminist awakening is energy that could be better spent tackling the problems of violence against women, women’s access to healthcare and the feminisation of poverty, even if the debates encourage interesting conversations about whose voices are listened to in feminism.Of course, we shouldn’t need celebrities to make the idea of equality more palatable. And it’s hard to shake the feeling that all the interminable arguing over Beyoncé’s feminism (“She believes in equal pay!”; “But she twerks!”) or Taylor Swift’s feminist awakening is energy that could be better spent tackling the problems of violence against women, women’s access to healthcare and the feminisation of poverty, even if the debates encourage interesting conversations about whose voices are listened to in feminism.
Even so, asking our elected representatives whether women and men deserve equal rights and opportunities seems pretty basic. So it’s hardly surprising that Ed Miliband was happy to jump on the opportunity to show how much he believes in gender equality (and, through the magic of feminism, even manages to look pretty good in his T-shirt). Nick Clegg was happy to oblige as well – no doubt feeling his credentials had been nicely polished by his recent stance on paternity leave.Even so, asking our elected representatives whether women and men deserve equal rights and opportunities seems pretty basic. So it’s hardly surprising that Ed Miliband was happy to jump on the opportunity to show how much he believes in gender equality (and, through the magic of feminism, even manages to look pretty good in his T-shirt). Nick Clegg was happy to oblige as well – no doubt feeling his credentials had been nicely polished by his recent stance on paternity leave.
So why did Cameron hesitate? It’s not the first time he has been quizzed about feminism – or that he has fluffed the answer. When Red magazine asked him last year, the leader of the party that is said to have a women problem was coy. “I don’t know what I’d call myself,” he said. “It’s up to others to attach labels. But I believe men and women should be treated equally.” Written down, it sounds worryingly like he is channelling a young female celebrity scared “the f word” might alienate her male fans (see All About that Bass singer Meghan Trainor: “I totally agree with equal rights and women’s causes and most of my songs are woman-power,” she said earlier this month, “but I don’t want to be labelled at 20 years old.”) Later, the Oxford degree-holding prime minister claimed he hadn’t understood the term “feminist”, telling Channel 4, “When I was asked that question, what I should have said is, if that means equal rights for women, then yes. If that is what you mean by feminist, then yes, I am a feminist.” What did he think it meant? So why did Cameron hesitate? It’s not the first time he has been quizzed about feminism – or that he has fluffed the answer. When Red magazine asked him last year – in spite of his party’s supposed women problems – Cameron was coy. “I don’t know what I’d call myself,” he said. “It’s up to others to attach labels. But I believe men and women should be treated equally.” Written down, it sounds worryingly like he is channelling a young female celebrity scared “the f word” might alienate her male fans(see All About that Bass singer Meghan Trainor: “I totally agree with equal rights and women’s causes and most of my songs are woman-power,” she said earlier this month, “but I don’t want to be labelled at 20 years old.”) Later, the Oxford degree-holding prime minister claimed he hadn’t understood the term “feminist”, telling Channel 4, “When I was asked that question, what I should have said is, if that means equal rights for women, then yes. If that is what you mean by feminist, then yes, I am a feminist.” What did he think it meant?
In the latest spat, Cameron’s office told the Fawcett Society that they were unable to provide a photo of the PM wearing the T-shirt “due to time pressure”. But Cameron is right not to get the T-shirt – he hasn’t been there or done that. This is the leader, the Fawcett Society reminds us, whose government’s cuts have disproportionally affected women; who told a female politician to “calm down, dear”; and who vowed to ensure he would have a third of his ministerial list female, but instead – even after a reshuffle – has a cabinet that’s 22% female. Under his government, domestic violence refuges are facing a crisis, and – says Daisy Sands, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Fawcett Society – “the gender pay gap, a key indicator of equality between women and men in the labour market, has increased for the first time in five years, and now stands at an alarming 19.1% for all employees. This means that women earn 81p for every £1 men earn. In the latest spat, Cameron’s office told the Fawcett Society that they were unable to provide a photo of the PM wearing the T-shirt “due to time pressure”. But Cameron is right not to get the T-shirt – he hasn’t been there or done that. This is the leader who told a female politician to “calm down, dear”. And the leader, the Fawcett Society reminds us, whose government’s cuts have disproportionately affected women and who vowed to ensure he would have a third of his ministerial list female, but instead – even after a reshuffle – has a cabinet that’s 22% female. Under the coalition, domestic violence refuges are facing a crisis. Daisy Sands, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Fawcett Society says: “The gender pay gap, a key indicator of equality between women and men in the labour market, has increased for the first time in five years, and now stands at an alarming 19.1% for all employees. This means that women earn 81p for every £1 men earn.” “The general election next year will provide leaders of all the parties with an opportunity to show how they will make real their stated commitment to furthering equality between women and men. We look forward to seeing what each of the parties will offer women voters over the next six months.”
“The general election next year will provide leaders of all the parties with an opportunity to show how they will make real their stated commitment to furthering equality between women and men. We look forward to seeing what each of the parties will offer women voters over the next six months.” The Fawcett Society says they are happy to wait for Cameron’s picture. But I’m not. Feminism is not just about wishing for women and girls to have the same rights and opportunities as men: it is a movement created to ensure that it happens. It is about actively working with women to change the status quo. And given Cameron’s record so far, one thing is clear: this is not what a feminist looks like.
The Fawcett Society say they are happy to wait for Cameron’s picture. But I’m not. Feminism is not just about wishing for women and girls to have the same rights and opportunities as men: it is a movement created to ensure that it happens. It is about actively working with women to change the status quo. And given Cameron’s record so far, one thing is clear: this is not what a feminist looks like.