CommonSpace columnist Yvonne Ridley says it’s vital to weave feminism firmly into the fabric of a better nation
SCOTLAND is once again at the crossroads of independence having been pushed there by one of the most aggressively misogynistic governments in the UK’s history.
The reason why I raise the issue of gender politics is that now, more than ever, it is imperative we protect the female-friendly democracy established so far in this great nation of ours.
Scotland boasts one of the most gender equal governments in the world today and that did not happen by accident, but we are in peril of backsliding if we continue to let Westminster call the shots.
Scotland boasts one of the most gender equal governments in the world today and that did not happen by accident, but we are in peril of backsliding if we continue to let Westminster call the shots.
The Scottish referendum isn’t just about the independence of Scotland, it’s so much bigger than that. With progressive freedoms and liberties established on this side of the border and with the promise of so much more, we must succeed this time round in a Yes campaign.
There might be a female prime minister in Westminster but we’ve been there before – do I need to invoke the memory of Margaret Thatcher and the terrible backward steps made when it came to gender equality in Britain?
I was reminded of the similarities between Thatcher and May earlier this week when I looked at the annual gathering of the Arab League in Jordan. There, standing like master of the universe, posing for a commemorative photograph, was 30 or so of the world’s most powerful and influential men with not one woman in sight.
The Arab League also represents the most impotent group of leaders in the world today when it comes to change. Nothing new will emerge from the 28th summit, just more wars, more arms deals and more missed opportunities.
These men trash women’s rights almost routinely and in some of their countries women can’t even vote never mind consider standing for office. It is well known that women in Saudi aren’t even allowed to drive – nothing to do with religion and everything to do with a misogynistic culture, the type of which also promotes forced marriages and female genital mutilation.
There might be a female prime minister in Westminster but we’ve been there before – do I need to invoke the memory of Margaret Thatcher and the terrible backward steps made when it came to gender equality in Britain?
The landscape of the Middle East and the rest of the Arab world could be so different today if only Thatcher had challenged these leaders about this unacceptable misogyny and abuse of human rights and women’s rights. However, she was more interested in selling guns, jets and other military hardware to these self-appointed leaders.
Yes, her deals made billions for the arms industry in the UK but in human terms millions of women and children in the Arab world continue to suffer because of it and, as bombs drop on hospitals and schools in Yemen today, make no mistake: that is a legacy of Tory Britain.
Move forward four decades and we now have Theresa May who is also selling all sorts of weapons of mass destruction to the members of the Arab League and I’ve got no doubt that if any of her advisers raise the issue of human rights and women’s rights she will trot out her favourite line: “Now is not the time.”
You see, it is in the Tory government’s interests to keep the men-only Arab League men only. It serves their purpose to airbrush women out of the political scene and for very good reason. When women are factored in to peace negotiations and into government circles a different perspective is pushed forward and studies have shown there is a correlation between gender equal societies and peace.
Peace is bad news for the defence industry, which thrives on the perpetual wars in the Middle East today. It is a vicious circle which various Tory governments have been happy to occupy. However, the spectre of Scottish independence looming on the Brexit horizon is a threat to all of that.
The landscape of the Middle East and the rest of the Arab world could be so different today if only Thatcher had challenged these leaders about the unacceptable misogyny and abuse of human rights and women’s rights.
Make no mistake, once Brexit is out of the way, May and her male-dominated cabal of advisers will move forward to defang an emboldened Scotland and the Scottish Parliament while preserving the UK’s nukes.
Powers that could easily be transferred to Scotland from the EU in a common sense move will be denied and there will be moves to further ensure that Scotland’s ambitions for independence are snuffed out for good.
If you are in any doubt, watch the weekly exchange at Prime Minister’s Questions in Westminster. Whenever the likes of Angus Robertson, Alex Salmond or Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh rise to their feet, the look of unbridled hatred and contempt on Theresa May’s face is barely disguised. Her expression is quite different when responding to the Labour opposition. The real stone in her shoe comes from the SNP.
Her dealings with Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, are equally revealing and contemptuous.
Anything that threatens the status quo of perpetual wars and the arms industry is regarded as a threat by this UK Government, which has still not passed the 30 per cent mark in terms of equal gender representation. The Tories think having a woman at the helm of the UK is a good enough contribution to equality – it’s not. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig!
When women are factored in to peace negotiations and into government circles a different perspective is pushed forward and studies have shown there is a correlation between gender equal societies and peace.
I called for the current Scottish Government to develop an ethical foreign policy just a few months ago in Commonspace. Well, I’ve changed my mind. What the SNP government needs to do – as a matter of urgency – is to develop and unveil a feminist foreign policy. And before some men start to bristle at the use of the F-word I would say look at the evidence.
Women don’t want to dominate or take over the world but where we have an equal say and an equal share there is peace and stability. Our Scandinavian neighbours are proof of that.
Just recently Margot Wallström, Sweden’s minister for foreign affairs, said: “Put women at the table from the start and you will notice that more issues and perspectives are brought to light. No society is immune from backlashes, especially not in relation to gender. There is a continuous need for vigilance and for continuously pushing for women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights.
“That is why I – when I assumed office as foreign minister over two years ago – announced that Sweden would pursue a feminist foreign policy. Today, this policy is more needed than ever. The world is torn by conflicts that are perhaps more complex and more difficult to solve than ever before. Almost half of all conflicts reoccur within five years. Over 1.5 billion people live in fragile states and conflict zones.”
She also said instead of reacting to conflicts we should focus on prevention and being more proactive, adding: “Prevention can never be successful without the full picture of how certain situations affect men, women, boys and girls differently. Applying gender analysis, strengthening the collection of gender disaggregated data, improving accountability and bringing women into peace negotiations and peace building will be key in moving forward.”
Anything that threatens the status quo of perpetual wars and the arms industry is regarded as a threat by this UK Government, which has still not passed the 30 per cent mark in terms of equal gender representation.
Women are still seriously under represented in key positions of banking, industry, business and local politics in Scotland. If the SNP produces a serious commitment to gender equality and a feminist foreign policy, many of the women voters who dithered in the last independence referendum will be more likely to
come on board.
I’m not saying women alone should set the agenda, but giving them a seat at the table of influence from the start will produce immediate benefits.
* Yvonne Ridley is a member of Women for Independence
Picture courtesy of UN Women
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