February 2nd, 2006
Women’s lack of interest in Current Affairs
Colm Bracken thinks that women are less interested in current affairs than men. He believes that in post-Sex and the City Ireland, the Irish female is more concerned with shopping than politics.
I agree with him about Candace Bushnell - Sex and the City was an amusing diversion on metropolitan life. After a couple of series, it morphed into an irritating show about self-obsessed needy women who plugged the hole of their emotional vapidity with relentless shopping. The piece is obviously based on Colm’s opinion and not on any statistical or factual evidence, and seems to generalise significantly, from women not reading broadsheet newspapers to being bereft of political views. The original post had a line that read: “Nothing bars women from watching the news. Nothing stops them from holding educated views on matters of the day and from expressing those beliefs.” Funny that, because most women I know read broadsheets, watch the news and are happy to discuss topical issues of the day. Perhaps Colm just isn’t associating with the kind of women he’s lamenting the lack of? Most of the discussions I’ve had about politics since the start of the year, have been with women. Similarly, I know a number of men who aren’t interested in current affairs but I don’t beat them over the head with their apathy.
In summation, Colm says:
“For women to achieve total equality requires an effort on the part of all women to take an interest in what goes on around them on a macro level. Ultimately, this would lead to more women being involved in politics and more women in power.”
I would certainly welcome more women in politics, but it is an extremely time-intensive career and many women, particularly those with children or those intent on having a family, often decide against it. Perhaps if the issue of childcare and supporting women in the workplace was properly addressed, politics would be a more inviting prospect.
February 2nd, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Hey there Sinead,
Not sure if you saw it, but the comments did address your problem with lack of facts to back up my opinion. And my piece wasn’t intended to beat women over the head with their apathy. I pointed out that being politically aware didn’t bestow any greater intelligence. This opinion has been twisted and shamefully distorted beyond belief.
Amazing how something I believe to be true, and is confirmed by two reputable sources, seems to cause so much consternation. And no point did I say that all women didn’t read broadsheets or that all women don’t hold political views. To attempt to say that I did would be disingenuous in the extreme.
Colm.
February 2nd, 2006 at 12:26 pm
I don’t believe you were beating women over the head, nor do I think you are a misogynist. In some ways, I can see the point you’re trying to make but the tone at times, is a little speculative.
So let me ask - are you asking women to be “politically aware” or display their intelligence?
Also, do those statistics relate to Ireland? They seem to be UK/US sources.
February 2nd, 2006 at 12:38 pm
As I’ve stated several times now, I believe that women taking an interest in politics can only be a good thing, this includes women of the SITC profile to those who are in disadvantaged areas of Ireland with few prospects. Intelligence doesn’t even come into it.
Yes, those statistics relate to the UK and the US and not Ireland. Somehow, I can’t seem them being too far off the mark for Irish women.
February 2nd, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Something that occured to me about this, is that despite all the perceived freedom women now have, they are happy to embrace shopping as a major lifestyle choice/pastime at the expense of an interest in the world around them.
Do you think that this is a generational thing? Previous generations up to now seemed to be far more politically aware and my own mother was involved in politics.
February 2nd, 2006 at 1:24 pm
I see the same thing happen with Gay men. Total apathy.
“Ah sure we know we get discriminated more.” “Yeah it would be good if we had the same rights as those we are allowed to be married but ah sure ah sure ah sure.” “Yes it’s wrong but I’d rather spend my free time in Toni and Guy and spending a fortune on looking like I got mugged by hair vandals.”
Compared to the activist era of the 70s and early 80s in Ireland, nothing has happened. In fact, activism in many areas had disappeared quite a lot.
You got to wonder have those opposed to women’s rights won? Women have the rights yes, but I don’t think they are still able to escape the traditions that their place is in the home and that womenly pursuits such as shopping and decorating the home are what they are meant to be doing and anything else is some sort of attitude against the world or just an exercise to prove they can do such a job.
February 2nd, 2006 at 3:51 pm
It is obvious what’s going on. Colm hangs out with women based on the way they look and men based on how he gets on with them.
Most PEOPLE aren’t interested in current affairs. If one of the ways you choose your male friends includes an interest in current affairs and this isn’t true for your female friends OF COURSE it will appear that men are interested in current affairs and women aren’t (when in fact women in general are not interested in current affairs and neither are men).
February 6th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
Could it just be that women are much smarter than men and couldn’t be bothered with it? Having left “corporate” life some years ago I wish that I had done so much earlier. Looking back, I realise what a dumb male I have been to be suckered in like that! When the commentariat point out that there should be more women doing this or that or are under-represented here or there, I always consider the possibility that the women in question took a long look and just said “no thanks”; Then I do the same.
February 6th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
Ian, you might just be on to something there…