Sexist to offer a pregnant woman a seat - Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson

[Bic Basher]

Jo Swinson MP claims it's sexist to offer a pregnant woman a seat after she was forced to stand up during PMQ's despite being heavily pregnant.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2464452/Pregnant-minister-Jo-Swinson-forced-stand-PMQs.html

[Helen GV]

Funny I always thought it was because of the extra strain pregnancy puts on a woman's body leading to (in some cases) extreme tiredness, varicose veins, and an assortment of other charming ailments not always immediately obvious to other people....

It is, of course, a woman's right to decline the offer of a seat!

[matryx]

I would also offer a pregnant man a seat, but I have yet to meet one.

Facetiousness aside, when on public transport I always offer my seat to anyone who looks like they would be better off sat down. Anyone who looks overburdened with shopping / is pregnant / looks uneasy on their feet. That's not sexism (or ablism/ageism), it's just polite. I don't assume they need it, or insist they take it - I just offer. Always quite happy for them to refuse :)

[OD]

Its a nonsense to think that most people who offer a heavily pregnant woman (or someone else who is visiably in need) a seat and that be called sexist....its common courtesy surely. I've offered my seat to elderly men, mothers and fathers carrying babies/young children.... even offered to little children... does that then mean I'm sexist (and the oppoiste of sexist!) and ageist?!! Ricidulous!!!

I wonder if Jo Swinson had walked into the empty room first whether she would have sat or stood?

[Loz]

OD Wrote:

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> does that then mean I'm sexist (and the oppoiste of sexist!) and ageist?!! Ricidulous!!!

Why would someone call you sexist and the opposite of sexist? (I assume that would be 'not sexist').

[El Pibe]

Jo Shwingson!!

is that sexist?

[????]

do people this thick tied up in nonsensical dogma really get to be MPs? Depressing ain't it

[Saffron]

When she's 41+wks and waiting for an induction with no NHS beds available on the mat ward, I wonder if she'll be singing the same tune?

[buggie]

I think I can see Jo Swinson's point (currently 8mths pregnant myself) - she wasn't there thinking "Oh woe is me, if only someone would offer me a seat", she'd got there late, was leaving early so didn't want a seat (even now I'm happy to stand up for short periods of time - esp if in a room rather than a moving vehicle!).

Think the point that's been lost (prob by the press stirring up a non-story into a flurry), is that if she'd needed a seat, she'd have felt comfortable asking for one, and if someone had offered her a seat she'd have been gracious in either accepting or declining it.

The sexist element has purely come from the media trying to push her forward as a damsel-in-distress in the roughty-toughty HoC when she really isn't & the "offering a seat is sexist" angle came from an aide caught on the hop by an over eager bored journalist.

[Saffron]

Good points, buggie. Plus, sometimes sitting down for too long isn't comfortable when you're pregnant either. Amend my previous statement to be directed at the aide and journalist.

[hoolley]

This is ridiculous. I would always offer my seat to a pregnant woman or an older person. I was brought up with manners which seem to be in short supply. I was on the bus the other day when an elderly gentleman asked a boy how old he was as the boy was seated and he was standing. The boy was 12 and the man 78. I have also been pregnant and when heavily pregnant, swollen ankles, back pain etc., I found people did offer me their seat.

[LadyNorwood]

I was sitting down on a bus and gave my seat to a pregnant woman - nothing special in itself, except that no-one else offered. Oh did I mention that I was also in a neck brace and on crutches....?

[Twirly]

It does rather sound as though the other MPs weren't aware that she was even standing behind them. They don't have eyes in the back of their heads, and were focussing on what was going on in front of them. If they'd realised, chances are they'd have offered. And if she'd wanted a seat, she'd have asked. Storm in a tea-cup, and a slow news day...

[JohnL]

what about the people who don't feel comfortable

asking for a seat (a bit old fashioned).

If nobody offers - they'll stand until they collapse.

buggie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think I can see Jo Swinson's point (currently

> 8mths pregnant myself) - she wasn't there thinking

> "Oh woe is me, if only someone would offer me a

> seat", she'd got there late, was leaving early so

> didn't want a seat (even now I'm happy to stand up

> for short periods of time - esp if in a room

> rather than a moving vehicle!).

>

> Think the point that's been lost (prob by the

> press stirring up a non-story into a flurry), is

> that if she'd needed a seat, she'd have felt

> comfortable asking for one, and if someone had

> offered her a seat she'd have been gracious in

> either accepting or declining it.

>

> The sexist element has purely come from the media

> trying to push her forward as a damsel-in-distress

> in the roughty-toughty HoC when she really isn't &

> the "offering a seat is sexist" angle came from an

> aide caught on the hop by an over eager bored

> journalist.

[buggie]

I'm afraid I believe people should be assertive in that situation - would be v daft to choose to collapse rather than say something.

Find it sad that assertiveness isn't encouraged more in those who need it.

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> what about the people who don't feel comfortable

> asking for a seat (a bit old fashioned).

>

> If nobody offers - they'll stand until they

> collapse.

>

>

>

> buggie Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I think I can see Jo Swinson's point (currently

> > 8mths pregnant myself) - she wasn't there

> thinking

> > "Oh woe is me, if only someone would offer me a

> > seat", she'd got there late, was leaving early

> so

> > didn't want a seat (even now I'm happy to stand

> up

> > for short periods of time - esp if in a room

> > rather than a moving vehicle!).

> >

> > Think the point that's been lost (prob by the

> > press stirring up a non-story into a flurry),

> is

> > that if she'd needed a seat, she'd have felt

> > comfortable asking for one, and if someone had

> > offered her a seat she'd have been gracious in

> > either accepting or declining it.

> >

> > The sexist element has purely come from the

> media

> > trying to push her forward as a

> damsel-in-distress

> > in the roughty-toughty HoC when she really isn't

> &

> > the "offering a seat is sexist" angle came from

> an

> > aide caught on the hop by an over eager bored

> > journalist.

[raebel281]

I think perhaps Jo Swinson needs to get knocked up and brave the underground before she has a say in this...

[KalamityKel]

Erm... yes quite right raebel *insert sarcasm*

I dont see that any action - whether a seat is offered or wanted by either side makes it in anyway sexist.

If men were able to carry children would this be an issue? Besides anyone with a brain would recognise not just mum to be maybe needing a seat for various health reasons but also from a safety view fir unborn child.. travelling on public transport can be dangerous. Sudden jerks (movement from vehicle not passengers), and then the possibilty of others knocking into you... doesnt take a rocket scientist to see the potential risks.

In the case of an mp in session not having a seat we werent there so dont really know what happened. Im sure HR or whatever equivalent would have made arrangments addressing situations like this. Whether someone chose to stand, for reasons perhaps as identified previously on this thread, or whether it was sheer pig headedness of colleagues (i know... strong possibility!) We cant say.

To claim "sexism" over things like that? Its a shame more attention isnt given in proper sexist issues

[titch juicy]

matryx Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I would also offer a pregnant man a seat, but I

> have yet to meet one.

>

> Facetiousness aside, when on public transport I

> always offer my seat to anyone who looks like they

> would be better off sat down. Anyone who looks

> overburdened with shopping / is pregnant / looks

> uneasy on their feet. That's not sexism (or

> ablism/ageism), it's just polite. I don't assume

> they need it, or insist they take it - I just

> offer. Always quite happy for them to refuse :)

What about a very fat person? Serious question

[woodrot]

id there a cut out and keep checklist of who is worthy for seat gifting that someone could PM me please ? its so confusing working out who is less able to stand yet lifestyle/choices may be a factor in it...thanks

[Saffron]

titch juicy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> matryx Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I would also offer a pregnant man a seat, but I

> > have yet to meet one.

> >

> > Facetiousness aside, when on public transport I

> > always offer my seat to anyone who looks like

> they

> > would be better off sat down. Anyone who looks

> > overburdened with shopping / is pregnant /

> looks

> > uneasy on their feet. That's not sexism (or

> > ablism/ageism), it's just polite. I don't

> assume

> > they need it, or insist they take it - I just

> > offer. Always quite happy for them to refuse :)

>

>

> What about a very fat person? Serious question

Or a very skinny person? Serious question.

Just gotta use your own judgement, no?

[Smiler]

daily mail spin?