Jump to content

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


Recommended Posts

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

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!

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 :)

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?

OD Wrote:

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

> 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').

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.

  • 2 weeks later...
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.
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...

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.

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.

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

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

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?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • What was he doing on the stage at Glastonbury? Or on the stage at the other concert in Finsbury Park? Grinning like a Cheshire cat whilst pissed and stoned 20 somethings on the promise of free internet sung-- Oh Jeremy Corbyn---  What were his policies for Northern mining towns with no jobs or infrastructure? Free Internet and university places for youngsters. What were his other manifesto pledges? Why all the ambiguity over Brexit?  I didn't like Thatcher, Blair or May or Tony but I respected them as politicians because they stood by what they believed in. I respect all politicians across the board that stick to their principles. Corbyn didn't and its why he got  annihilated at the polls. A socialist, anti imperialist and anti capitalist that said he voted for an imperialist and pro capitalist cabal. He refused to say how he'd vote over and over again until the last knockings. He did so to appease the Islington elite and middle class students he was courting. The same people that were screaming that Brexit was racist. At the same time the EU were holding black and Asian immigrants in refugee camps overseas but not a word on that! Corbyn created and courted a student union protest movement that screamed at and shouted down anyone not on the left . They claimed Starmer and the centre right of labour were tories. He didn't get elected  because he, his movement and policies were unelectable, twice. He turned out not to have the convictions of his politics and died on his own sword.    Reform won't win an election. All the idiots that voted for them to keep out Labour actually enabled Labour. They'll be back voting tory next time.    Farage wouldn't be able to make his millions if he was in power. He's a very devious shyster but I very much doubt he'd actually want the responsibility that governance requires.
    • The purge of hard left members that were part of Corbyn's, Mcdonnel's and Lansmans momentum that purged the party of right wing and centrist members. That's politics. It's what Blair did to win, its what Starmer had to do to win. This country doesn't vote in extreme left or right governments. That's partly why Corbyn lost  We're pretty much a centrist bunch.  It doesn't make it false either. It's an opinion based on the voting patterns, demography and statistics. Can you explain then why former mining constituencies that despise the tories voted for them or abstained rather than vote for Corbyns Labour?  What is the truth then? But he never got elected!!! Why? He should have been binned off there and then. Why he was allowed to hang about is an outrage. I hold him party responsible for the shit show that we've had to endure since. 
    • Depends on what the Barista says doesnt it? There was no physical confrontation with the driver, OP thinks she is being targetted when she isnt. These guys work min wage under strict schedules so give them a break unless they damage your stuff
    • CPR Dave, attendance records are available on Southwark's website. Maggie Browning has attended 100% of meetings. Jon Hartley has attended 65%.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...