Campaign for Free Education

by Hurler Mon Oct 14, 2002 20:48

Nice gender balance there BOYS.

by Intransigent Mon Oct 14, 2002 20:59

That's right look at all those women in the campaign standing for election, a total of three so don't throw abuse at them because I really think they are trying on the whole gender equality thing ;)

by Finghin Mon Oct 14, 2002 21:00

Unfortuanatly women just don't get involved in politics in the same numbers as men. Sadly that is the way it is. There are of course many reasons for this, CFE can't be blamed.

by UCD Feminist Mon Oct 14, 2002 21:15

Finghin,

I think you'll find that women do get involved in politics. In fact large tracts of Irish politics, particularly community organisations are often dominated by women.

Environmental and human rights organisations also have high levels of female political particiaption. However where there is without doubt a lack of female involvment is in FORMAL politics, running for elections etc.

Maybe its just that us women have too much sense to get involved at that level!

by Hurler Mon Oct 14, 2002 21:15

Fuck off Finghin you patronising git you just keep on working with your boys club in UCD without challenging the domination of men in your pathetic little party and your campaign. If you gave a damn about gender equality then you would make an effort, not shrug and throw your hands in the air and say it's not your fault.

Your group is running a slate that's more male-biased than the IFA. You are part of the problem.

by 23 Mon Oct 14, 2002 22:24

because if they�Lre not writing
quality pamhplets on
"what to do if you are arrested...etc..."
then they may be ignoring a prime concern
of Mother Erin�Ls youngsters.
praise �Lem!
I think for starters the jurisdictions
of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, London Met. and City of London
may prove enough local variation and colour
for law students and "careerist" "hacks"
what is a "hack"?

by pandbear helper Mon Oct 14, 2002 22:27

slang for
1. journalist
or
2. an abreviation for the sort of activist
who spends their time exposing paedophilia and sexual tourism on the internet and generally being annoying to the exploitation of the global community in the name of "progress".
one hack is to be admired
the other is to be paid
one hack is elected
the other is

by Bob the PartyBuilder Mon Oct 14, 2002 23:44

Hurler misses the point spectacularly.

The CFE didn't select a list of candidates - they just endorsed as many candidates as they could find who were willing to stand on a free education platform.

Most of those willing to stand are male. Just as most of those willing to stand for student council at all are male. And just as most of those who are politically active, from anarchist groups to Fine Gael are male. CFE in that regard just reflects the general situation in politics.

The reasons why women are less willing to stand for student council are complex but mostly come down to the general patriarchal structure of society. Expecting any serious campaign to manage to exist without to some extent reflecting those pressures is unrealistic to say the least. The issue should be how can CFE constructively combat those pressures rather than empty sneering from Hurler.

So Hurler, what would you have them do? Only run six candidates because they can only find three women willing to stand? Are you willing to stand? Do you want to help them run a meeting geared specifically at attracting more female students? Or would you rather just gripe?

by UCD student Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:17

To say that the CFE list is anti-women is wrong. The fact is that the CFE are running as many people involved in the campaign that are willling to stand.

Of those willing to stand most are male. That's an unfortunate reality. Under capitalism that's the way it is unfortunatly. CFE's main concern is campaigning for Free Education and to reclaim the Students' Union.

CFE alone cannot liberate women

by UCD STUDENT - none Tue Oct 15, 2002 12:17 - -

Very Proud of everyone who will protest today. Lets kick some ass

by Brian Cahill Tue Oct 15, 2002 14:40

I agree with the point above that Hurler should have made her point more constructively, but most of the responses to her have ranged from the complacent to the irritating.

It is a real problem that so few of those willing to stand for the CFE are women. The response to that should be to think about how to get more women involved, not just to shrug your shoulders and say that's the way it is. That goes for other left wing campaigns too, by the way.