lisaansell

Lisa Ansell · @lisaansell

10th Jan 2011 from Twitlonger

@sunny_hundal that is wrong question.

Question is how can women use TUC and media resources to oppose cuts which overwhelmingly affect them- and why do political blogosphere(dominated by men, not really widely read) have so much influence, when they overwhelmingly dont represent women. Concentrating instead on Westminster politics-where debate is misleading and women are absent.

If women cannot discuss the political consensus, and the resulting exclusion from being represented in parliament- without being criticised for being 'anti- labour'- then discussion space pointless.

The question I was asked for that session was 'how can women be better represented in political blogging'- Was answered overwhelmingly by women, very clearly- and very patiently(more patiently than you deserved- and that is probably as a mark of either respect or affection)-and you dismissed them, and me, as shouting and being hysterical.

A room full of women had a fascinating debate on why they were excluded from the very narrow, and increasingly irrelevant political blogs- you have repeatedly said it is our fault- because we arent doing it right.

THe problem is not women Sunny. We are here. We are online- and we are well capable of representing ourselves, and defining our struggle. If Netroots want to allow women to use their resources to organise, and fight teh economic attack that has been made- I would love to use it.

The idea that in this economic situation, the people who are actually affected by the cuts, should accept being led by people who clearly have no understanding of why the cuts will be successful- is daft. THis isnt a game to us. Your resources would have been useful= we dont need you or Netroots to define what we need to do- when you clearly cant hear us.

A space where that is only question relating to women that you think needs addressing, where we cant discuss what the problem is- and where any attempt to do so is met with cries of 'hysterical' or 'randomly attacking labour' or 'your discussion was irrelvant'- is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

I met some fabulous people there yesterday- and have strenghthened ties which will allow us to continue to organise. Is just sad that such a useful tool misses the point entirely.

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