The 50:50 Group would agree with many of the points raised in this article in the Irish Times including the point that “women” are not a homogenised group. We know that just like men they represent a myriad of different views. It’s for this reason that the 50:50 Group is not aligned to any political party or ideology. We believe that increased female representation in Irish Politics is a democratic issue. Our vision is a 50:50 Dail by the year 2020. To quote the end of the article “women hold up half the sky, they should have a decent shot at holding half the seats”
The 5050 Group 'Advocating for equal representation in politics'
Its a good piece and I have to agree with the statement “Women’s organisations sometimes shoot themselves in the foot, because they are only interested in certain types of women, who tick predictable boxes such as being pro-choice, blithely ignoring that more women than men are deeply troubled by abortion.” I recall a time when politically, in certain womens activist circles, a women who did not 100% buy into their presumed agenda was worth nothing in their esteem. Women are an extremely heterogeneous group. Personally I find it deeply offensive that “Womens Studies” departments in universities etc and vast numbers of heavily funded womens community organisations prioritise the interests and agendas of minority women rather than create open environments where all kinds of women can take part. This was highlighted to me recently when a relative went to a womens studies class in UCD and was afterwards invivted to a social. She commented that she couldn’t go, as her husband couldn’t make it and was told in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t welcome anyway – in other words, heterosexual women please leave your heterosexuality at the door. Such women must find that kind of worldview extremely marginalising.