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The Absence of Women in Political Discussions

I brought this up a couple of weeks ago in the chillout thread, but belive that it warrants a better discussion. I frequent the political crossfire forums, which I highly recommend, and I have noticed that there are very few women there. As we all know, there are very few women in here, PDD. So I ask, why is this? I am genuinely worried. I go to a very good college, where even the idiots are smart. However, I have noticed that my male friends have far more intriguing discussions about politics, philosophy, etc. While my female friends are capable of talking about these subjects, the never bring them up. When we are all together, the females usually do not have much to say, although I know they are smart enough to contribute. Can someone please explain this to me, preferably a female?

Re: The Absence of Women in Political Discussions

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Originally posted by kush paintings I brought this up a couple of weeks ago in the chillout thread, but belive that it warrants a better discussion. I frequent the political crossfire forums, which I highly recommend, and I have noticed that there are very few women there. As we all know, there are very few women in here, PDD. So I ask, why is this? I am genuinely worried. I go to a very good college, where even the idiots are smart. However, I have noticed that my male friends have far more intriguing discussions about politics, philosophy, etc. While my female friends are capable of talking about these subjects, the never bring them up. When we are all together, the females usually do not have much to say, although I know they are smart enough to contribute. Can someone please explain this to me, preferably a female?

Yea this is something I've noticed a lot on here (and elsewhere). I did Politics for a degree and now doing (just finishing) an Int Relations related Masters and there is an equal mix of boys and girls (which considering my MA is more on the security side is quite good). However, outside of class no-one really seems that interested in politics (boys and girls)

I actually have a theory about why this is and I want credit for this when it becomes an everyday usage!

I call it the "Star Trek Syndrome" (and you are very lucky as this is an exclusive never been seen before moment and one day it will make me famous!) Its where people have a preconditioned opinion about something BEFORE they know anything about it. Everyone knows they aren't supposed to like Star Trek cos its considered 'uncool' but that will mean people will refuse to watch it even if they've never seen it! Same with politics, its one of those subjects where talking about it is 'uncool' and 'sad' and your not supposed to do it!

No idea why there are more males discussing politics than girls tho but would be very interested to find out? Maybe it has something to do with our culture? I'm sure there are more men in politics than women and maybe this is just the result of it being filtered down to us plebs at the bottom?!

im a girl and i love this forum unfortunately if i don't post very much in there that's simply because i don't get time to check TA because i have a lot to study and at the moment i have my finals ...im in law school 2nd year and im 19 yrs ....well most of the girls prefer gossiping and i realize that i don't talk a lot about politics or news with my friends girls but i got a few who really like it too so no ...girls like that too

im a girl and i love this forum unfortunately if i don't post very much in there that's simply because i don't get time to check TA because i have a lot to study and at the moment i have my finals ...im in law school 2nd year and im 19 yrs ....well most of the girls prefer gossiping and i realize that i don't talk a lot about politics or news with my friends girls but i got a few who really like it too so no ...girls like that too

In my opinion the reason for a lack of women's contribution in political discussion can be attributed to roles nature assigned each gender. Women are the birth-givers, the care-takers of the human race, while the men were forced to become the hunter and gatherers. And of course, these simple assigned jobs have evolved and grown more complex over time.

As resources dwindled men found themselves in confrontation with men of other tribes, thus the need for strong internal leadership and cooperation in the face of an external threat.

For centuries men have been conditioned to organize it's people for a plethora of purposes and we have given that task a name: politics. So, it doesn't strike me as strange that women are "strangely" absent from political forums and discussions given their social history.

I'll bop in here every now and then though I am much more a lurker. I've been flamed to no end concerning my political views on certain things. And I detest all those political television shows where everyone yells at everyone else and really accomplishes nothing in the matter. It's hard to change someone's viewpoint, and yelling at them doesn't get them to budge any quicker.

But don't worry, yer lil' Krysta will be here to pick up for the severe testosterone imbalance.

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Originally posted by Krysta_101 It's hard to change someone's viewpoint

Nah its piss easy! I do it in here all the time!

I think it's an issue of women not wanting to enter into confrontation.

Girls (warning incomming genralisation) I find can't, as easily, have differnt points of view argue about it and not end up acting all personal about it.

Guys will just wade in and start shooting off opinions.

Geeesh...where's Lawrence Summers to provide a good explanation for this.

I think I have discovered the reason women dont talk about politics...

...its cos when they do stuff like this happens...

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Originally posted by George Smiley I think I have discovered the reason women dont talk about politics... ...its cos when they do stuff like this happens...

doood, i'm on dial up. any chance there is a airborn pie or nipple flash involved?

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Originally posted by George Smiley I think I have discovered the reason women dont talk about politics... ...its cos when they do stuff like this happens...

I knew who that was gong to be before I clicked hahaha doesn't get old.

Ace on so many levels.

EDIT: Wait I thought this was the one where it was something about vietnam and she totally fucked up.

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Originally posted by Dervish I knew who that was gong to be before I clicked hahaha doesn't get old. Ace on so many levels. EDIT: Wait I thought this was the one where it was something about vietnam and she totally fucked up.

Nah that would be this one!

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Originally posted by Spacey Orange doood, i'm on dial up.

Could you pass on my regards to your next door neighbours for me?

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Originally posted by George Smiley Nah its piss easy! I do it in here all the time!

Yep its an amazing talent......just ask Diginut.......

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Originally posted by George Smiley Nah that would be this one!

Shes a class act.....the first video is excellent......

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Originally posted by George Smiley Nah that would be this one!

LOL ohh yeah *gulp, shits herself* ....indochina hehehehe

i dont really see the point in this thread to be honest, beacuse i mean how can you tell whether the person behind the username has three legs or two? you cant, so how do you know that there arent more women than men that browse this forum? anyway, does it really matter? we all know women are getting more involved in politics...and i reckon that soon enough there will be as many if not more women than men involved in politics. youve just got to look at uni campuses where, at least in my uni, and definitly in my course women seem to far outnumber men. they are tending to achieve better grades at school and go onto further education more than boys. clearly there have been inequalities in society as far as women are concerned and these are probably the reason why you dont see as many women in certain areas of life, but as i sadi this is all changing. women in the army...thatl never work!!

For the most part, you can tell through avatars, voice (in the forums), but obviously that can't be very accurate. On the political crossfire forums they have gender symbols, which is actually really nice. So I am basing this on real observations. While I am not going to disagree at all that woman have not proven to be capable, if not moreso in school than men, I am talking about general discussion. Go back and read my thread starting post. I know they are capable of discussing, they just simply don't.

Dervish, I think you have a great point about avoiding conflict, and to take that a step further I think our gender roles, although gradually becomming less evident, still have an effect on male and female interaction, especially when that interaction can turn to conflict. I feel like women like to gossip more, and talk about boys, and this includes the smart ones. I don't understand it. I really don't. It eats at my soul, and one day there will be none left.

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Originally posted by svens_bath youve just got to look at uni campuses where, at least in my uni, and definitly in my course women seem to far outnumber men.

I'm assuming you're still in school, so this point is true and it was true when I was attending my university. But fast forward a couple of years, after women have gone through schooling and attempted a few years in some sort of career, they almost always default back to wanting to have children and be a housewife. Why? Because they have the luxury to do so.

One reason I think a lot of women go to such lengths to get a great education and a impressive career is so that when they've had enough of the career world and are ready to quit and start their family they've had contact with powerful, successful men along their way who they desire to pay for their roles as mothers.

So the vast majority of younger women you are referring to in college who seem like they are earnst about a life long career in politics and discourse seem to disappear into motherhood around their 30s.

Case in point: I work in a medium sized office building. Of course we have women that work there, but I notice that tend to have age blocks. The vast majority are within the 21-28 age range, then there's a gap, and then they start to reappear in the 40 and up age. Why the gap? Simple, these 30 something females are at home raising a family. And why do they return in their 40s? Either their children have grown up and don't need as much supervision as they once did encouraging mom to give her career a second shot or they get divorced and are forced to return back to work. The result ends up being older men in the power positions, because they have spent their entire, uninterrupted adult lives climbing the corporate ladder.

Just a note, since I began working at my current place of employment, the three girls that got pregnant and left on maturnity leave never returned. And women complain and wonder why men earn more than they do for the same job.

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Originally posted by Nautilus I'm assuming you're still in school, so this is point is true and it was true when I was attending my university. But fast forward a couple of years later, after women have gone through schooling and attempted a few years in some sort of career, they almost always default back to wanting to have children and be a housewife. Why? Because they have the luxury to do so. One reason I think a lot of women go to such lengths to get a great education and a impressive career is so that when they've had enough of the career world and are ready to quit and start their family they've had contact with powerful, successful men along their way who they desire to pay for their roles as mothers. So, the younger women you are referring to in college who seem like they are earnst about a life long career in politics and discourse, the vast majority seems to disappear into motherhood around their 30s.

Are you taking the piss?!

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Originally posted by kush paintings For the most part, you can tell through avatars, voice (in the forums), but obviously that can't be very accurate. On the political crossfire forums they have gender symbols, which is actually really nice. So I am basing this on real observations. While I am not going to disagree at all that woman have not proven to be capable, if not moreso in school than men, I am talking about general discussion. Go back and read my thread starting post. I know they are capable of discussing, they just simply don't.

i really think you are just generalising far too much.not all girls want to talk about boys and not all boys want to talk about sports.

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Originally posted by George Smiley Are you taking the piss?!

i've updated my previous post. read on

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Women in % in national and regional governments 2000. Regional governments do not exist in all MS Source: European Data Base. Frauen Computer Zentrum http://www.db-decision.de/ % Women %Men EU 23 77 Denmark 43 57 Norway 42 58 Finland 39 61 Sweden 37 63 Netherlands 36 64 Iceland 33 67 United Kingdom 32 68 France 29 71 Luxembourg 29 71 Germany 27 73 Austria 24 76 Belgium 22 78 Ireland 22 78 Liechtenstein 20 80 Spain 18 82 Greece 13 87 Italy 9 91 Portugal 8 92

Looks like it does vary quite alot, and is dependant upon culture. The ones at the top there I'd say were the most "libral" to my mind in terms of women working (I mean in my head). I mean in Italy and Spain and so on I'd expect that women would have a more defined role than elsewhere probebly and it looks like it follows what I'd expect.

Maybe progress is possible.

politics is just gossip about the world stage

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