Who's the Minister for Men?

[jtaylor]

Harriet Harman is the "Minister for Women and Equality"

Who's the Minister for Men?

If there isn't one, why isn't that completely unacceptable?

Same goes for the "Black Police Association" - where's the "White Police Association"??

J

[Katharine]

My friend's son was the only black policeman in a very specialised section - so I won't say any more. He was harassed on more than one occasion - to produce minutes of the meetings of the black police association in his section!

[englishangel]

Just edited for (early morning) typos before J.R. asks.

[J.R.]

They are both very good question, Julian !

Appointing Harriet Harman as Minister for Women is somewhat like appointing Robert Maxwell as Minister for Pensions !

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Why not Oswald Mosley ?
Or Enoch Powell (for our Younger Readers !)

They are both very good question, Julian !

Appointing Harriet Harman as Minister for Women is somewhat like appointing Robert Maxwell as Minister for Pensions !

[AKAP]

As an ex member ( now retired) of the national black police assosciation I thought I best post an answer to your second question. There is an association that represents all police officers below the rank of superintendent, called the police federation. The majority of it's members are white and it is always felt that it is capable of representing issues specific to white police officers, if in the future it finds itself unable to do this it would be appropriate to consider a white police assosciation. The black police assosciation was recognised as it was felt that the federation whilst open to all police officers was not best placed to represent all of the issues specific to black police officers.
If any one is wondering, there is a women's police assosciation and I was invited to join.

[J.R.]

As an ex member ( now retired) of the national black police assosciation I thought I best post an answer to your second question. There is an association that represents all police officers below the rank of superintendent, called the police federation. The majority of it's members are white and it is always felt that it is capable of representing issues specific to white police officers, if in the future it finds itself unable to do this it would be appropriate to consider a white police assosciation. The black police assosciation was recognised as it was felt that the federation whilst open to all police officers was not best placed to represent all of the issues specific to black police officers.

If any one is wondering, there is a women's police assosciation and I was invited to join.

Couldn't that be considered a bit 'Sexist' ??

[loringa]

Harriet Harman is the "Minister for Women and Equality"

Who's the Minister for Men?

If there isn't one, why isn't that completely unacceptable?

Same goes for the "Black Police Association" - where's the "White Police Association"??

J

There isn't a 'Minister for Men' since men have not been discriminated against since time immemorial, the same reason as there isn't a 'White Police Officers' Association'. If we really get to the situation where women are genuinely treated the same as men and given all the same oportunities including the pay and bonuses that tend to go with them then the role of the 'Minister for Women' will cease to be required. We could then lobby for either a 'Minister for Men' or for the abolition of the post. Until then, I would suggest that the post remains necessary; it's just a pity that such a potentially important role should go to the dreadful Harperson!

[englishangel]

Well said sir, on all counts.

[Hannoir]

Because women and ethnic minorities have been, and still are, historically discriminated against.

[dinahcat]

When women want something that men won't let them have -let's say the vote-they go out and get it. If men feel they really want a minister for themselves then go and get one.We won't stop you....

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

A little tale, about "Discrimination" ---
I was running a Factory (Old Term !) in which there were Male and Female Employees, working at the same machines.

The material, which was being worked, was heavy and bulky.

The Females demanded Equal Pay.

I had to point out that this was for equal Work, and since the Females did not collect their material, from store, nor carry it to their Machines -- equal "Work" did not apply. HOWEVER, should they do so, I would immediately institute equal Pay.

Do you know ---- the question never arose again !

Some activities are better suited to Fellers, and some to Gels -- I love and appreciate the Difference between the sexes !

[anniexf]

The younger among you probably don't realise that until relatively recently - within the last 40 years or so - women couldn't have a credit agreement, e.g. to rent a tv, without a male guarantor. Income tax returns for a married couple had to be completed by the husband, which meant that he was entitled to know about every penny his wife might have. The wife had no such right. Furthermore, she had no automatic right to inherit the marital home. If he chose to leave it to someone else, tough. There was a notorious case where a man left his house to his mistress, and the High Court ruled that his wife of many decades must be evicted. It caused such an outcry that the law was reviewed.

[J.R.]

Do I really need a Minister to represent me ?? Nah !! I think I'm quite capable of representing myself, thanks !

On the 'Woman' issue, when I joined the police, WPC's were not permitted to work shifts after 10pm or before 8am (?) and couldn't patrol in cars without a male colleague with her. They now have totally equal rights and duties, so why do they need their own association ?

Women in the army and air-force were only secretaries and nurses and banned from carrying arms. Well - That has all changed.

What about the Royal Navy ? WRENS - Nothing but secretaries, nurses and clerics. NOW they serve on our ships in war zones.

Discrimination in this day and age ?? I THINK NOT !!

(awaits the female back-lash !!!!)

[Fjgrogan]

So when did things change in the Navy? When I was in the WRNR in the mid 60s, I was neither a secretary, a nurse nor a cleric. I was directed into the Degaussing category, which I understand was a task entirely undertaken by reserve Wrens. It involved basically measuring the magnetic profile of ships and calculating the field needed to counteract that profile. In some cases it involved clambering around on a ship slinging the appropriate wiring, although I never got that far. No doubt today it is all done by computer. Not being in any way scientific it is certainly not a job I would have chosen, but there was a shortage of people who had the necessary ability in Maths and Physics (I had O level Maths and had only dropped Physics after Mock O level and immediately prior to taking the exam!) At the same time my 'day job' was at the Admiralty, where I was doing a largely clerical job, but being the only female in the department was always expected to do jobs like filing and tea-making in preference to the male members of the department. I even once took the minutes of the Naval Arms Export Committee, with no shorthand skills and not a clue what they were talking about or who anyone was! (I have probably just opened myself up to prosecution under the Official Secrets Act!). I very quickly resigned and returned to working in the Inland Revenue where the work was commensurate with my level of intelligence and I was regarded as a person first and not a female!