Student who is suing LSE doesn’t understand sexism
Published: September 15, 2011
HOW Tom Martin aspired to an MSc in gender, media and culture is puzzling.
He clearly doesn’t understand the term “sexism”. For clarity I would refer him to The Encyclopedia of Feminism by Lisa Tutt (1986), which has a full entry for “sexism”. It begins: “Term constructed by analogy with racism, first used around 1968 in America within the Women’s Liberation Movement, now in widespread use.”
It includes: “Although men also claim to be the victims of sexism, either in personal relationships or in regard to affirmative action programmes, this is more accurately known as ‘inverse sexism’ or ‘reverse sexism’, and is actually a response to the institutionalised sexism which oppresses all women. Like racism, sexism presumes an essential superiority grounded in specific physical manifestations...”
I think Mr Martin should return the course fees the university, foolishly in my view, refunded to him and drop his case against the LSE.
I don’t know how he can call himself a feminist.
Valerie Dunn
Weedington Road, NW5
Comments
There are several flaws in Ms
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-10-05 00:15.There are several flaws in Ms Dunn's argument; firstly why would a gender course be about women solely? Seeing as men make up 50% of the population this course should also be studying male attitudes in relation to media and culture.
Secondly while sexism may have it's origins in the feminist movement of the late 60's it is now enshrined in UK law and the meaning of the word has altered. As he is suing it is the legal definition and not the original meaning of the word which is being examined and the law states;
'13Direct discrimination.
(1)A person (A) discriminates against another (B) if, because of a protected characteristic, A treats B less favourably than A treats or would treat others..
(6)If the protected characteristic is sex—.'
And the act specifically says that a man can be counted;
11Sex.
In relation to the protected characteristic of sex—
(a)a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a man or to a woman;.
(b)a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons of the same sex..'
Source; Equality Act 2010
'Inverse' or 'Reverse Sexism' are sexist terms
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 2011-09-17 00:00.When we consider, that women use four times more misandry than men do misogyny (Goodwin and Rudman, 2004) - to call sexism against men 'reverse sexism' is indeed, a particularly ignorant and sexist thing to do.
People of Camden are not so easily fooled (I hope).
If we actually want to eradicate sexism, we cannot just look at one fifth of the problem.
Gender-developmental progress, requires feminism to progress too.
Can feminism function without male-bashing?
I believe so.
For all updates, go to www dot sexismbusters dot org
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