h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Right a nice opened ha ha.

Seriously though I read in several papers today that a UN official has visited the UK on this specific issue and come to this conclusion. She points to a 'lads culture' that has led to the over sexualisation and commercialisation of women and their bodies.

My own immediate thought was 'but what about Saudi Arabia?' where women are not allowed to drive for example. But being a bloke I'm probably in not much of a position to be objective about this as I'm immersed in our culture and am not at the wrong end of it.

What does hootoo think?

A link from one of the less controversial newspapers to report this (not linking to the mail, no!)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-politics/10767784/UN-Britains-sexism-more-pervasive-than-any-other-country.html

Women have enough to do. They shouldn't be worrying their pretty little heads with stuff like this.

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It is all total rubbish, I just don't know where they come up with these statistics, there is nothing with my gin intake either

nothing wrong

I don't know.

I'm a straight, white man, so I've never experienced racism, sexism, homophobia or the like.

On the face of it, I'd be surprised if the UK was more sexist than, say, Saudi Arabia, but I've never been. But we have a fairly sexist culture (look at any news report discussing a woman, or spend ten minutes watching van drivers letching at schoolgirls) here in the UK. Or this thread, where even reasonable men like Icy have gone straight in with sexism as humour (Not saying Icy is a sexist, I appreciate it's a joke, but it's worth noting that nobody here would go for a similar joke with a racial bent).

I'd be far more interested to hear the opinions of women. Especially women who've lived in multiple countries, or that have experience of culture outside of the UK.

Sho, for example.

>On the face of it, I'd be surprised if the UK was more sexist than, say, Saudi Arabia, but I've never been<

Exactamundo. I've noticed that the UK is very good at claiming 'we have the best of...' (whatever) whilst most of those who agree never go abroad beyond their annual all-inclusive holiday in Majorca where all they do is hang out with fellow brits.

I'm not sure many in the UK is very qualified to deny this so vehemently as most seem to out of hand seeing as they don't actually have any experience of what it's like in other cultures. It's hard to see out but it's much easier see having been out and coming in isywim.

What was post 4? Missed that.

I'd never have guessed there'd be a moderated post within 4 posts on this subject

It was a swearsy that is all, nothing to mind about, but still never mind post 4, 14 minutes was impressive I thought

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Just wait till I start on religion

Oh dear. This thread's going to go well

ahh religion, I have a bee in my pretty bonnet about Easter, now you come to mention it, why should this be a long weekend?

Could we be done with it so long as the 2 days gets worked into holiday entitlements?

Probably not the most sexist but very horribly sexist yes.

Comparisons with places like Saudi where their misogeny and sexism are enshrined in law aren't helpful though.

What do you mean by 'sexist'? In Western culture, sexist seems to mean demeaning women and casual sex jokes.

In most Eastern cultures, women are held in high esteeem - make a demeaning comment towards them and you are vilified.

My sister has spent a large amount of her professional life living as a single, then as a married woman in Saudi Arabia. The culture there is as I would describe as comparative to Middle Ages Britain - women have no official voice, no obvious vote, no political power - but are the main force behind every man. And every man respects that.

It's not a culture I could live in, but they are very respectful towards courtesies for women which you don't get in Western culture any more beyond the old 'British gentleman'.

I live in Cyprus, the 'little woman' is a way of life - but they are the ones who hold business, family and life together while men are the mouthpieces and generally do very little!

Good question. I think I'm wondering how other people define it - in particular the UN envoy who decided this.

As I said, a lot of people have dismissed this out of hand which I think is unreasonable - especially coming from people who cannot really be dispassionate.

It makes me sad and ashamed if it's true and sadly I'm not sure it isn't.

I also wonder if it doesn't work both ways. If there's a lack of respect one way then it tends, to my mind, to lead to a lack of respect back.

It's an important subject, shame so many run away or choose to be flippant about it.

Having read the link, the woman doesn't say the UK is the most sexist country in the world, she says sexism in Britain is more apparent than in any other country she's visited in her study into violence against women.

And she's visited six countries.

I think the 'lad culture'is a problem. It seems to not really involve sexism in the sense of thinking that women are less capable than men, but a major part of it is viewing women almost exclusively as sexual objects, which I would say is a different type of sexism.

There's a blog and Twitter account on which women post examples of everyday sexism they've encountered and they make depressing reading.

http://everydaysexism.com/

https://twitter.com/EverydaySexism