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Strangely not every woman in Britain, in fact not even many of them, decides which political party to support based primarily on its approach to childcare, maternity pay, flexible working hours and child benefit. Yet this seems to be the prevailing political consensus. Harriet Harman is still running around demanding the "voice of women" be heard – as if we have a single collective consciousness – while the Conservatives are apparently positioning women around Cameron in photo ops. Even Newsnight has joined in, recently changing the line-up of a panel at the last minute to focus exclusively on "women" and our "issues". The chairman of the National Federation of Women’s Institute’s has now come out claiming the coalition is ignoring women, as if she has the ability to speak for all of us. Are the Conservatives losing support from women? Well, it depends a little bit who you talk to. It seems they are losing support in some age groups, especially young women – but what can be done about this? The New Statesman looked in detail at the breakdown of female support and found “…the proportion of women aged 18-24 who support the Tories has declined from an already low 30 per cent at the General Election to just 18 per cent in 2011.” Polls only ever tell a small part of the picture. The greatest political heroes we have aren’t leaders who followed them, but those who tapped into the cultural narratives of the time. Cameron is missing a trick here. Women in their 20s and 30s have largely grown up in an environment with fairly equal opportunities. We are used to fighting for a train seat and opening doors for ourselves. What we struggle with is being treated as a disaffected vulnerable minority. What the current polls don’t show is the risk that if the Conservatives continue to patronise women they will lose even more of the young professional female vote. Before travelling much further down the road of singling out women repeatedly the Conservatives should ask some focus groups of young professional women how that approach goes down. I suspect the results would be cringe-worthy. The classic diagnosis of Cameron’s woman problem is that women are over-represented in the public sector and are therefore being hit hardest by the cuts. But women exist elsewhere in society too and the suggestion that talking more about “women’s issues” (which seems to mean anything vaguely related to caring for children) is the answer is far too simplistic. Although caution is needed looking at the polls they do show us something interesting. The latest Ipsos Mori Issues Index reveals that women and men agree on the most important issue facing Britain today (39 per cent of men, 36 per cent of women) – the economy. This is not some statistical blip; the economy is constantly rated as the most important issue by those of both sexes. Of course part of the problem is that women are not a homogenous group and so any attempt to develop messages aimed at some of them will inevitably alienate others. It may well be that there is a group of women who see domestic responsibilities as primarily a woman’s domain, but again there is a cultural shift here that politicians need to understand. Women in their 20s and 30s are busy fighting for relationships where domestic responsibilities are negotiated, for flexibility, where genuine partnerships exist, and men, as well as women, take responsibility for parenting decisions. The constant discussion in political and media circles that attaches these issues to women is setting back the feminist cause decades. If the Conservatives want a strategy to win female support here’s a clue. Our economy is in a dire state – the latest growth figures were around 0.1 per cent, unemployment has just reached a 17-year high and last week inflation hit 5.2 per cent. Women are indeed complicated creatures but there is one thing about them Cameron can be sure of: sort out the economy and he will win more of their support.

The key to a woman’s heart? Economic growth, believe it or not - Telegraph

Damn straight.

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Alarm bells always ring when some hapless male starts agonising about “what women want”, and not just because it can end in a dire movie starring Mel Gibson. The latest chap to do so is David Cameron, who is poised to appoint a female special adviser to appraise government policies “through women’s eyes”.

The notion that women have some uniform worldview that bonds them as a gender, despite the gulfs of age, class, culture, ethnicity, IQ and humour would be risible if it weren’t widespread.

Some years ago, I found myself having an argument with an editor on another publication about what women wanted to read. He told me firmly that “they” were interested in Kylie’s knickers; when I demurred he made it clear I was so rubbish at being female that my opinion was irrelevant.

I presume a similar filtering process has happened among the ranks of Tory MPs, whereby Theresa May, Louise Mensch et al weren’t deemed woman enough to represent women. I must admit to having perturbing visions of Mr Cameron conducting interviews for his über-femme staffer in the manner of Rex Harrison’s Professor Higgins addressing his housekeeper: “Mrs Pierce, you’re a woman… Why is thinking something women never do, why is logic never even tried?”

Or could it be the case that women want parity, including the right not to be patronised? I haven’t noticed any gender differences in my circle when it comes to political priorities: a government that displays fiscal competence, levies fair taxes, provides good state education and NHS services and maintains national security. But if the Government wants to distract from its failings, why not make Nancy Dell’Olio a special adviser on femininity. No one has more to say on the subject and we'd all be cheered if she wore one of her plunging gowns from Strictly to No 10.

David Cameron should not treat women differently - Telegraph

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Originally Posted by Zichao

Alarm bells always ring when some hapless male starts agonising about “what women want”, and not just because it can end in a dire movie starring Mel Gibson.

It's been a while but I remember thinking that movie was actually quite alright...

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Or could it be the case that women want parity...

Referencing 'logic' and 'thinking' as above, how do you explain to them that, by and large, they have it already?

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... including the right not to be patronised?

Okay, maybe not that one yet...

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I haven’t noticed any gender differences in my circle when it comes to political priorities: a government that displays fiscal competence, levies fair taxes, provides good state education and NHS services and maintains national security.

Well, sure, with some generalistic stuff like that, anyone who isn't either Ron Paul or Marx will agree...

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But if the Government wants to distract from its failings, why not make Nancy Dell’Olio a special adviser on femininity. No one has more to say on the subject...

Reference? I'd like to see what someone who seems to have specialised in dating guys 10 to 20 years older than herself and with a bit of a profile has to say about femininity...

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Originally Posted by Gilles de Rais

Referencing 'logic' and 'thinking' as above, how do you explain to them that, by and large, they have it already?

The same way you tell any other lie?

They're reacting to the endless articles the Graun publishes insisisting that women are only interested in matters relating directly to reproduction.

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The same way you tell any other lie?

I think she was implying that women pretty much have parity - they want good policies, that's all, not special treatment for anyone who squeezes out a kid, as lots of people try to imply.

I think she was being sarcastic about Nancy too.

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Originally Posted by contracycle

The same way you tell any other lie?

Ladidadila. Here we go again. Stats are against you. The gap is actually in women's favour in the late teens demographic and tiny/negligible before 30. Most of the gap afterwards comes from the consequences of women bearing the brunt of pregnancy & child rearing. I am pretty sure past discrimination is also a big factor for those women somewhat older.

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Originally Posted by Zichao

I think she was implying that women pretty much have parity - they want good policies, that's all, not special treatment for anyone who squeezes out a kid, as lots of people try to imply.

Well, single/no kid professional women may resent it/think it patronising but I think a fair number of mums will actually care about nurseries and stuff like that. Fathers as well (heck, even gays if you look how Delanoe kept banging about the issue in Paris) but it's possibly less visible/less of a separator - Because women are still the ones bearing the brunt of parenting/sacrificing their careers if there are any deficiency in the local nursery network.

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I think she was being sarcastic about Nancy too.

Sure but I am still interested in the depth of depraved logic people get up. A woman with, at first glance, mercenary tendencies would be quite the hypocrite if she spoke about feminism - But, in these days and age, it's not like anyone has the good grace of being ashamed/coy and I wouldn't be surprised if that Nancy actually did talk a good talk about feminism on Strictly or whatever. In which case, I am interested just to see how far shamelessness can go.

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Originally Posted by Gilles de Rais

Most of the gap afterwards comes from the consequences of women bearing the brunt of pregnancy & child rearing.

Yes, exactly. And until that gets solved there will not be parity.

You mean, until men decide to get pregnant?

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