Brachina wrote:
I know some old men who are prochoice who are upset at the agist cheap shot. It becomes clearer that Justin has contempt for the older folks who are his greatest supporters.
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I am not concerned about the old men with feelings part of the problem. I have been thinking about this for some time.
Some of the most strident anti-choice people I hear of late are much younger than me and I don't consider myself an old man (yet).
It is problematic to suggest that it is only older men who have this view becuase it feeds the idea that women's rights are becoming yesterdays's issue, something that does not have to be worried about for future as the older generation passes away. This is the real danger not just feelings.This is not a stretch as when we hear about "old-men's concerns" it is often with the subtext that these are passing away.
The difference between the generations is not as great as some seem to think. Young women report that sexism is very much alive in all generations.
Women have achieved a great deal of progress over the last century -- we always hear that -- as women in Canada were just struggling to get the vote 100 years ago (and did not in some places until the 1940s) but progress has not been steady. The women of this generation face a parliament that is still not representative, earnings gaps barely better than they were a generation ago, many of the same debates of a generation ago and little if any progress when it comes to violence. Many of the loudest anti-choice activists in and out of government are young including the behind-the-scenes-boys-in-short-pants we hear about in the CPC. And today we have people who wish on women a sense of compacency to shut them up so no gains are made and some already achieved can slip away. Access to abortions is slipping now that the "old man" Morgentaler has passed away.
Younger people do tend to be somewhat more progressive but the difference is not enough to risk making this about age. On many issues the gaps in progressive versus conservative opinion is no more than 10-20%. I believe that a generation ago that gap was greater than it is today. It may once have been more of an age issue than it is today.
So this is why I have trouble with the idea that this is a generational issue. It is a gender issue -- it is that some men (of every generation) want to decide what women do with their bodies. Now that is a harder tougher point to make, taking on a gender is bigger than a age group subset of a gender. But it comes with an understanding that this is not a battle that is going away and "women's issues" have not been won.
Let's not make this a partisan issue. I want to point this out but not as a critique of Trudeau. I have heard the exact comment from New Democrats (as has been pointed out) for 30+ years and still do. The risk of complacency in making this an age issue is more recent and increasingly dangerous. I make my suggestion as a opportunity to consider rather than a political football. I understand Trudeau's comments as well meant. Those comments have been voiced by many including myself -- but I am careful now because I see this being fought out in a generation younger than I am.
Any suggestion that inequality, anti-choice or any other gender issue is passing away with an older generation is counter productive for current and future generations -- in my opinion.