Dominic Raab is no more keen on the Equality Act than he is on the Human Rights Act
Esher and Walton MP Dominic Raab has just been made justice minister alongside Michael Gove.
Raab is a longtime critic of the Human Rights Act – this appointment looks like David Cameron’s way of saying he is serious about scrapping it. In January 2014 Raab voted to allow human rights grounds to be used to prevent a foreign criminal being deported only in cases where there would be a breach of right to life or the right not to be tortured.
In 2013, he voted to remove the duty on the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to work to support the development of a society in which people’s ability to achieve their potential is not limited by prejudice or discrimination.
And in 2013 he also voted against making it illegal to discriminate on grounds of caste.
Raab also took an unusual stance on gender equality in 2011, when he expressed his fears that ‘from the cradle to the grave, men are getting a raw deal’. He attacked the ‘obnoxious bigotry’ of feminists and complained that men work longer hours than women (no mention of pay gap etc).
“While we have some of the toughest anti-discrimination laws in the world, we are blind to some of the most flagrant discrimination – against men.”
Seeming to have fallen at the first hurdle – assuming that feminism is anti-men – Raab also suggested that men start ‘burning their briefs’, presumably as a long- overdue retaliation against the feminists of the sixties (who did not, in fact, burn their bras.)
Raab’s diatribe continued:
“Britain’s not perfect, and we will never eradicate all human prejudice.”
This is especially true when we do not understand that prejudice. Another interesting choice from David Cameron.
Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter
398 Responses to “He thinks feminists are ‘obnoxious bigots’: meet the new justice minister”
CharleyFarleyFive
Oh the irony, a feminist using the word cunt. Bye Felicia.
killiandoyle
Actually you lived a male life and now you life a transgendered life, which is very different to a female life. Feminists agree which is why they generally don’t support the transgendered. If you want to see what reality looks like, someone wrote a book about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norah_Vincent#Self-Made_Man
John Gormley Spokesman MHRI
Keep seeing people say feminism has something to do with equality.
Show me a feminist who fights for men without fighting for women at the same time
I keep seeing people say feminism is good for men.
Show me a feminist website/facebook page/event/group…blog/campaign/association/organisation in fact anything feminist that has anything good to say about boys, men or masculinity without wanting to change them.
mickey667
Why are 90% of domestic abuse victims women? Why do a 1/3 of all women suffer rape or sexual assault at some time in their life? Why are streets safe for men and night but not women? etc etc
Society and life is shit for both sexes, i agree. However i happen to think much of it can be solved by resolving structural injustices of both class and gender. For example male suicide as you rightly point to is a direct consequence of a male dominated society and men feeling the need to fulfil manly roles, when failing in this as many inevitably do some a re driven to suicide.
A more equal society would address this too.
Its not a zero sum game. Women getting more equality does not mean men get less, it improves lives for both sexes
killiandoyle
I see Karen has already taken you to school above but just to deliver the coup de grace, it seems that the “male patriarchy” is against FGM in developing countries.
It’s for example the Maasai women who want to hold onto it because they feel it is a key component of their identity and culture. If you know anything about African women, they take great pride in the way they shape and decorate their bodies — it is the essence of their identity as strong/mature women. If it were the “male patriarchy” wanting to keep FGM going, it would be MEN marching and protesting to keep it alive.
But ironically, men have been very uninterested in FGM when not expressing outright dislike for it. There is even an Islamic hadith by the Prophet Muhammad expressing scorn for female cutters who cause harm to young girls. And I will tell you, anywhere that circumcision is “required” for girls, it is much more required for boys.
And if you don’t think male circumcision is as bad, then I recommend that you view some videos of the gruesome and elaborate African rituals for male circumcision. The great difference is that in most places of North Africa and the Middle East, especially in places where Semitic religions are practiced, where circumcision is honored, it is always MANDATORY to be performed on boys (halal, kosher laws, etc) while usually being seen as optional or nonessential or banned for girls. Female circumcision is looked down upon almost everywhere, whereas male circumcision is not….and sometimes it is even condoned, especially by women. Male circumcision is also still legal in the West.
Some further reading for you here: http://www.academia.edu/9141152/FGM_horrid_but_MGM_beneficial_Not_so_fast_
Best of luck with your shocking picture though.