David Cameron has finally fallen foul of the media's new 'photograph party leaders with prop' campaign. Having happily posed with a free copy of The Sun alongside his fellow leaders, and won over more Sun readers by sporting a Help for Heroes wristband next to Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage - though not Ed Miliband, Cameron has refused anElle magazine t-shirt. Why? We aren't sure but it seems while Clegg and Miliband are happy to be photographed in a t-shirt that declares "This is what a feminist looks like", Cameron isn't. Come on Cameron, everybody's doing it now Beyonce is a feminist. It could be because the t-shirt features a rather ugly font. But until Cameron releases a statement confirming this we have to assume he is one of the many afraid of the word feminist and we have to address this.
Miliband poses in the t-shirt with his hands casually in the pockets of his jeans, staring wistfully into the distance. Probably thinking about the number of women in his cabinet, which is approaching 50%. Clegg negotiates the approaching Autumnal chill by wearing a long sleeve shirt beneath the Elle t-shirt so as not to obscure his feminism. In the photo he laughs, perhaps thinking of his wife who is vocal about her beliefs and ideals. Though not really doing much about them.
Elle's editor-in-chief Lorraine Candy said: "We asked the Prime Minister five times if he would wear the Fawcett Society’s iconic This Is What A Feminist Looks Like slogan T-shirt and send us a snapshot...Five times, he declined. This is a shame on so many levels, especially given he knew Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband had agreed without hesitation, alongside many other influential men who were more than happy to call themselves feminists. It seems the Prime Minister still has an issue with the word "feminist".
I was personally disappointed that we couldn't feature Mr Cameron in our Feminism Issue because it is ELLE’s aim to engage with men in the fight for equality: because of parliament's current gender imbalance, it is men who have the power to make changes in every area of British women's lives. When the man in charge doesn't engage, it doesn't bode well. Given the huge international male support for UN Women's #HeForShe campaign, it does rather make our Prime Minister look like the odd one out."
Elle's editor-in-chief Lorraine Candy said: "We asked the Prime Minister five times if he would wear the Fawcett Society’s iconic This Is What A Feminist Looks Like slogan T-shirt and send us a snapshot...Five times, he declined. This is a shame on so many levels, especially given he knew Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband had agreed without hesitation, alongside many other influential men who were more than happy to call themselves feminists. It seems the Prime Minister still has an issue with the word "feminist".
I was personally disappointed that we couldn't feature Mr Cameron in our Feminism Issue because it is ELLE’s aim to engage with men in the fight for equality: because of parliament's current gender imbalance, it is men who have the power to make changes in every area of British women's lives. When the man in charge doesn't engage, it doesn't bode well. Given the huge international male support for UN Women's #HeForShe campaign, it does rather make our Prime Minister look like the odd one out."
| But Cameron, 'the man in charge' has not engaged with gender balancing. Cameron's Cuties has had little impact on the lives of women in the UK and women MPs continue to report difficulties from sexist attitudes in Westminster. | he simply isn't a feminist and to wear that t-shirt would be a statement too ridiculous to counter |
And perhaps this is why Cameron could not pose in a t-shirt that declared his feminism. Not because it might repel some core Tory voters or colleagues. But because he simply isn't a feminist and to wear that t-shirt would be a statement too ridiculous to counter with any 'but seriously now, John' (or Sarah, seeing as this would be an interview about wimmin and feminism) interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
As journalist Zoe Williams tweeted "In fairness, if David Cameron had worn a t-shirt saying "this is what a feminist looks like", I would have had to stop being a feminist".
Last year women's magazine Red asked Cameron if he was a feminist and ruffled him somewhat: "I don't know what I'd call myself...it's up to others to attach labels. But I believe men and women should be treated equally." Channel 4 News asked the PM to clarify this iffy remark, since having a briefing David responded way more clearly that: "When I was asked that question, what I should have said is, if that means equal rights for women, then yes. If that is what you mean by feminist, then yes, I am a feminist."
Miliband told Elle: "Feminism means a better world for us all and a battle yet to be won." Clegg offered: "I support equality and choice - so yes, I'm a feminist. How on earth in this day and age can you not be? As a wiser person than me once said: 'Men who actually treat women as equals are the ones with more cojones.'"
Cojones.
It is not a case of whether Cameron has the cojones to wear this t-shirt, he simply does not appear to agree with the sentiment. What's weird is that while Ed's posing with the Sun gaffe was noted and rightly caused outrage, and Ed's refusal to pose with a Help for Heroes wristband caused some doubt over his respect for soldiers, no-one seems to be too bothered that Cameron is so hesitant to represent half the country.
Squeamish Kate
As journalist Zoe Williams tweeted "In fairness, if David Cameron had worn a t-shirt saying "this is what a feminist looks like", I would have had to stop being a feminist".
Last year women's magazine Red asked Cameron if he was a feminist and ruffled him somewhat: "I don't know what I'd call myself...it's up to others to attach labels. But I believe men and women should be treated equally." Channel 4 News asked the PM to clarify this iffy remark, since having a briefing David responded way more clearly that: "When I was asked that question, what I should have said is, if that means equal rights for women, then yes. If that is what you mean by feminist, then yes, I am a feminist."
Miliband told Elle: "Feminism means a better world for us all and a battle yet to be won." Clegg offered: "I support equality and choice - so yes, I'm a feminist. How on earth in this day and age can you not be? As a wiser person than me once said: 'Men who actually treat women as equals are the ones with more cojones.'"
Cojones.
It is not a case of whether Cameron has the cojones to wear this t-shirt, he simply does not appear to agree with the sentiment. What's weird is that while Ed's posing with the Sun gaffe was noted and rightly caused outrage, and Ed's refusal to pose with a Help for Heroes wristband caused some doubt over his respect for soldiers, no-one seems to be too bothered that Cameron is so hesitant to represent half the country.
Squeamish Kate
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