Women without children

[Miss Chicken]

The former leader of the Australian Labor Party has made some comments that have angered quite a few people.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard lacks empathy and is "wooden" because she has chosen not to have children, former Labor leader Mark Latham has claimed.
Talking to Radio National's Fran Kelly this morning, Mr Latham said Ms Gillard had been "wooden" in her response to the Queensland floods because she chose a career over children.
And he said people who decide against raising a family have less empathy and less love in their lives.
"To choose a career ahead of the opportunity of having children? I think having children is the great loving experience of any lifetime and by definition, you haven't got as much love in your life if you make that particular choice," he said.
"I think you could look at her performance during the Queensland floods, when she was actually up there with the people, and think that it was very wooden.
"I'm not the only one saying that. And I've also had some experience where around small children she was wooden.
"Empathy around small children is a pretty good test of what sort of person you are in life."

Rest of story here


Your opinion on his comments would be much appreciated.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I hope that the last line there about empathy around small children being a test of what kind of person you are isn't true. If it is, I've failed that test.

But then again, having empathy and outwardly showing it are two different things. I am very awkward around small children, but I would certainly feel empathy towards them if they were upset or hurt.

I would guess that whether or not she is "wooden" has more to do with her intrinsic personality than with the fact that she is not a mother.

 

[Canadave]

I hope that the last line there about empathy around small children being a test of what kind of person you are isn't true. If it is, I've failed that test.

Me too. I'm incredibly awkward around small children.

Anyway, ridiculous comments, of course. Being a parent has nothing to do with whether or not you're a good person.

 

[trampledamage]

Oh good grief! I'm bloody awful around other people's small children and I am a mom!

The only thing people's empathy around small children shows you is their ability to run a day-care. Who cares if a politician is good with kids?

And as for the idea that she's somehow a lesser person because she hasn't had kids... words fail me.

 

[scotpens]

. . . And he said people who decide against raising a family have less empathy and less love in their lives.

Or maybe they’ve taken a principled stand against contributing more hungry mouths to a planet with a growing population and limited resources?

The only thing people's empathy around small children shows you is their ability to run a day-care. Who cares if a politician is good with kids?

Or whether or not she has kids of her own? If a politician has children, all it proves is that her uterus/his dick works.

 

[nevermore]

Your opinion on his comments would be much appreciated.

He's a misogynistic prick using a spurious argument to justify a thinly veiled, politically motivated attack on a woman for not making life decisions that conform to his idea of what a woman's role is. He's probably a big fan of Fox News.

 

[-Brett-]

Politicians.

Unless they're curtailing your rights or getting people killed, it's probably best to just enjoy the show.

 

[Australis]

Yeah, but Mark Latham's a nutbag (in all senses of the word), and doesn't have empathy with anyone.

 

[Sector 7]

Your opinion on his comments would be much appreciated.

He's a misogynistic prick using a spurious argument to justify a thinly veiled, politically motivated attack on a woman for not making life decisions that conform to his idea of what a woman's role is. He's probably a big fan of Fox News.

I could not have stated it better, nevermore. However, I remember a line from a television show or movie, "A person is smart, people are stupid." It is the reason stupid, awful politicians get votes... even after saying such hateful comments.

 

[Gul Re'jal]

What an interesting theory. I don't want children, but I teach 3-5 years old toddlers. What does the theory say about me? Am I empathic, spending every day among toddlers, or am I not, because they are not my own?


Politicians and their "wisdom..."

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Your opinion on his comments would be much appreciated.

He's a misogynistic prick using a spurious argument to justify a thinly veiled, politically motivated attack on a woman for not making life decisions that conform to his idea of what a woman's role is. He's probably a big fan of Fox News.

Ironic that you say that, considering that I've seen some of Fox's commentators take MAJOR issue with misogynistic statements, when made by US politicians, including comments that force this stupid either/or choice between being a "career woman" and a "mother."

But anyway...back on subject...because that false choice isn't the ONLY thing wrong with this statement. (So, are you a bad dad if you have a career and kids at the same time? Bet this guy would LOVE for the shoe to be on the other foot. But then you have the whole other can of worms too, how such comments ALSO manage to devalue the role of the father at the same time as degrading the mother.)

I think there are circumstances where it can be empathetic NOT to raise a family. It all depends on the person; if you don't feel it's the right time, or the right thing for you, then for goodness sake PLEASE don't bow to social pressure and have kids and then make yourself and your children miserable.

But women and men both should have the freedom to make that decision for themselves, about what they want in life. It shouldn't be determined for them because of gender or any kind of pressure on them.

 

[Kestra]

It's a stupid comment that doesn't deserve a well-reasoned argument in response.

 

[Jono]

Mark Latham will forever attack the leader of the Federal Labor party until the day he dies because of the sour grapes over the fact he failed at that position. It wouldn't matter if Gillard did have kids he would still find avenues to direct personal attacks against her.

The sad thing about Latham is that he is a smart guy and he does at times make some valid points about the government, but it gets lost in the pettiness of his nature and the vitriol that too often comes spewing from his mouth.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

What is it about these squirming little infants that you find so appealing? -- Q

 

[donners22]

One only needs to see the name "Latham" to know it's going to be something ridiculous. How utterly terrifying that he could have been leader of the country.

 

[Captain_Nick]

Figures that I should be the only Latham supporter in this ocean of ignorance.

In any event he is a non entity now so why are you giving him air time? Honestly ...

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Your opinion on his comments would be much appreciated.

Why do you want opinions about that wanker?

 

[Miss Chicken]

because I know that some people agree with him and I really cannot understand why this mentality still exists today.

One of my friends never had children,nor wanted them, and people kept warning her she hurry up and have them before she was too old. Luckily they have now stopped simply because she is now well over 40 but one of her neighbours recently called her an 'old maid' and said it was a pity she never had children and that one day she would regret it. This wasn't said to her face but was said to one of my sons.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

because I know that some people agree with him and I really cannot understand why this mentality still exists today.

One of my friends never had children,nor wanted them, and people kept warning her she hurry up and have them before she was too old. Luckily they have now stopped simply because she is now well over 40 but one of her neighbours recently called her an 'old maid' and said it was a pity she never had children and that one day she would regret it. This wasn't said to her face but was said to one of my sons.

I think that sentiment is quite different than what Latham expressed. In my experience it is said with no actual thinking, just lots of assumptions. It also says nothing about the person's character, other than poking at them from deviating from societal expectations.

Latham's comments involve plenty of thinking, a carefully crafted attack to get media attention for himself. Saying someone cannot have empathy because they don't have kids is clearly ridiculous. It's just a shame the media gives Latham what he wants rather than rolling their eyes and moving on to actual news.

Oh and the people who actually agree with what Latham said have their balls in knots over a woman PM and her uterus is just an easy target.

 

[Deckerd]

because I know that some people agree with him and I really cannot understand why this mentality still exists today.

One of my friends never had children,nor wanted them, and people kept warning her she hurry up and have them before she was too old. Luckily they have now stopped simply because she is now well over 40 but one of her neighbours recently called her an 'old maid' and said it was a pity she never had children and that one day she would regret it. This wasn't said to her face but was said to one of my sons.

That doesn't have any bearing on the stuff the politician was saying in your OP (which was too stupid to commment on).