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DID YOU HEAR the one about the Pun, the Paradox and the Politics? It’s about two elected politicians and Irish political reform. One of them is a new boy, describes himself as a bit naive and inexperienced, though he’s married with three children, and has given the Taoiseach unwavering support in his moves against the Seanad.
The other is the complete opposite, he’s been around for quite a while and is much morSte experienced, he’s Ireland’s first openly gay elected politician and is completely against the Taoiseach’s plans for the Seanad. The paradox is that they’re both the same!
To explain why, let me give you some context. The Vagina Monologues was (and still is) a controversial stage play written by long-time feminist activist Even Ensler and first performed in 1996. It is an eclectic mix of vignettes, each representing a different female voice speaking about a different female experience. These include talk of sex, love, masturbation, menstruation, genital mutilation, rape, birth and orgasm.
Although originally performed as a ‘one-man show’ (Har Har), it is now typical for several actresses to read different parts. Susan Sarandon has done it. Oprah Winfrey has. Jane Fonda, Cyndi Lauper and many more. In fact, it has now been performed in 48 languages in over 100 countries and has even ‘given birth’ to an international social movement – ‘V Day’, where each year benefit performances are given around the world to raise money for rape crisis centres and women’s shelters.
Essentially, the Vagina Monologues is a feminist assertion of female identity. Performing it, watching it, or just being completely comfortable discussing it says a lot about your politics already. The way that you feel about The Vagina Monologues is a short-hand way of identifying many of your values and attitudes about women, sex and female experience.
So when the second of our two politicians referred to the Regina Monologues, he was inadvertently identifying something about himself. He may even have been saying something about the celebration of Irish womanhood in the Seanad, though his subsequent remarks suggest otherwise. He was, at the very least, sending extremely mixed messages. But was he being sexist?
Sexism refers to prejudice or discrimination based on a person’s sex. The spectrum of sexism ranges from inappropriate gendered remarks, to misjudgements and stereotypes about gender roles, to feelings of humiliation when people look, talk or refer to parts of a body inappropriately, to more deliberate acts of sexual innuendo and harassment, and ultimately to sexual violence and rape.
Accordingly David Norris’ remarks to Regina Doherty were definitely sexist, but his use of references suggests that it was not the traditional kind of sexism. For an example of that, we should look to Tom Barry’s behaviour towards Aine Collins when recalled into the Dail late at night to vote on the Government’s proposed Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill. Barry, who acknowledged that he had been drinking before the session, grabbed Collins and sat her on his lap, whereupon she got up as quick as she could and found another seat out of his reach.
Whilst we cannot really judge which of the two men’s behaviour caused the greater offence to their female colleague, we can make a preliminary assessment of what these incidences tell us about the prospects for meaningful political reform in Ireland. David Norris offers sexism with a post-modern and ironic twist, whereas Tom Barry offers a more old-fashioned and traditional sort of sexism. In relation to Seanad Reform, with their different political affiliations and orientations, David Norris and Tom Barry also offer different perspectives – one the ‘progressive reformer’ and the other a more ‘radical conservative’.
So much for the paradox and the politics.
But if in Irish politics the difference between a ‘progressive reformer’ and a ‘radical conservative’ is verbal vaginal theatrix versus old-school horseplay and lap tricks – you’d be forgiven for asking, where’s the pun in that?
Maura Adshead is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and Public Administration at the University of Limerick. To read more articles by Maura for TheJournal.ie, click here.
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I thought the quip “the Regina monologues” was very witty. However expecting some feminists to have a sense of humour is too much to ask.
Stop talking out of your Jap’s eye…
Kitty careful there. Based on the above criteria what you’ve just said was sexist. Just because it’s directed at a male doesnt make it less wrong……
Bit racist as well, no? Loosing the rage at every imagined sleight would help your cause enormously.
Sexist and racist Kitty, touché!
@Karen: I 100% agree. I was trying give an example in practice of how inappropriate the language was. At least I am not in the Dail!
Mmm hmm. But you also added a dash of highly inappropriate racism to it and increased the crudity factor.
I’ve always maintained that feminism wasn’t concerned with the lot of lower paid or dissenting women and obviously men. I guess we can now safely add the Japanese people to that list.
For some reason I just remembered the time the female TD drove down the steps of the government buildings, lol!! I hope I’m not sexist. I’m sure a male TD could do the same!
A male TD could easily top that. I’d say a male TD could get rat arsed drunk, drive doen the wrong direction of a dual carrigeway, get convicted and then re-elected.
I’d like to see a woman try that!!!
Very good. People shouldn’t forget these clowns and their carry on (even one of said dinosaurs is still lingering on the front page, Lowry)
I’m offended by people constantly being offended.
That’s outrageously offensive!
Hardy, I couldn’t agree more. Idiots say stupid things, doesn’t mean all the men haters can jump up and down for days on end tarring us all with the one brush. Norris has just shown himself to be loose, loose as I had feared so he didnt get my vote. I was unfortunate enough to read a well known Irish newspaper yesterday in a waiting room. Full of self proclaimed feminists, yet the paper they work for has gives as much if not more info on bikini contests, threesomes and press call airheads intent on being everything these ‘feminists’ are against only slightly less than you would see in a page 3 tabloid. Or maybe they just like the platform, I’m still working it out. I’m all for equality, but not being able for the rough and tumble of the real world doesn’t do the cause any favours in my eyes. Fanny gate, get over it if for no other reason than Norris said it, he’s like a wounded animal with his beloved Seanad being shown up for the times wasting shower of gobdaws in the place.
Have a nice day,
Right? At this stage, people should just deal with it.
A little toughening up would go a long way.
What’s wrong with bikinis threesomes and airheads. Firstly as a woman love bikinis wear one almost every day have about 20 not sexist secondly threesomes are not just for the benefit of men or anything they happen many different ways for many different reasons with many different people and sex’s sooooooo… and both sex’s can be an airhead. It is not reserved for women. Just saying non of these things in your story makes sense to me as a woman to be sexist.
All of your comments have offended me.
You may be not offended and good for you, I don’t think you should be. If those articles started appearing tin the journal I think the comments section would tell a different story, but that’s not going to happen.
Senator Norris isn’t in the Dail.
He wont be in the Seanad soon either… nor will anyone else
I thought his Regina monologues quip was funny; I find her Fine Gael speak so tedious. I’d say she’s pleased to be given something to be morally outraged about though; it takes the spotlight from her breach of company law by taking a director’s loan, her ‘error of memory’ in failing to register her Directorship and shareholding on the register of interests or the fact of her Company’s debts.
The Establishment is still radically ‘conservative’. This is not a good thing for either sex. Whilst women in Ireland have it much better that their African and Middle Eastern counterparts, the treatment of women in Ireland until very recently has been appalling. We should think on this before condemning Feminism (as it seems fashionable to do because “we’ve got it good”) as perhaps it does still have a place in society where a member of the Seanad didn’t think twice about using offensive and misogynistic language.
Please remember that Feminism is about EQUAL rights, NOT about women being better than men.
I feel that the cause of feminism is being hurt by not having prettier spokeswomen.
Well said Kitty. It’s allowing stuff like the above to slide that makes it “ok” for far worse behaviour. Feminism is still a dirty word in many circles.
Hahaha nice try Kitty.
From what I can see, that’s EXACTLY what feminism is.
What you are saying about equal rights is about the individual – REGARDLESS OF GENDER.
The same goes for machoism.
I find it really hard to be a self centered male these days..
Don’t worry little jim it’s normal to find it really hard in the morning.
Just ignore it and it will return to normal.
What was that love?
I was wondering how long it was going to take before the feminist Gestapo jumped on this one.
Back when I worked in retail I was called much worse than some bad pun on a name that’s probably lost on 90% of the population. Of course, seeing that feminism is really only about advancement of women of a certain political hue in certain key careers (politics, medical, business etc) we can assume the daily travails of men and women who face the public are of little importance to it.
There is a place for feminism considering the way women have been and in some ways are treated here and the appalling treatment they receive in other parts of the world but there is a part of radical feminism that makes me deeply uncomfortable. Feminism is about developing equality, not heat speaking issues to create further division and reverse oppression the other way around.
*heat seeking
Unfortunately, as with any movement, the extreme or niche elements become the face of it. In this way, everything good about it is more easily undermined and dismissed by those that oppose it.
Exactly Deirdre, I don’t say it to discredit feminism though, I say it to point out exactly what you summed up, much better than I, granted! The more hysterical elements of any movement should be recognised as such by those movements in order that they be differentiated though no?
Dear Ms Adshead,
Your article goes to great lengths towards establishing what the Vagina Monologues mean to you. The problem is, your article is about sexism. Your argument is that sexism is alive and well in Leinster House, and yet you give zero arguments in support of this. In fact, your only phrase which links (a) your interpretation of the Vagina Monologues and (b) sexism in Leinster house as it relates to Senator Norris is this:
“Accordingly David Norris’ remarks to Regina Doherty were definitely sexist, but his use of references suggests that it was not the traditional kind of sexism.”
Please explain the link, because you have not made any arguments establishing that his ‘Regina Monologues’ rant was sexist, and worse, as a result of the absence of any arguments, I find myself incapable of responding to your article.
A verbal vagina would be great craic
I see the feminist offence machine has turned out more swill , must be very little left for them to be offended by if they’re picking on norris, a man who has defended their lunacy on many an occasion.
Educate yourself; there’s still tonnes for women to be offended about. How about the gender pay gap for starters?
It doesn’t exist anymore (it actually favours women unless they take time off work). Women make around 7% more than men these days.
Lauren.
The gender “pay gap” has been discredited by objective journalism a long time ago.
What about reproductive rights for men?
Must be a low news day when this is the best you can come up with.
It’s an opinion column John. It doesn’t have to be about a “scoop”, it can be any human interest.
We expect to see the balanced male opinion piece soon so, Lauren……….
Balanced on the tip…
Off you go…don’t let me stop you. I’m all for equality and balance.
….of my tongue.
To your Mum “you’re talking out your …” Yep offensive- end of.
Offensive to your mother, but how is it sexist?
Talking out your f@^^y is an expression, if we were all held accountable for the literal meaning of expressions the Irish would be deep water (not literally).
Norris is a champion… A sourcorer of sexism
But he knows S.f.A.about famnys.
Fanny is an Americanism for bottom…
So that being the case, I beg to differ!
I hate feminists theyre no better than any extremist movement and I hate extremists. I am an equalists. The finns have got it right.
You do know that feminism=belief that women should be treated equally to men?
If you hate feminism (actual feminism, that is) you’re saying men should be treated as superior citizens to women. Is that what you believe?
That’s a bit extreme.
Corruption, lies and greed is alive and well from all sexes in dail eireann aswell!
How is Norris “progressive reformer”? Norris did what he did for the purpose of being offensive, were as Tom Barry was trying to be friendly.
I think Old Greg’s “Downstairs Mix-Up” puts all this into perspective. He’s got a “mangina”!
The Seanad should either be abolished totally. Or reformed where senators are 100% elected in, by the people for the people. None of this old boys club nonsense whereby there are nominations made by bodies and only trinity college graduates etc can vote. Once elected, they should be dissecting all the directives from the eu and how they can be enforced under Irish constitutional law….. Yada yada yada. It shouldn’t be a place for cronyism, where unsuccessful candidates in Dail election can be given a seat by their parties as a kind of runners up prize!
I have to say ive always admired David Norris. I say fair play to him for saying how he feels. Theres no political rubbish out of him. He either agrees with something r he doesnt and he’ll stand up and proudly say what he thinks. I find it refreshing. Fair play Mr. Norris
What a load of bull about nothing
A politician speaks and the response to the content of that speech is that she is a woman, or more crudely, speaking through her female genitalia. That’s sexism.
Try it and see: ‘Norris wants to keep the Seanad because he’s gay.’ Nonsense because it dismisses the person.
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