LINDSAY MITCHELL: Why I disagree with Helen Clark

According to the NZ Herald this morning:

"Former Prime Minister Helen Clark has described the departure of former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern from politics as “devastating for women around the world”."

Not this one.

But then very little devastates me beyond the loss of a loved person or pet. Or dwelling on the suffering of some New Zealand babies born into dysfunctional dumps.

Clark's comments relate to the abuse that women politicians have to endure and how they must stick together and build networks to protect themselves.

When I had a brief fling with political advocacy, and later campaigning for ACT in 2005 and 2008, not many women wanted to stick together with me. In fact I was labelled as a misogynist for attacking the DPB. I'd get interrupted by hostile female audience members and derided over factual research. Marilyn Waring heckled me for citing the work of Australian professor Bob Gregory showing how long single mothers would spend reliant on welfare over the course of their lives. "You're including women on Super!" she yelled out causing much laughter and snickering. She was wrong.

When I asked to be included as a speaker at a feminist-organised meeting to counter my activity, I was barred.

My mail box would constantly fill up with letters using language intended to shut me up. Not all, but most, were from women.

Now I am not complaining about this. You take it on the chin. But don't tell me that woman can't be just as threatening as men. They just use different methods.

The problem is feminine tribalism precludes dispassionate discourse. I believe that on balance the DPB has been - and continues to be - bad for children. Feminists believe the DPB is a non-negotiable right for women. Period.

I took a petition out to gather signatures calling for reform, and women would say that they actually agreed with me BUT felt guilty signing my petition because they had a friend or female relative dependent on the DPB. That's what tribalism does. Induces emotional guilt in anyone with a non-tribal impulse. Emotional guilt overrides a rational response.

By saying, "women in politics need to develop strong networks to withstand abusive sexism," and not including male politicians in her concerns, Clark strongly implies men are the problem.

I'm sure some of them are. Just as I am sure some women can also be highly effective bullies.

Whether tribalism is along gender or ethnic lines it discourages, if not extinguishes, freedom of thought and speech.

Threats and coercion are what we actually need to combat. Together. As like-minded individuals.

Lindsay Mitchell blogs here