Discrimination against women

Press, 9 March 1984, Page 16

Discrimination against women

SirWe agree with Arthur May (March 6) that you allow good coverage of Christian veiwpoints in these columns. Similarly, you allow good coverage to the minority viewpoints of the communists and extreme feminists who attack the God-given aspects of our society. These aspects have been a blessing in terms of justice, freedom, love, and family stability to many outside the Christian community, so we are not being selfish in seeking to defend them. How many of your readers realise that the United Nations convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women could in future help bring about full acceptance by the Government of abortion on demand, and lesbian marriages, and further restrictions on the freedoms of ordinary citizens? Those who oppose these trends can see the flaw in Mr Cooper’s reassurances. — Yours,

etc., GILLIAN CANHAM, JOHN CANHAM March 6, 1984. Sir,—Arthur May makes a pertinent point Fundamental religionists find it most convenient to their own comfort and sense of importance to have the support of the Bible in their contention of the natural inferiority of women. The Bible has been the most brutal weapon in imposing terrible conditions on women through the ages. Women need the protection of law to live a life of security and dignity. Even “good" husbands think that they can make binding decisions on many subjects, such as, whether their wives shall work, where they shall live, what they (the husbands) will do to help their wives about the house. Women have an absolute right, which does not disappear when they marry, to equality in all things and I just wish that many more would shake off their apathy and help themselves by demanding that the Government ratify the United Nations convention on discrimination against women and silence the fundamentalists forever. — Yours, etc., EELEN PRIESTLEY. March 7, 1984.