#Play #Golf? #More #pertinent than #pregnancy

The Guardian: Will you bugger off to play golf? And other questions more pertinent than pregnancy. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIw38W50TU

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/03/will-you-bugger-off-to-play-golf-and-other-questions-more-pertinent-than-pregnancy

It was in the context of: “If you are the employer of a company you need to know that type of thing from the woman you are employing … ”

Oh, Jesus Christ. Or any god, of any faith – preferably, a great, avenging thousand-breasted, snake-haired goddess stirring from the planet’s molten core – please, come save us. It is 2017 and a woman’s reproductive capacity is, just one more time, being pushed to the forefront of her consideration. No, actually, if you are the employer of a company you do not need to know “that type of thing” beyond that pregnancy discrimination is illegal under at least four New Zealand laws.

This preoccupation with the potential of a female leader’s womb is a long-held cultural fixation that in more primitive times, at least, could be ascribed to superstition, or – and even then somewhat shakily – to the demands of hereditary monarchy. In 2017, this reduction to biology is just plain creepy. Like being asked if you fear that your breasts will spontaneously lactate over a cabinet meeting, or sessions of parliament be interrupted by the inevitable horde of bears attracted by the scent of prime ministerial menstruation. Madam, your commitment to legislative reform is very sound, but are you not afeard your labia will indent upon the furniture?