DIVIDING TO CONQUER.. Protesting women are planning another day of action on March 8 (Image: GETTY)
There will also be a host of photo opportunities where women can stand together and, each year, I am asked by colleagues to take part in such festivities but each year I give the same response - sorry, I'm not a feminist. This is because I don't believe in singling anybody out, by their gender, by whom they love, or by their race or religion. In fact, I believe the opposite. True equality is about treating everyone as equal regardless of creed or colour and not by dividing people into groups.
This is why I was disappointed to see Minister for Women Victoria Atkins telling the Commons she would like to see "a revised version of Fireman Sam" to attract more women into the fire service.
Seriously!? If television programmes for pre-schoolers have such a significant influence, then my toddler Clifford will want to grow up to be a Teletubby.
The truth is, it does not make a difference whether Fireman Sam is a woman or a man. Children learn from the imagery and story line, not the gender of the characters.
This is a non-issue and we would all be better off if we paid much less attention to the mad ness of the PC brigade.
Andrea Jenkyns rejects feminism in favour of not 'singling anybody out' (Image: Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament)
In November last year, there was a cross-party initiative called Ask Her To Stand, where MPs were asked to bring a woman from their constituency into Parliament to encourage them to stand to become an MP.
I tweeted at the time, "For true equality, I think I will bring a man."
The response from social media was very positive but the response from female colleagues was much different and I received messages saying I was "letting women down".
I do not agree with the all-women shortlists Labour has been championing, or that my own party chairman states that he wants to see 50 per cent women on the candidates list.
Surely, we should live in a meritocracy, where people are chosen on their ability, talent and experience.
I considered launching an alternative campaign called, "Bring a bloke to work day". We should also support men because, on a serious note, it is white working-class boys who are behind educationally rather than girls.
There are more men who lead a life of crime and end up in prison, and the male suicide rate is much higher than women.
By focusing on one grouping, we inadvertently discriminate against others. This, in my book, isn't equality and if Parliament and politics is to be fair and equal for all, then we should scrap all women shortlists.
