We are constantly told that we should be striving for a society where men and women are treated equally.
We have lots of people who study courses in equality, get grants to do research as well as some who are involved in "guarding over society" to prevent equalities as part of their job.
So why is it never (?) mentioned that if two people go to jail for the same crime, you are much more likely to face inhumane conditions if you are male?
Overcrowding at Mountjoy requires 'urgent action' - The Irish Times - Fri, Sep 25, 2009
Could it be that be that there is a bias in what is highlighted on gender equality grounds?
Or if it's acceptable for the State to give women preferential treatment in some situations, is it also acceptable for the State to give men preferential treatment in other situations?
We have lots of people who study courses in equality, get grants to do research as well as some who are involved in "guarding over society" to prevent equalities as part of their job.
So why is it never (?) mentioned that if two people go to jail for the same crime, you are much more likely to face inhumane conditions if you are male?
Overcrowding at Mountjoy requires 'urgent action' - The Irish Times - Fri, Sep 25, 2009
URGENT ACTION is needed in Dublins Mountjoy Prison to alleviate the chronic overcrowding that has led to unsafe, inhumane and degrading conditions, the Inspector of Prisons Judge Michael Reilly has said.
The conditions in Mountjoy really stick out for me, not just because of how bad they are for men and how big the gender gap is, but because of what happened in the 90s: the Minister for Justice (it was Nora Owen, but the party is irrelevant) felt sorry for the women in Mountjoy and so the Dochas Centre was built at a cost of £18m (?). The conditions for men were much worse. I wonder is this covered in gender studies/equality courses or is what happened going to be forgotten by those who analyse society on gender lines?He described Mountjoys slopping out system as inhuman and degrading. He had seen seven inmates sharing a four-man cell in which all urinated and defecated during the night into three buckets. The prisoners ate and drank in the same cells.
In some cells the slop buckets were also used for rubbish. In the mornings the contents were often simply tipped into plastic rubbish bags which leaked in corridors that smell of sewage or on to inmates moving the bags.
Could it be that be that there is a bias in what is highlighted on gender equality grounds?
Or if it's acceptable for the State to give women preferential treatment in some situations, is it also acceptable for the State to give men preferential treatment in other situations?