GENDER BATTLE GOES OFF TRACK IN TRAM DEBATE
While the conflation of overdevelopment with public transportation is understandable, if unsound, I’m truly bamboozled as to just how the tram has become a symbol of the patriarchy
HOW has the light rail become a gender issue?
While I’ve long considered the conflation of overdevelopment with public transportation as understandable, if unsound, I’m truly bamboozled as to just how the tram has become a symbol of the patriarchy.
I mean, I’ll grant that a train is slightly phallic in shape, and certainly when I’m looking for a sexual euphemism there is no better GIF than a caboose shooting through a tunnel … but by that argument I should also be raging against the aubergines.
And yet, on the social media page Send Light Rail South, the arguments posed by the anti-light rail opposition have been derailed by cries of sexism.
One commenter decried the high proportion of engagement from pro-light rail men as evidence of something more sinister, stating that the page was home to “young male aspirational train enthusiasts seeking relevance and validation through a faceless page cheered on by the bottom tier of this town”. And that they were following in the footsteps of certain controversial politicians dogged by sexual abuse scandals.
Huh?
I mean, it’s bad enough that the light rail is blamed wholly
... this is yet another example of emotions overtaking logic.
and solely for overdevelopment (witness the number of towers and lack of light rail in Palm Beach, versus the number of towers and presence of light rail in Parkwood), but now it’s a symbol of toxic masculinity?
Look, I say this not only as a fierce feminist but as someone who, while pro-light rail, has spent a lot of time listening to the arguments from the other side. I’ve met with them, interviewed them, tried to understand their concerns, and with some degree of success – although I remain firmly of the opinion that this city needs and deserves light rail.
From that somewhat sympathetic position I say: don’t destroy your argument with this red herring.
And as a feminist I say: don’t undo all of our hard work.
When there is a genuine gender issue at play, I’ll shout – or type – it as loudly and largely as possible. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. (And I’ll cop the emails and letters and abuse in return.)
But this? This isn’t it. This is effectively ruining two issues with one argument.
It’s the opposite of playing the ball, not the man.
Ultimately, this is all just peak 2021.
In a year when common sense and rational argument have been swallowed by conspiracy and conflation, this is yet another example of emotions overtaking logic.
And the primary emotion at play seems to be fear – expressed as anger.
After all, show me a Covid sceptic or anti-vaxxer and I’ll show you a woman in fullfledged rage. But show me a Covid sceptic or anti-vaxxer and I also know that what I’m seeing is someone who is simply scared. Scared of what they don’t know, scared for the lack of control they feel … and that fear comes out in the angry lockdown protests we’re seeing.
Or it comes out in the rage of an unmasked man in a Gold Coast Zarraffa’s Cafe. And, of course, watching the video of that Covidiot abusing staff for following rules made me feel … angry.
Don’t even get me started on the Byron Bay loser. Surely he deserves more than lockdown – how about locked up in jail?
But it’s not just Covid that stokes my fear and anger.
I’m fearful of the climate change effects we are seeing, and angry at our lack of action.
I’m fearful of the political turmoil roiling across the world and angry that we can’t just all at least agree to respecting human rights.
And I know I’m not the only one.
In the United States, a 2021 report by the American Psychological Association shows that anger and stress are at record levels.
This widespread fear and anger is transforming every single issue, no matter how insignificant, into a major argument – not just in the comment sections on social media but in workplaces and homes as well.
So when it comes to the light rail, a piece of infrastructure whose construction and effect is neither insubstantial not insignificant, that anger is running at fever-pitch. And with deep anger comes irrational argument.
Those who oppose the light rail are entitled to their feelings … after all, being fearful of change is not irrational but natural.
And those who fight for feminism have every right to feel anger – being a woman can be a frightening experience.
But confusing and conflating the two issues is simply not logical and not helpful.
In this world where emotions are getting the better of us, let’s not be afraid to use our heads as well as our hearts.