[lbo-talk] Fwd: John Gray, Thatcher

[Doug Henwood]

[My point wasn't that Thatcher was somehow pro-gay - she wasn't - but  
that capitalist market relations, which many of us don't like, can  
lead to an undoing of traditional sexual morality, a development that  
many of us do like. Or, the bourgeoisie often has a more appealing  
sexual morality, which is troublesome to partisans of the working  
class.]

Begin forwarded message:


> From: gareth dale <dalegareth at hotmail.com>
> Date: April 16, 2010 2:29:12 PM EDT
> To: <dhenwood at panix.com>
> Subject: John Gray, Thatcher
>
> Dear Doug Henwood,
>
> I've no idea how to post on LBO, but, re: Thatcher/sexual  
> liberalisation, John Gray's point rests on the assumption that the  
> Thatcher project was hegemonic in all spheres, including sexual  
> mores. This is simply not true. The outstanding measure of sexual  
> liberalisation in Britain since the 1980s has been attitudes to  
> homosexuality. Thatcher legislated vigorously against it, but was  
> pushed back by public opinion, campaigns, etc. At least in this  
> case, it was *resistance to* Thatcher that contributed to the  
> change. Gray does have a point, re: the sex industry. It has  
> thrived, and yes, partly as a result of free-market reforms and  
> ideology. But to wrap that up with progressive value change, as he  
> seems to, says much about his social conservatism and little about  
> sexual liberalisation, still less about questions it might raise for  
> the left.
>
> [You can post that if you like; fine if you don't]
>
> Gareth Dale