Why do Unionists always get their knickers in a twist when it comes to promoting women in politics?
Ironically, the problem for Protestant women wanting to score against their menfolk in Unionism has been the Bible!
Now, before the fundamentalists queue up to burn me at the stake as a heretic, these Bible thumpers need to ask themselves what role the evangelical churches have played in keeping women tied to the kitchen sinks.
Some diehard fundamentalists will not even let women join their churches unless they wear hats. And it must be skirts and dresses. Women need not dare appear at such places of worship in trousers.
In Catholicism, women regularly carry coffins at funerals and have done for generations, whereas in many Protestant churches, it is only in the past few years that women have been allowed to even appear at graveside services.
Unlike republicanism and nationalism, Unionism has had a sexist approach to women in politics. Unionist parties have tended to be intolerant towards females with strong political views.
This was largely due to the highly influential roles of the Marching Orders, freemasonry and fundamentalist churches in Unionism.
I reported on many Unionist meetings, especially in rural areas, where middle aged or elderly males ended their business with the immortal words: "After the National Anthem, the ladies will then serve the tea and sandwiches!"
The DUP has been relatively successful in advancing the cause of its MEP Diane Dodds and Stormont Minister Arlene Foster.
The Ulster Unionists had its Great Female Hope in North Down MP Sylvia Hermon, widow of former RUC boss Jack.
But when rumours began that Sylvia could be potential leadership material, the Orange clique made sure she was quickly shifted out of the party. It was a UUP mentality of: "Well, we may not have any seats, but at least we don't have a woman in charge!"
The Unionist parties can mouth off all they want about wanting to encourage more females into politics, but until they fix the problem in Protestant churches there will never be a Unionist version of Maggie Thatcher or wee Maggie Ritchie.
In many Northern fundamentalist churches, the male-dominated leaders are quite content to let the women play the piano, serve the supper and cater for the crèche, just as long as they stay out of the pulpit.
Never mind the rows over gay clergy or blessings for civil partnerships in churches, the issue of female clerics could well split many Protestant denominations worse than arguments over sharing power with Shinners.
Fundamentalists like to point out there is no Biblical evidence that Jesus Himself was married, or even had a fiancee or girlfriend.
Even in Catholicism, while many women have joined Holy Orders, the nuns still rely on a male priest to say Mass.
Republicanism would have more Caitriona Ruanes, Bairbre de Bruns, and Michelle O'Neills if the Vatican dropped its daft and outdated rules that priests and nuns could not marry.
What would be so wrong about a nun conducting a Requiem Mass? Why do so many Protestants view female clerics as unbiblical?
The business and teaching worlds are packed with working mothers, so why not the Christian Church and Unionist politics?
The former Northern Ireland Women's Coalition party was a brave attempt to get females into politics, until it was squashed by Alliance and the Greens.
Maybe if the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements had been negotiated solely by women, we would have had stable government in the North even sooner.
Then again, remember the fate of the Peace People when women from the two communities tried to end the Troubles.
I wonder how many Protestant and Unionist homes hear the women say: "Right, I'm off to the lodge meeting, you get the kids to bed and do the ironing!" A-Men to that, brethren!
