SEX AND THE BALLOT BOX
Gender matters – from the parliament to the playground.
(Sometimes the parliament is a playground, but I digress.)
Yet commentators continue to brush off claims of sexism and misogyny in politics as “simplistic”.
In the Weekend Australian, Angela Shanahan called Tony Abbott’s problem with women a “repetitive myth”. She accused Julia Gillard of “cleverly using charges of sexism… as a way of wriggling out of any real trouble”. But both leaders are viewed through the prism of gender, in the same way boys and girls are stereotyped in the sandpit.
According to Newspoll, one of the reasons women voted for Julia Gillard to become Prime Minister was to create a precedent. Indeed, it was my main motivation. Sitting on the lounge, with tears in my eyes, I turned to my five-year-old daughter and said, “See? One day, you could be the leader of this country”.
Labor’s popularity with women has grown over the past 15 years because of the number of female candidates and strong policies on health and education, Newspoll’s Martin O’Shannessy told me.
In 1996, 41% of males and 40% of females planned to vote for Labor. Now, it’s 31% of women and 28% of men. It’s the opposite for the Coalition, with 49% of males and 44% of females saying they would vote for Tony Abbott.
“He’s suffered a bit lately, when it comes to women,” Mr. O’Shannessy said.
Overall, women are more dissatisfied with the Opposition Leader, and men with the Prime Minister.
You only have to listen to the language of talkback radio to understand the influence of gender. Julia Gillard is a “bitch” who should be “thrown out to sea in a chaff bag” because she’s “destroying the joint”. Every time I’m on air at Radio 2UE, I’m shocked by the number of men who ring up and start a sentence with “That bl*#dy woman…”.
Meanwhile, women’s websites are full of Tony’s views about mothers doing the ironing, virginity being a gift, and abortion as a national tragedy.
Angela Shanahan says it’s insulting to suggest women are so emotionally driven that we’ll vote on “likability”. But politics is part popularity contest.
Former Howard Government Minister Amanda Vanstone is wrong when she writes that Abbott’s problem is “not his unpopularity, but his team”. All of us – women and men – vote on a complex range of issues including policy, leadership, personality, and gender.
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20 Responses to this article
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Hilary September 4, 2012
I grew up in the UK in the Thatcher era and I had hoped Julia Gillard would have the same strengths. Sadly even if she did Australia is still living in the dark ages where equality for women is concerned. Still too many Neanderthals?
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Tracey September 4, 2012
I find it interesting the certain characteristics are said to be ‘female’. Margaret Thatcher certainly wasn’t collaborative. And Julia Gillard – while personally is extremely wafm – doesn’t come across as such. And yet many people still believe men and women ‘lead’ in different ways. I think it’s much more about their individual personalities. And yet, we all, to a degree, view them through that prism of gender. It’s a fascinating debate.
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Hannah September 4, 2012
It’s an old story, isn’t it? Remember the question ‘Would you fly with a female pilot?’ The pilot was Deborah Wardley and the year was 1980 – but for most of the 70s, Reg Ansett tried every trick in the book to prevent her working as a commercial pilot, including that old chestnut of women’s menstrual cycles make them unsuitable. Go back further and it was a widely held belief that women couldn’t vote because they didn’t have the right temperament or knowledge required, and they’d only vote the way their husbands told them anyway. We’ve come a long way since these two examples and yet, we have to keep fighting the same fight. Just look at the GOP (silly meaning) wanting to legislate women’s reproductive choices, yet they cannot even say the word ‘vagina’. Is that informed or is it sexist cringe?
When it comes to my vote, I vote for a party but based on policy. I have voted Labor, Green and Democrat. I wouldn’t vote to the Right because, although there are some points I have agreed with at different times, overall I find their policies and attitudes bending too far to the haves and, at best, overlooking the have-nots and, at times, demonising the have-nots. The current lot are especially mean-spirited, angry and too many are sexist. A serious question: Julie Bishop has been second to three leaders, even if she had the policies and leadership skill, do you think they would elect her as leader? Perhaps, but only on political grounds at this time, I’m sure.
Let’s not be blind, however. The sexism and misogyny is there on both sides, especially in many of the older generation. It is just more manifest and the Right and only one side overwhelmingly voted a woman as their Leader.-
Julie September 4, 2012
Ditto
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Marnie September 4, 2012
Julia was always going to be up against it purely for the way she was forced to take the reins from Rudd. Men (even though they won’t admit it) saw it as emasculation. No matter how well she does this will always be the case. I think she performs well against Abbott and as long as the opposition do not have a strong leader to to take his place, ‘thinking’ men will choose her over the wishy washy opposition leader. I have noticed many older women are against her and for Abbott because of the values they grew up with. Julia needs to do something powerful to gain the trust and admiration of the general population and that is not going to happen with a hung parliament in today’s world.
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Julie September 4, 2012
The concerted campaign against Julia Gillard since her incumbency has been unprecedented in my five decades of political interest. Yesterday an article which debunking The Australian’s concerted and misleading campaign against the ‘extremely successful’ BER http://www.independentaustralia.net/2012/business/media-2/the-australians-ber-campaign-building-an-election-result/ … was a good example of how perceptions have been twisted. The mysogunism of the self-appointed ‘shock jocks has been Hansonesque in the extreme. I don’t vote for Gillard because she’s a woman, I certainly wouldn’t vote for Bronwyn Bishop or Julie Bishop or Pauline Hanson. I too have voted Labor, Greens and Democrat. I will vote Labor this time with Green preferences as I believe that Gillard is not only a strong leader but she has built a strong and intelligent team around herself. I don’t agree with everything she’s done but she does at least have a long-term vision, and she has shown she is willing to provide conscience votes. Abbott on the other hand- despite his education- insults our intelligence by spouting slogans, pandering to big money, and not allowing any of his colleagues a real voice.
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helenbea September 4, 2012
Pleased to see the debate on gender is ongoing and bringing forward the deeper issues that go beyond politics. I’m in agreement with ‘gogirl’. I vote according to which party best represents my principles and values.
The current Australian political climate has exposed the deep gender divide that underpins not just our culture/society but the world.
I see Julia Gillard as very much learning on the job. Yes, errors of judgement have occurred as have happened with all new leaders, with all people new to a job.
For me, she’s doing well, growing in strength and courage within the constraints of a minority government. Of course she still has to prove herself and for women that’s a much more demanding call.
It takes time to change entrenched beliefs. She’s already making her contribution, being a woman elected to PM, being ‘unmarried’ in the traditional sense, being an antheist. That’s a huge contribution to breaking through stereotypical atitudes and values.
The gender issue: when Julia Gillard is the butt of sexist jokes and attacks, all women are being demeaned. This is the same for all women. However, she is our most public figure. When she spoke up against the misogynists at the recent press conference, she spoke for all women.
Let’s remember that women can be misogynists too. We all have masculine and feminine energy within us. It’s the masculine drive that gets us going and the feminine which draws on insight. We need the balance.
Unfortunately, personality at the expense of substance has played too big a role in politics and led to spin doctors in cahoots with the mass media feeding propaganda to the masses. Finding both an inspirational leader combined with good governance is not so easy.
I look forward to the day when Julia Gillard speaks up and maybe inspires people to change their minds about her.
She may not have it in her, but she is learning, so who knows.Yes, I support women, but not at the expense of policy and implementation of programs which support values and principles. This does not mean I’m anti-men…a common thread running out there. If women don’t support women making inroads in new areas, in new ways, we’re in a bad way.
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Dirty Pierre September 4, 2012
This is not at all about gender …
but Angela Shanahan is mad as a cut snake
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Janet September 4, 2012
Tony’s intellect only seems to extend to the ad hominem argument. Every time I hear either he or Joe Hockey they can only pour scorn on every idea not through reasoned argument, but through personal attacks.
I have noticed that women leaders in this country have been exceptional organisers. Rather than spend the time and energy attacking their opponents, they spend their time getting the job done.
I think that men tend to get caught in the competitive, adversarial position because it is expected of their gender. Society thinks it makes them more of a man.
I only hope that the Abbott and his crew (including the women because they toe the adversarial line like a corporate group) take a leaf from the current NSW Education Minister who likes to get things done through cooperation. It is more effective in achieving desired outcomes. -
Matt September 4, 2012
Whenever I get frustrated with this site for it’s lop-sided views, along comes Tracey Spicer and restores my faith in a balanced argument. Nice read Tracey yet again.
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Annie Also September 4, 2012
I wanted Julia to be my PM..but not the way it was achieved. I believed it was pretty ‘inevitable’, eventually ( as in one more election) then she was put out front to be the face of deposing an elected sitting PM.
I don’t care she was a woman..I cared that she came from the ( seemingly) same wing of a left of centre party.
She has changed for expediency’s sake and that can be considered admirable….flexibility is always admirable in my opinion.
Vote for a man because he is a man? Maybe that question can be asked too…coz I would NEVER do that. I would rather vote informal than do that.
Vote for someone of Abbott’s ilk? Never! Why? Because of his divisive, exclusive and unintelligent persona.
Vote for a woman because she is a trail blazer? I would really have to consider that, but only if she reflects my values and is inclusive and compassionate AND intelligent.Thank you for this piece, Tracey. This needs to be spoken and discussed. Sometimes young women forget how easy it is for the gains of their elder sisters to be washed away in an instant with achaic and thoughtless attitudes being reborn through the mouths and media of mean old men.
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Matt September 4, 2012
And if there was any doubt as to what I was referring to. Ladies and Gentleman I give you exhibit A from Annie Also.
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Ro. Watson September 4, 2012
Tricky isn’t it when policy announced at election time isn’t the same that applies when in governmenteg onshore processing of asylum seekers. Meanwhile, Gee..good women can get up,
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Benison O'Reilly September 4, 2012
Don’t think I’d ever vote simply on gender; I’m left in my leanings so I would vote Labor over Liberal regardless of the candidates at the next election. Having said that, Tony Abbott makes the choice so much easier.
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Jenny September 4, 2012
I would much prefer to vote on policies, but I’m afraid next time it will be based more on who I like and who I don’t! I won’t be voting for a party led by Tony Abbott, that’s for certain! It doesn’t help that I don’t like many of his policies either.
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Cameron September 5, 2012
Interesting piece Tracey. The level of personal derision in what currently passes for political debate in Australia is depressing in the extreme, and I’ve no doubt that to some extent it’s grounded in sexism when it comes to the PM.
The other thing, of course, is with a hung parliament everything is heightened – the Tories think they’re a mere heartbeat from government, and they’ve frankly carried on like spoiled brats since September 2010. None more so than their leader. His sense of entitlement is perhaps second only to that of Peter Coatello.
Don’t expect the Liberals and their acolytes to turn the debate to policy anytime soon. They don’t have any to spruik, and they are more riven by internal dramas than people think. Leading in the polls masks many things.
I’m happy to say I wouldn’t consider someone’s gender when casting a vote. I really couldn’t care less whether someone is male or female, so long as they govern as best they can according to their lights. It’s their views on policy issues which count, or should count. Nothing more, nothing less.
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Rhoda September 9, 2012
Gender has nothing to do with my vote – nil. My country future’s means more to me then any gender battle. It’s about carrying the day. Julia doesn’t have the nous of Angela Merkel or Margaret Thatcher – doesn’t get close. She’s still learning on the job. Doesn’t mean I dislike her or that I think her opposite number is a better person for the job.
