So, it’s official. First female prime minister.
It’s a Big Moment, there’s no denying it. And the feminist celebrations are a lot less qualified than they would have been if one of the other prominent female contenders had made it across the line. Julie Bishop, say. Or God help us, Bronwyn Bishop.
And yet, I can’t suppress my inner party-pooper — not in response to Gillard herself, but in response to all the talk about The Significance, the invitation to the feminist sisterhood to start giving each other high-fives.
For years, conversation about gender issues in Muslim societies has been met with the smug line that at least Muslim states like Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh have had female leaders, unlike well, the United States. Or Australia.
But the rise to power of these women did not signify a breakthrough for other women in their societies. Benazir Bhutto failed to repeal the notorious Hudood Ordinances, under which too many Pakistani women, including rape victims, were jailed for adultery. And Pakistan’s sponsorship of the Taliban was generated under Benazir’s watch.
I do not suggest that Australia suffers anything like this level of gender inequality, or that Gillard resembles Benazir in any way other than the #firstfemalepm hash tag. I mention it only as a reminder that the hardest feminist battles have never been the struggle for a few women to attain positions of power.
And the most difficult battles are also the most important, because they are the battles for the most vulnerable. The women who struggle against gender violence, against entrenched poverty, against multiple disadvantages not only misogyny, but also racism, poverty, disability and all the myriad forms that marginalisation can take.
The danger now (well, one of the dangers) is that feminists will be told that the battle is won, that anyone who is still on the battlefield is just a whinger, that if a woman can become prime minister, then we have no further reason to complain.
We’ve shattered the ultimate glass ceiling, after all. So anyone who is still struggling is either not good enough or has made other choices (like settling for a gorgeous Louis Vuitton handbag from the David Jones CEO).
I am sure that Gillard is very well aware of these dangers. And well aware that if she is to address them in meaningful terms, then getting to the Lodge has been the easy part.
Perceptive article, except for the cheap shot about DJ’s. There is a lady involved in the DJ’s story, also perhaps a squadron of ladies past, who must be left out of the public journalistic spotlight to run their private lives in private.
I, for one, know nothing about Louis Vuitton handbags and would like to keep it that way.
I do thank the author for her perceptions regarding Australian and some other countries’ female PM’s and their lack of relevance to other social ills.
The glass ceiling will only be smashed when Julia is voted in by the people of Australia.
Enough, please, of the “voted in by the people of Australia”. We operate under the Westminster system of government, we each vote for our local representatives within our electorate, the leadership of the government is at the discretion of the the majority party forming the government. If more of us voted for the best representative for our electorates and held them accountable by participating more actively in our democracy we would be the better for it.
The battle has not been won, but it is a start. Next she has to get elected by the people, not the party. Then, we need to see a married woman with children be elected, and finally the ultimate (political) glass smashing: a Liberal Leader/PM.
I have seen many changes for women in this country over my lifetime. Each has progressed both men and women that little bit more. It wasn’t that long ago women were forced to resign when they married, or became pregnant .
However there are still indirect ways that women find themselves excluded from promotion or other opportunities. Being the primary care-giver and therefore usually the one to look after sick children, often stands in the way of career opportunities, or being considered for more ‘heavy-weight’ positions. For a country with a fairly good equal opportunity laws, there is still a distinct lack of women in senior positions, parliament and on boards etc.; wages are more equal, but has the gap changed much over the last few years?
Having said all that, this is still a day I thought would never happen. A single, unmarried woman is Prime Minister. It doesn’t matter whether you support Julia’s politics or not, this is an historic day.
One step is better than none.
And once again for the people who don’t understand the Westminster system; Julia Gillard was voted in by her electorate as was Kevin Rudd. The Labor party decides who will be the leader. What if Kevin had a stroke (glad he didn’t) and was unfit to be leader? Julia Gillard, being deputy PM, would have had every right to be PM. Would that have qualified as smashing the glass ceiling Carol? We do not live in the US (Whew) and we do not elect a PM as they elect a president (who is their head of state). Our head of state is the Queen and her rep in Oz is the GG.
Geddit? The labor party can elect whoever it likes as its leader. Just as the libs rolled Nelson, Turnball etc and elected Abbott, irrespective of whether they form govt or opposition. Jaysus…………….