Today, for the first time in Australian history we have a female prime minister. It is a fairly big event but I can’t help but be let down. The media is making a huge deal out of it but really, we didn’t vote for her, the Labor party voted for her.
I think I’ll be more excited when it comes to election time and the people of Australia vote her in. I’d love to see it but there are many things working against her. One of which is that she is a single sucessful career woman. Yes, I know, generally this wouldn’t be cause for concern however people appear to believe that only family people can run a country. It is upsetting that a person’s personal life speaks louder than their career achievements. This is actually a shining example of it because I have no idea who she was before she was deputy Prime Minister.
It was big news about 9:30 this morning so a few of us were chatting at work and then one of my female colleagues joined in and her first comments were “why would we vote for her? She just wishes she had a dick!” This coming from a female colleague, I was so incredibly shocked! She then went on to comment about how “the dyke” won’t get votes. Argh, it sounded so repulsive! This coming from a woman who has children AND grandchildren, apparently one of her children is gay and that is how she talks! I was completed disgusted.
This is only one example. There is also daily talk about her hair style and her this and her that. She is going to have to be beautiful and smart to win over our population. It is frustrating to see that none of our previous prime ministers have ever had to go through the same ordeal.
5 responses to “History in the making”
I haven't been following the news lately as I just finished my last exam last night, but I was a little sad to see Rudd go. He was getting all teary and I believe him when he says he put in all his effort. Gillard just seems to lack some charisma for me, but we'll see how she can do before judging.
You're just gonna hate me for this, but most people who I have spoken to who have gone to Australia have marveled at how sexist they are (against women), and this seems to be a good example of that.
Then again, we've only had one female prime minister in our (Canadian) history, and that was in 1993, so I can't speak for how our own country would react. I'd like to think we'd be fully receptive to the idea, but maybe I'm just an idealist.
So I was just curious on your thoughts on that. (Sexism in australia. Not Canadian Prime Ministers or Idealism.)
I don't know a whole hell of a lot about the election down there, but I did have an Australian friend once who went ballistic at me about how I should vote every chance I get because it's an amazing right– and how Australians tend to have whacky Prime Ministers as it is. Like the one who got lost surfing or some'at?
In regards to people being all anti-woman just for the fun of it, direct them to (http://dianelorraine.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/hatersgonnahate.jpg) that, and it should help a bit. 😀
thanks so much. that really does mean a lot 🙂
that is really cool for Australia. i hope she does a good job. everyone was so excited in the US because we was African America…but it has not been working out to good for us now.
I think it is exciting that you have a female in office even if she wasn’t voted in. But it is true that she is going to be viewed more critically than a man would be. She’s going to have that added stress of making sure she doesn’t make ANY mistakes.