Below: On June 13, 2013, West Australian radio presenter Howard Sattler asked Prime Minister Gillard if her male partner were gay. Below: On June 12, 2013, then prime minister, Julia Gillard criticised a mock menu produced for a Liberal Party fund-raiser which made gross references to portions of her anatomy. Below: In April 2013 the Liberal Party released a political promotion, featuring Tony Abbott’s wife Margie, in which she defended her husband against accusations of misogyny. Below:.In October, 2012, Prime Minister Gillard gave a speech in federal parliament attacking the supposed misogyny of the Opposition leader, Tony Abbott. An edited five minute version of this speech can be accessed below. (The full fifteen minute speech can be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LFKwfvvNY) Below:.On September 29, 2012, ABC News interviewed Dr Meredith Burgmann, organiser of the 'Ernie Awards', criticising Alan Jones comments about Prime Minister Gillard. Below:In September 2012, Sydney Radio talkback host Alan Jones claimed that Julia Gillard’s father had died of shame because of his daughter’s dishonesty. The remarks were made at an address to a Young Liberals dinner. Below:On August 24, 2012, scholar and feminist author Germaine Greer offered an assessment of Gillard’s prime ministership on the ABC’s current affairs program, Q & A. Dr Greer concluded her advice by commenting on Julia Gillard’s dress sense and her ‘big arse’. Below:On September 6, 2011, writer and executive producer, Rick Kalowski, discussed his new comedy based on the domestic arrangements of Prime Minister Gillard and titled ‘At Home with Julia’. He defends it against accusations of disrespect and inappropriateness. |
 Web links, documents |
On July 4, 2013, the ABC's opinion site The Drum published a comment by Jonathan Green titled 'A strange sense of normalcy returns to politics'. In this Green argues that two male contestants for Australia's political leadership is a scenario with which the electorate is more comfortable.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-04/green-a-strange-sense-of-normalcy-returns-to-politics/4797728
On June 30, 2013, The Irish Independent published an opinion piece by Eilis O'Hanlon titled 'Julia not a victim of gender politics'.
The comment argues that Gillard was removed from the leadership of her party because the party was facing electoral defeat, not because of sexual prejudice.
The full text of this text can be found at http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/eilis-ohanlon-julia-not-a-victim-of-gender-politics-29383405.html
On June 29, 2013, Kathy Marks, writing in The Irish Independent, gave an overview of the factors she believes contributed to Julia Gillard's political demise. The text includes a brief discussion of sexism in Australia from an historical perspective.
The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/what-sank-julia-gillard-the-truth-about-sexism-in-australia-8679285.html
On June 27, 2013, the ABC's opinion site The Drum published a comment by former Victorian MHR, Mary Delahunty, titled 'Is Australia really serious about women in power?'
The opinion piece is critical of Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott for supposedly recklessly undermining the office of Prime Minister. Delahunty suggests that this episode in Australian politics may lead women to believe it holds no place for them.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4784122.html
On June 25, 2013, the anonymous political opinion site, Eye-Ball Opinion, published a piece by commentator, 'Harry Hound-dog', titled 'Gillard's "Mrs Doubtfire" Moment'. The piece is critical of Prime Minister Gillard for the way in which she was presented in a Woman's Weekly coverage. This piece can be seen as an example of one of the misogynous attacks on Gillard of which some commentators have complained.
The full article can be accessed at http://bleyzie.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/eye-balls-harrys-growl-on-election-2013-growl-no-48-gillards-mrs-doubtfire-moment/
On June 25, 2013, Caroline Overington interviewed Prime Minister Gillard for The Women's Weekly. Part of that interview included Ms Gillard's reaction to Germaine Greer's comments on Gillard's 'big arse' made while Dr Greer was appearing on Channel 2's Q & A.
The full text of this segment of the interview can be found at http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/news/inthemag/8679763/julia-gillard-greer-slurs-catty-and-stupid
The full interview, which includes photographs of Gillard knitting a toy kangaroo for Kate and William's baby, can be accessed at http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/news/inthemag/8679511/julia-gillard-why-shes-knitting-for-the-royal-baby
On June 21, 2013, The Sydney Morning Herald published an opinion piece by Gay Alcorn titled 'Misogyny aside, Gillard is her own worst enemy'. The comment argues that if Julia Gillard is voted out by her party's caucus it will be because of her own political errors.
The full text of this article can be accessed at http://www.smh.com.au/comment/misogyny-aside-gillard-is-her-own-worst-enemy-20130620-2olib.html#ixzz2YAgZgZrs
On June 19, 2013, the ABC's opinion site The Drum published a comment by Greg Jericho titled, 'Gender politics is a reflection of reality'
The piece argues that the sexism evident in politics is only a microcosm of the sexism evident in the broader community. It examines evidence of discrimination in employment patterns.
The full text of the comment can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4762700.html
On June 18, 2013, newmatilda.com published an analysis and comment by Catriona Menzies-Pike titled 'The Sexism the Polls Don't Show'. The piece gives an overview of Gillard's prime ministership and considers the operation of sexism in Australia. The full text of this piece can be found at http://newmatilda.com/2013/06/18/sexism-polls-dont-show
On June 15, 2013, SBS published a comment by Saman Shad titled, 'The sexist stain on our country'. The opinion piece considers the implications of Prime Minister Gillard being asked questions about her male partner's sexuality and also considers the most recent evidence of sexism in Australia's Defence Forces.
The full text of this opinion can be found at http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1778247/Comment-The-sexist-stain-on-our-country
On June 14, 2013, The Citizen published an opinion piece by Georgia Galbraith titled 'Is Australia inherently sexist? The evidence speaks volumes'. The comment argues that the recent treatment received by Julia Gillard suggests a society in which only women in traditional roles are fully accepted. The full article can be read at http://www.thecitizen.org.au/news/australia-inherently-sexist-evidence-speaks-volumes#sthash.1r5EBqfd.dpuf
On October 17, 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald published a report titled 'Australian women most empowered globally'. The article gives details of an international survey which suggests Australian women are the most economically empowered in the world. The results are based on access to education and paid family leave.
The full text of this article can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-women-most-empowered-globally-20121016-27p34.html
On October 10, 2012, Crikey published a comment by Susan Mitchell titled 'Gillard's words changed politics forever'. The piece argues that Julia Gillard's in-parliament condemnation of Opposition leader, Tony Abbott's supposed misogyny will have a permanent impact on Australian politics.
The article can be found at http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/10/10/susan-mitchell-gillards-words-changed-politics-forever/
On August 31, 2012, feminist academic Dr Anne Summers delivered the 2012 Human Rights and Social Justice Lecture at the University of Newcastle.
The speech treats 'The Political Persecution of Australia's First Female Prime Minister'. Dr Summers gives a wide range of examples of personal and sexist abuse directed at Prime Minister Gillard in a wide range of contexts. (Please note this speech contains links to some of the cruder and more offensive material produced about Ms Gillard.)
The text of this speech can be found at http://annesummers.com.au/speeches/her-rights-at-work-vanilla/
On August 24, 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald published a report on cartoonist Larry Pickering and his pledge to continue exposing what he sees as Prime Minister Julia Gillard's shortcomings on his blog, The Pickering Post.
The full text of this article can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/defiant-pickering-says-hes-not-finished-with-pm-yet-20120823-24p11.html
Larry Pickering's blog, 'The Pickering Post', has a cartoon section which includes many cartoons depicting Julia Gillard. Please be aware that some of these cartoons include material which may be considered sexually offensive.
This blog can be accessed at http://pickeringpost.com/
On March 7, 2012, a federal parliament background paper titled 'Representation of women in Australian parliaments'. The paper was written by Dr Joy McCann and Janet Wilson of the Politics and Public Administration Section. It gives an historical overview of women's political participation in Australia and a detailed analysis of their current participation in Australian parliaments.
The full text of the document can be found at http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2011-2012/Womeninparliament
On September 18, 2011, The Punch published an opinion piece by David Penberthy in which he argued that much of the media commentary on Julia Gillard's appearance was little different from that directed at male politicians.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/is-gillard-a-victim-of-sexism/
On April 4, 2011, former Labor leader Mark Latham gave an interview on Radio National in which he criticised Julia Gillard's wooden appearance during the Queensland floods and suggested she lacked empathy. Mr Latham then proposed that it was Ms Gillard's decision not to have children which accounted for her lack of 'loving experience'.
A full transcript of this interview can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/mark-latham-greens-and-the-childless-prime-minister/3008020#transcript
In April 2007, the New South Wales Parliament released a briefing paper titled 'Women, Parliament and the Media'. The paper discusses the extent of female representation in Australian parliaments and also considers the manner in which female parliamentarians are presented in the media. There is a section describing how Julia Gillard was presented as deputy Opposition leader.
The full text of this article can be found at http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/8e817c955283f747ca2572d100087573/$FILE/WomenParliamentMediaFinal.pdf
