Comments on: After shaky start, 2012 a triumph for feminism

By: prembrowne

prembrowne — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:27:20 +0000

Johnfromplanetearth, you begin by describing to us how fascists hand-pick their facts to support their ideology, then go ahead and do the same yourself. And so much of it too; What a long time you must have spent on that! To even suggest that most feminists have a certain physical appearance, for a start, is so far off the mark it’s almost funny. Not sure where you’ve been hanging out Feminists that I know don’t blame everything that goes wrong in their lives on men, or Tony Abbott.
Gender equality is such a larger issue to many people, even if not to you, and is complex. It’s not simply ‘Gillard v Abbott’ or jobs at the top for women. An interesting add-on to this article would be the march by thousands of people in Melbourne this year, by both men and women, in the wake of the Jill Meagher murder, and the protests in Delhi right now over violent rape. It’s not just about physical appearance or equal pay.

By: Ron King

Ron King — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:52:58 +0000

Innerwestie et al…

Gillard has got off lightly - in fact her history and lifestyle would be unknown or unnoticed by many voters due to a conspiracy of silence by the sisterhood.

Imagine this Geoffrey Robertson hypothetical:

start hypo :

‘Kevin Rudd is a bachelor, and displaces Gillard, the duly elected first female Prime Minister in a palace coup.

Kevin installs his paramour - a bimbo hairdresser in the Lodge as official escort, and counts in his cabinet a former girlfiend who left her husband and family for his charms. Kevin sports amongst his former bedmates a crooked union official and a history of climbing the greasy pole of labor politics via his dodgy abilities as a labor lawyer.

In 2010 Kevin scrapes into office with green and independent bedmates and then presides over a shambolic litany of deceits, monumental policy failures and incompetence in basic administration. ’ end hypo

And what would Caro and her sisters make of all this??

She (the female pronoun) would be baying for Kevin’s blood.

That bastard knifed our first female prime minister, lied to the electorate, dodged and weaved over his past, brought former mates and bedmates into the Ministy, and even besmirched our sacred site at Gallipoli by having that bimbo hairdresser jointly lay a wreath on our glorious dead.

Caro would be leading marches down Oxford St - “FU Kevin” tee shirts would be hot sellers on EBay - even Germaine Greer would have a feminist moment and call Kevin a pidgeon toed arsehole with a bad haircut, and question his SNAGhood.

There would even be signs behind Caro as she addresses the screaming female horde - “BRICK the BASTARD”

By: Johnfromplanetearth

Johnfromplanetearth — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:09:22 +0000

Feminism is in a lot of ways like fascism. Your average Fascist will disregard any scientific argument unless the conclusion supports his existing belief. The ideology comes first and the Fascist looks for anything to back it up, no matter how trivial, unreliable or discredited. Much like today’s feminists and their ideology. Fascists attempt to rationalize their beliefs and portray them as truth by twisting the facts. Gillard is a master at it. A fascist might, for example, cast blame for unemployment and work discontent on illegal immigrants arriving, getting handouts and eventually “stealing” their jobs. Feminists similarly cast blame for women’s lower average pay onto another party (men). (Tony Abbott?) Both feminists and fascists are quick to cast blame on someone else for anything that goes wrong in their lives. (Again Tony Abbott?) Most feminists seem to conform to feminist stereotypes. I can usually pick out a feminist in a crowd of women. She’ll usually have short hair, regular pants, a regular shirt, and an unbathed look; she’ll look very much like a stereotypical guy. I think why a feminist might appear like this is to make a statement that “if men can do it and be accepted, then women should be able to”. How bold, to go around and look like a stereotypical guy as opposed to a stereotypical girl. Who cares? Either way, you’re an ass for thinking anybody cares about the statement you’re making. If you’re trying to prove a point to the average guy that’s only concerned with women as sex objects, you’re wasting your time. A guy that’s concerned with women as sex objects is going to be concerned with women as sex objects regardless of how you look. Not every woman will share feminist ideals, so a possible argument that “if all women did it, then guys would have to respect us” isn’t very realistic. If you really want to make a point, surgically remove your breasts. Or is that going too far? Feminism serves as nothing more than a wedge to further separate the sexes, segregating men and women into cultures that wouldn’t otherwise exist. Why do so many women insist on carrying out this war against men? Absolute gender equality isn’t going to happen; we have gender equality now. Connie Rice and Hilary Clinton got top jobs in the US while Gillard got her job by stabbing her boss in the back. Never the less she got the job mo matter how bad she does it and despite her failures still keeps it! Then you have some women to be admired like Hafsat Abiola, women rule in the entertainment business as well (all hail Tina Fey and our own Asher Keddie) it must be Tony Abbott’s fault self confessed simpleton Kim Kardashian lives and breathes? Even if in a million years, men and women somehow made this unrealistic ideal happen, there will always be a sexual distinction between men and women causing some sort of inequality (if only on the level of basic physical needs). Or should I say women and men, as not to imply a male superiority? Why the hell should people go out of their way to be politically correct and use this “he/she” nonsense so a few chicks with language complexes won’t be offended? Oops, I said “chicks”. Damn.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 23:44:46 +0000

For innerwestie - I have two adult girls who are strong, independent married women who are equal partners in their marriages, and their attitude in this regard reflects the way they were brought up and what they saw in their parent’s relationship. I have worked for smart women in the past and have been happy to do so. I am for women.

But I don’t believe that Julia Gillard has been persecuted by the Opposition with misogyny and sexism. She would do better attracting the male vote if she just got on with it a la Thatcher, and dropped the victim persona.

By: innerwestie

innerwestie — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:31:52 +0000

Peter, if you think there has been no evidence of misogyny in the treatment of Gillard, you are obviously blind to the overt and covert sexism that goes on around you every day to which millions of considerably less powerful women are subjected, and who are expected to suck it up and ‘not be a girl about it’. Whether you deem that moment an inappropriate time for Gillard’s speech or not, to me and just about every woman I know - both here and overseas - it was a thrilling, long-overdue repudiation of the subtle, insidious chauvinism designed to keep women silent and ‘in their place’.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:10:28 +0000

For Dawn…why did you bring gender into it Dawn, and where does your reference to “entitled males” come into it…it’s not a male/female issue, we’re talking about people.

I hope you’re not suggesting the PM’s gender has to be taken into account in the hurly burly of political discourse in the House. You do remember I hope that it was the PM who, on taking office, said to Abbott, “game on”. He has engaged her in the game at her invitation.

By: Ron King

Ron King — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:32:56 +0000

iggy 648

One too many times iggy. Shows you the power of incumbency. Howard never made Slipper speaker though did he?

By: Dawn Baker

Dawn Baker — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:55:10 +0000

Thanks Jane for a recap of the victories of women to be heard and understood this year.

Peter, your insightless comment is a mirror of the attitude of entitled males who don’t get it! Run your comment past your female friends and listen to their response.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:20:23 +0000

The misogyny speech would have been a very good speech had it been made in a different place and in a proper context - there was no misogyny in evidence at the time the speech was made. The PM was agitated from the political attacks by Abbott, and then became furious from his inappropriate comment, along the lines that her government would/should die of shame - a careless use of words too close to those Jones used in reference to her father.

The PM should not expect to treated in anyway different to a male politician in terms of the gender-free, robust political language used against her and her government by the Opposition.

By: Dave Kelly

Dave Kelly — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:46:08 +0000

Brilliant Jane. Are we finally breaking out of the faux take on our society that the main stream press media has smothered us for years? This is why I sub to crickey. A bit of balanced journalism to restore my faith. Along with Keane, Rundle, FDOTM! etc. I thank you.

By: iggy648

iggy648 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:23:24 +0000

“Misogyny hate speech hurled at Abbott for the purpose of defending Slipper - party rat, weirdo trad Anglican Minister who dresses up in funny robes, tweets twats to honey trappers and makes Kevin Rudd’s church door hypocrisy looks saint-like in comparison.” Could you just remind me how many times the Liberal Party endorsed Slipper again?

By: Ron King

Ron King — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:55:28 +0000

Dressing up Gillard’s actions is feminist warrior costume is poor fare from Caro.

The issue Jane is the content of Gillard’s character - not the colour of her gender.

Slipper was a disaster waiting to happen for Gillard…another example of her seemingly clever short termism and idiocy at the long game. This woman hasn’t got the brain power, political wisdom or character to imagine the consequences of her actions.

Misogyny hate speech hurled at Abbott for the purpose of defending Slipper - party rat, weirdo trad Anglican Minister who dresses up in funny robes, tweets twats to honey trappers and makes Kevin Rudd’s church door hypocrisy looks saint-like in comparison.

And so the press thought Gillard’s speech was a cynical ploy - that it was - and a disgrace to the high office of Prime Minister.

It might have impressed the feeble minded female kiddies with tongue and nose studs and chinese dragon tats on their bums - but thankfully not the majority of voters who can’t wait to get Gillard out.

By: innerwestie

innerwestie — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:52:29 +0000

You’re also to be congratulated for being such a powerful and unapologetically supportive voice for women and public education, Jane. Keep on destroying the joint!

By: Peter Donoughue

Peter Donoughue — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 06:19:02 +0000

It’s NewTOWN, not Newton.

By: Buddy

Buddy — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:45:39 +0000

Thankyou Jane. Thankyou for never being afraid to call it how you see it. Thankyou for being an ever present and vital voice for so many women in our media, where we are so often misrepreented, ignored and belittled. Thankyou for summing up a year that so many feel has been a turning point. Where for so many for so long have been pilloried into silence we are now standing strong strong together and saying ENOUGH. What i am also enjoying is the many, many men who are standing alongside of us…