SO IN Parliament and in the community, it is now apparently deemed OK to subject the Prime Minister to cruel, violent and often gender-specific commentary and insults. And many in the media join in. The Herald Sun described her as ”coquettish” and ”giggling” with President Obama. Andrew Bolt described her as ”weak, even girlish” with the US President.
But it is on talkback radio where the hatred really gets out of hand. She has been labelled, by hosts Alan Jones or Ray Hadley or by callers to these programs: ”a menopausal monster”, ”a lying cow”, ”a lying bitch”, a ”vitriolic, bitter, lying, condescending facade of a prime minister”, ”a horrible mouth on legs” and ”brain dead”. One of Alan Jones’ listeners even said: ”Does she go down to the chemist to buy her tampons or does the taxpayer pay for them as well?” (These were included in a compilation on The Hamster Wheel by The Chaser on ABC TV last November.)
”I can’t remember ever seeing anything like ‘Ditch the Witch’ and I can’t imagine Jeff Kennett sanctioning that by his appearance,” says Joan Kirner, who was premier of Victoria from 1990 to 1992. ”The level of media and political sanction that has been given to this gender bias attack is greater.”
The gender agenda: Gillard and the politics of sexism
Bob Brown’s comments that some of the criticism directed towards Gillard was sexist didn’t surprise me. It seemed obvious. The reaction to it, and deliberate misinterpretation that he was saying all criticism of her was sexist, shocked me. I wish there were more people like Anne Summers. We need more people like Anne Summers if things are going to change.
KNOPE WE CAN! If you love waffles, friends and work, or friends, waffles and work, then I demand you proudly sport your Knope campaign shirt! I LOVE YOU LESLIE
I’ve wondered what the inside of this house is like for ages. This staircase does not disappoint. Amazing. Shame the way to get a house like this is to be a nightclub owner, something I am never going to be.
