On Sexism and the Politics of Gender

It was a big week in gender politics last week to say the least. On Tuesday, Julia Gillard reignited the so-called 'gender wars', warning, at the launch of 'Women for Gillard', that an Abbott government would threaten women's political participation and abortion rights. Perhaps not surprisingly, this play was viewed by many as a somewhat desperate and disingenuous attempt by the Prime Minister to use gender to divert attention from the polling woes of the Labor government. The next day, details were leaked of an LNP fundraiser for Liberal candidate Mal Brough, listing as a menu item, ‘‘Julia Gillard Kentucky Fried Quail’’ described as ‘‘small breasts, huge thighs & a big red box’’. Sexist, distasteful and downright nasty. On Thursday, shocking revelations of an internet sex ring within the Australian Defence Force, men filming women engaged in sexually explicit acts, the Chief of Army confronting the exploitation, humiliation and degradation of women by those within the armed forces.

To cap the week off, radio host Howard Sattler, saw fit to question the Prime Minister on the sexuality of her partner, Tim Mathieson. Sattler has been roundly condemned, and I believe, quite rightly, sacked from 6PR. I watched the footage published by The Age of the interview segment. Whether you are a 'feminist' or not; the way in which Sattler carried out his questioning of the Prime Minister on her partner's sexuality based on supposed rumour was a pure performance in sexism and misogyny. It was a deeply personal attack; with no real point to the whole thing, other than Sattler's desire to humiliate the Prime Minister. And what a crude way to humiliate and embarrass, through the suggestion of homosexuality, which for Sattler, serves as a smear on both their sexualities, a profoundly private matter. In the exchange of body language between the Prime Minister and Sattler, there was also a telling story. Sattler performs his role as macho shock jock to perfection; knowing and savouring that he has caught the Prime Minister in a trap; her embarrassment is palpable. Yet still, I saw the Prime Minister of Australia, by all accounts a strong and capable women, trying to placate an offensive and vitriolic man; the peace-maker, seeking to 'smooth things over'. Julia Gillard might have rightly been criticised for gender opportunism, and her motives for reigniting the gender war questioned; but the Sattler episode shows us that sexism and misogyny is well and alive and the Prime Minister should not be criticised for making gender a topic of public discourse.