Opinion

Women pollies

Many of Australia's female political leaders get a special deal from the nation's media, and it's not a favourable one. Sure, they have a honeymoon, but even that is different, always more intense but shorter than that enjoyed by male pollies. Julia Gillard's honeymoon started as hot rather than warm, and how quickly the heat dissipated!

The special deal has to do with a preoccupation with their appearance, their fashion sense, their make-up, their hairstyle and hair colour, and when the worm turns it is the media's choice of photographs that make this preoccupation a weapon. This pursuit of Kerry Chikarovski when she was NSW opposition leader a decade ago was ugly to watch, and others who've been targeted include Cheryl Kernot, Bronwyn Bishop and Amanda Vanstone. When you see a full-length photo of a woman politician it is likely that it is meant to show you more than the person. The media's choice of photos of Belinda Neal was cruel and damning. Of course unflattering photos of male polliticians find their way into the media, less persistently, but somehow these don't seem to matter. And seldom are they cruel.

In my column in The Herald today I suggest that Julia Gillard's strangely glamorous appearance in The Australian Women's Weekly may be setting her up for this malevolent spotlight. I don't think Australians have reached the level of national maturity that allows us to look upon a woman as a political leader rather than as a female political leader.

Have you noticed a difference in the media's treatment of, and our attitude to, leading female pollies?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 30/07/2010 5:00:00 AM | Comments (53)

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This kind of double standard related to women exists in many areas of society but I guess is more pronounced when the women are politicians. (Julia's latest photo shoot does not seem intended to impress Laurie Oaks and the press club!) For an example in another area look as far as master-cook, when was the last time you saw three fat 40-something women drooling over food on Television... When it happens under chancillor Gillard it will be top viewing.

Posted by Bradko, 30/07/2010 7:24:38 AM, on The Herald

in general, the way the media treat women, compared to men, is diifferent. it doesn't matter if they are politicians or not. at any time if you are a women and you are in favour with the media they can make you appear glamorous and if you are on the nose they can make you look diabolical. the media practically runs this country. the affect the media has on the public is enormous. women are still getting lumbered with the stereotyped requirement of needing to appear "glamorous". How many men in the public eye would spend the same time as the PM putting on their make-up? Manscaping might be trendy but for women it is almost a requirement. Imagine if the PM didn't shave her legs, get her hair done regularly or wear any make-up? Media frenzy. Men in the public eye can wear a suit and be ok (wear speedos and you might be asking for trouble). But in general, unless a male is really fat their appearance is not very important. Also, the media like to appear politically correct and therefore will aim to appear to give equal importance to a woman's opinion. Sometimes I think they give more coverage of an important woman's comments just to maintain this "balance". Sticking my neck out!!

Posted by judgedredd, 30/07/2010 9:05:46 AM, on The Herald

Jeff, Sorry to go off topic so early but i want to say to Scott Hillard, Great letter in todays herald. Now back to the topic at hand. I haven't noticed a real difference. You naturally get the odd coment but its mostly from other women. Julia's honeymoon period comparison cant be taken into account due to the short length of time from her leadership takeover and the election being called. If you think gillard is being unfairly targeted for her look and dress sence, i don't know what you see when a pair of budgie smugglers have caused such a bru haha. Abbotts religous beliefs are scrutinised more than both Howard and Rudd, who were both devout catholics. Abbott has received the rough end of the stick when it comes to media coverage, a whole lot more than Gillard and for what? because he likes to ride in lycra? because he wore budgie smugglers while volinteering for SLSA? because he loves his family and wants his daughters to treasure their virginity? What father doesn't? But then again, we may as well overlook abbott as he is in the category of the most discriminated section of the community, white middle aged Australian male. Vote 1 Abbott :)

Posted by Nafe, 30/07/2010 9:08:02 AM, on The Herald

I don't see Julia Gillard as a woman more than the hard-left factional Labor woman that she is. The great make-up lights and glossy photos can't hide who she is. This is the woman who wanted to make communist Leningrad as it was then, the sister city of Melbourne. This is the woman who take pleasure in censoring and controlling the internet. This is a woman who uses industrial relations as a tool to whip gullible people into a frenzy. This is a woman who told Rudd to his face that she supported him, yet stuck the knife into him when he was at his weakest. You can't hide nasty politics with a bit of make-up.

Posted by Bev, 30/07/2010 9:48:56 AM, on The Herald

You can't put lipstick on a pitbull.

Posted by Jackson, 30/07/2010 9:52:25 AM, on The Herald

Jackson - of course you can! - and then she got a great ambassador job in Italy after Howard lost the last election! *shudder*

Posted by Mamma Mia, 30/07/2010 10:01:56 AM, on The Herald

Sometimes we forget that female sociopaths are also attracted to power.

Posted by Kelly, 30/07/2010 10:02:50 AM, on The Herald

We automatically give women credit for the things that only women can do. Only women can be wives and mothers. Julia Gillard says she made a choice not to do either of these things. The automatic positive associations of being a woman do not apply to Gillard.

Posted by Nan, 30/07/2010 10:14:53 AM, on The Herald

Agreed, Nafe. Scott's letter in today's Herald was hilarious. As for the topic on hand, I'd suggest the more the media punishes supposed gaffs by politicians the more the electorate will be presented with machine men candidates. The two major parties' policies will be increasingly indistinguishable as both try to occupy the centrist middle ground which most Australians seem comfortable with and all we'll have to focus on are shallow differences in appearance.

Posted by Direct, 30/07/2010 10:24:24 AM, on The Herald

The first two female Premiers Joan Kirner Vic. and Carmen Lawrence WA were installed by the Labor caucus then led their dysfunctional Labor governments to electoral defeat. This Federal Labor government is an absolute shambles. Can you imagine Rudd continuing to leak when he is a senior cabinet member after the election? Just because the ALP puts a new female face on a bad government doesn't mean the public will buy it.

Posted by Penny, 30/07/2010 10:30:26 AM, on The Herald

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