Does Julia Gillard Own a Dress?

[jenkinsdakota]

Some talkback guy has had a go at Julia Gillard, claiming that she is not feminine enough to own a dress. This is not the first time sexists have attacked her. Before many attacked her because she didn't have any children and her house looked sterile. If it were a man would they do this? It seems as if some people think women must conform to stereotypes of the traditional woman. This may exlain why in all of Australia's history not one female Prime Minister has ever appeared.

See http://www.theage.com.au/news/federa...766826744.html

[Silvana]

I don't think it is why a female PM hasn't appeared. The majority of women have only been climbing the corporate ladder for the last twenty years.

But women in politics is often a bad mix. I mean this in a way, that women are absolutely dragged through the mud. They are treated like **** and without respect. Politics is a dirty business as it is, and I believe that being a woman is often seen as a disadvantage. I don't think it should be though and it is downright sexist.

It seems that only the personal lives of women in politics are picked apart and critisiced.

[spoon]

And real men have balls. Has anybody told him that?

[missie_mack]

What a rude redneck!! What has her dress sense got to do with her ability to be in parliament?? I dont hear anyone asking Downer if cabbage patches were modelled on his or who waxes John Howards eyebrows... Some people need to consider that perhaps Julia chose to not have children or perhaps she was physically unable to. Neither are relate to her ability to do her job and are anyones business

This is like the whole dramas over Carmen Lawrence, Bronwyn Bishop, Natasha Stott-Desposja and the list goes on. If you arent femine enough your butch and if your reasonably attractive your either involved in lesbian affairs or considered to be bonking some other member of parliament. Funnily enough information about male counterparts and their extra curricular activities never hit the news for very long and usually end with giving them a slap on the back and a welcome into the bad boys club

[forbetoel]

I am sick to death of the way Julia Gillard has been treated, it only goes to prove her passion for making this Country a better place, when she is constantly made to defend her looks, her clothes, her hair, her lovers, her accent, her lack of children etc,etc.....the poor bl00dy woman. Go Julia, you are a stronger woman than me!

[MariaO]

You would develop a very thick skin as a woman in politics - you would have to. The hick caller's first accusation was that she was a communist.

Doesn't he know that communists don't wear dresses, or have fruit in their fruit bowls.

[Tam-I-Am]

Some people need to consider that perhaps Julia chose to not have children or perhaps she was physically unable to.

I agree with absolutely everything else you had to say, MM - except for this....I don't think people should consider it at all - I don't think it has ANYTHING to do with her public position, and I don't think that just because she's a public figure, the reasons why she chose (or didn't chose) not to have children should be called into question or thought about by anybody except her and her family...


Anyway, moving on - I hate the way the most trivial things are bought into play in politics - its so childish. I want to know what a politician can do for me. I wouldn't care if she wore her pajamas to parliament - so long as she was a good politician!

It makes me cross!

[missie_mack]

Sorry Tam I didnt word it how I meant it. I think it is nobodies business and it is a big assumption anyhow because she could be barren or whatever.

Yanno if she fell pregnant tommorrow they would be slamming her for being a unwed mother anyhow. If she was already a mother they would be telling her she should be home in the kitchen.... its a damned if you do, damned if you dont scenerio