Tony Abbott makes a poor choice for Australia’s Minister for Women, even if he is the Prime Minister.
Back in September 2013 The (Arguably Honorable) Tony Abbott, the current Prime Minister of Australia, appointed himself as Minister for Women and so claimed responsibility for women’s policies and programs and ultimately giving himself control over decisions which affect women. As a woman he claims to represent, I have compiled a list of the top ten reasons it’s inappropriate for him to have taken on this portfolio. Not only based on gender lines, but rather on his own personal politics as well.
- Listen up folks – Tony is NOT a woman…so correct me if I’m wrong, but he doesn’t own a vagina. Further he can’t even begin to imagine the impacts this has on societal status. He does not have a daily grind against sexism, the patriarchy, or have to fight twice as hard to merely be viewed as an equal. In many ways he can be viewed as a fundamental instrument of the patriarchy.
- The aforementioned Minister for Women doesn’t seem to believe in equality. In 1979 he was quoted as having said that men and women had different capabilities, “I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons.”
- Tony Abbott has also insulted any woman who has ever faced the turmoil associated with an unwanted pregnancy. Something he will never have to experience himself. In 2004 he stated that, ‘‘Abortion is the easy way out. It’s hardly surprising that people should choose the most convenient exit from awkward situations.’’
- His self-appointment indicates a decline in his own parties belief system whereby women are not encourages to participate, even by means of self-advocacy.
- Mr. Abbott’s archaic views on gender roles are alive and well. In February of 2010 he was reported as saying, “What the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing is that if they get it done commercially it’s going to go up in price and their own power bills when they switch the iron on are going to go up.” C’mon Tony, even you are better than that.
- His words are music to a sexual predator’s ears. In 2002 Abbot, then a Member of Parliment stated that, “I think there does need to be give and take on both sides, and this idea that sex is kind of a woman’s right to absolutely withhold, just as the idea that sex is a man’s right to demand I think are both, they both need to be moderated, so to speak.” Ummmmm…Abbott’s troubling views on consent could be an article in itself.
- His ideas on women’s rights and equality seem like they beyond in a past decade, if not century.
- The Australian reported in 2010 that Abbott urged women to save their virginity for marriage and had mixed feelings about contraception in a new interview. Hmmm…shall we all dance a merry jig around the ironing board between pregnancies, ladies?
- Women should be represented by women. That is one who understands the nature of what it means to be a woman. Got it?
- Tony described a fellow Liberal Party candidate as, “having sex appeal.”
There seems to be a pattern of objectifying women emerging here, no?
It’s not just inappropriate, it’s embarrassing and humiliating on a national and international scale, not only to women, but to himself, his family and the Liberal Party he leads. As a woman I am mortified that a man who deems himself worthy to govern a country would have such little respect for approximately half his constituents. In fact it’s a wonder Australian tourism doesn’t bare the slogan: Welcome to the patriarchy.
Like The Good Men Project On Facebook
Photo by Paul Kane/AP
“have to fight twice as hard to merely be viewed as an equal.” Got proof women have to fight twice as hard? “Welcome to the patriarchy.” There is no minister for men’s issues, men are routinely ignored by this and the previous government on issues like domestic violence, etc. The fact that there is even a minister for women shows a higher level of empathy and care towards women’s issues vs mens. This government absolutely sucks, but you can blame Labor’s utter incompetence at keeping a stable house for it. Playing musical chairs with leaders backstabbing each other destroyed the… Read more »