Earlobes, fashion, an election without gender

On Lateline last week, presenter Leigh Sale opened with the line: “Gender politics are taking centre stage in the election campaign. Julia Gillard's been confronted with questions about how long she intends staying single, her fashion sense and the size of her earlobes.”

This isn’t gender politics. This is the antithesis of gender politics.

An election that dealt with gender would address gay marriage. It would look at the ongoing pay-gap, the under-representation of women in parliament and on boards, would hold the Coalition accountable for its lack of action, and would applaud the progress made by Labor in pushing forward on some gender issues while acknowledging how far we still have to go.

Unfortunately, Prime Minister Gillard seems to be reluctant to form gender policies.

Not because Australia isn’t supportive of them. But maybe because Australia just doesn’t like them if they’re coming from a woman.