Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Liberals favour experience over tokenism

By Ben-Peter Terpstra - posted Thursday, 19 September 2013


This myth, of course, requires us to forget that Liberal women have broken through the "glass ceiling" without quota systems.

For the record, Julie Bishop became Australia's first female foreign minister, without a patronising quota system.

Annabelle Rankin, a single woman, didn't see herself as a victim either. In another first, she became a Queensland Liberal Party Senator in 1947, without a patronizing quota system.

Advertisement

There are more inconvenient examples here.

Fact five: Australians distrust social engineers.

History teaches us that voters tend to distrust social engineers.

Unlike your typical ABC presenter, Australians are more likely to ask: Why does Labor have a quota system for rich city women, but not poor country men? Or, why doesn't the ALP have affirmative action goals for dwarves or Mormons?

Australians too see the implications of social engineering when your typical quota system is focused on media-approved minority groups, and open to political manipulation.

At least, I've never understood why Labor supports "gender-equality" in the workplace for adults, while rejecting gender-balanced marriages for children.

Advertisement

Fact six: Some women just aren't that into politics.

Finally, some women just aren't that into politics, and if we respect a woman's right to choose, why should Canberra be our focus?

Some women choose to invest their energies into raising children. Some women choose to invest their energies into alternative career paths. And, yes, some women believe they can balance both.

Besides, when Australians see a female PM as a puppet held up by faceless men, or stabbed by her fellow Labor sisters, they're more likely to see hypocrisy than equality.

Now, that isn't a good look, Mr Bolt.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

21 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Ben-Peter Terpstra has provided commentary for The Daily Caller (Washington D.C.), NewsReal Blog (Los Angeles), Quadrant (Sydney), and Menzies House (Adelaide).

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Ben-Peter Terpstra

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 21 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy