{"id":308919,"date":"2021-09-13T01:40:11","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T01:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.broadagenda.com.au\/?p=10085"},"modified":"2021-09-13T01:40:11","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T01:40:11","slug":"review-strong-female-lead-on-sbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/09\/13\/review-strong-female-lead-on-sbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Strong Female Lead on SBS"},"content":{"rendered":"
From the makers of ‘See What You Made Me Do?’, Strong Female Lead explores the gender politics during Julia Gillard\u2019s term as Australia\u2019s first and still only female Prime Minister. Looking back at Ms Gillard\u2019s time as Prime Minister, the film examines the response and tone from media commentators, the Australian public and within Parliament itself.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Strong Female Lead<\/em><\/strong> is a very powerful documentary, depicting the highs and lows of Julia Gillard\u2019s life as our first female Prime Minister.<\/p>\n

Julia Gillard became Australia\u2019s first female Prime Minister in 2010, many years after numerous other countries had a female Prime Minister. The first was in 1960 – Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Ceylon\/Sri Lanka, and she was re-elected three times.<\/p>\n

For many, Julia Gillard\u2019s elevation to PM was a time to celebrate that finally Australia had a woman as Prime Minister, and in the words of Anne Summers ‘there was palpable joy<\/em>,’ \u00a0she was very popular, and seeing our first female Governor General, Quentin Bryce, swear in Julia Gillard as Prime Minister was a potent image for little girls \u2013 Women can lead!<\/p>\n

I have to ask: \u201cWas Australia really ready, were we as a country sophisticated enough to deserve a female Prime Minister?\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We know that in Australia, women politicians are hyper-scrutinised on their appearance, on what they wear, whether they have or plan to have children in comparison to male politicians. Australian women politicians have recently shared their views of the sexism, harassment and misogynistic behaviour that reigns in parts of Australian Parliaments.<\/p>\n

\"Strong

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, left, with Australia’s twenty-fifth Governor-General, Quentin Bryce. Picture: Supplied\/SBS<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

As Prime Minister, the sexist, often misogynistic media abuse that Julia Gillard experienced was on another level. As shown in this documentary series, this was often rank abuse, disrespect and rudeness which was evidenced everywhere – online, on the radio, television, in comedy sketches and at public rallies. While the media have a lot to answer for, so too had Tony Abbott with his behaviour, continual references to Lady MacBeth and condoning his Party\u2019s gross dinner references to Julia Gillard with his silence. As noted on the video \u201cno one in the party room has taken Tony Abbott to task\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

As stated by Blair Williams (2017):<\/p>\n

Gillard was punished for the way she became the Prime Minister \u2026 seen to have \u201cstabbed\u201d Rudd, despite him standing down when she openly and legitimately\u2026 challenged him. It is important to remember that political coups are quite common and have happened many times in the recent past\u2026However, no previous politician who committed similar acts has faced such public scrutiny and gendered criticism as Gillard.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Remember that Turnbull was seen to have taken the reins<\/em> in deposing Abbott, but Julia Gillard was disloyal and backstabbing<\/em>.<\/p>\n

When Julia Gillard finally responded to Tony Abbott\u2019s continued disrespectful behaviour and gave what has become known as her \u2018misogyny speech\u2019, this was swiftly picked up internationally as inspiring and barnstorming, scoring millions of hits on Youtube, sparking a global feminist response, while being largely ignored by Australian media.. Julia Gillard concluded \u201cThis Parliament today should think seriously about the role of women in public life and in Australian society, because we are entitled to a better standard than this\u201d. <\/em><\/p>\n

I concur that she was right: Australian women did and still do deserve a better standard.<\/p>\n

Prior to calling the ballot which led to Kevin Rudd\u2019s return, it was reported that some men were upset by the re-emergence of the gender debate, and Julia Gillard\u2019s support was greatly diminishing. History will undoubtedly recognise Julia Gillard\u2019s extraordinary legislative productiveness of 580 pieces of legislation being passed.<\/p>\n

Some in the media admitted that Julia Gillard was treated very differently, and she noted \u201cbemusement about admissions from some media colleagues that she had suffered more pressure as a result of her gender, than other PMs in the past, but then concluded that it had zero effect on her political position<\/em>\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

It should be noted that it was the Independent, Rob Oakeshott who congratulated Julia for her time as Prime Minister, not Abbott, commenting on the disgusting words and ugly behaviour. He expressed belief in Australia\u2019s future being better, also stating: \u201cBut we\u2019ve got to deal with ugly Australia.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In answer to my earlier question: were we ready or sophisticated enough? \u2013 No, but I do hope that we might be more prepared next time.<\/p>\n