feminist news round-up 02.12.12
Gillard calls out Abbott (again)
The AWU scandal, involving allegations that Prime Minister Julia Gillard was responsible for unethical conduct back in her days as a lawyer at Slater and Gordon, just keeps going. On the last sitting day of Parliament this year, Abbott has called for a judicial inquiry into the matter and demanded her resignation, despite that evidence of her wrongdoing was not forthcoming. Last month, Abbott also accused Gillard of playing ‘the victim card’ after her now world-famous Parliamentary speech on misogyny. Addressing that accusation this week, Gillard said, ‘I think it is actually a manifestation of deep sexism that you would say that if a woman raises her voice then that is her playing the victim as opposed to her standing up for her rights.’
Twitter Storm on Women Reporting Rugby
Female sports journalist, Georgina Robinson, was appointed earlier this year by Fairfax Media to report on the Wallabies rugby team across their European tour. In relation to this appointment, former Wallaby David Campese questioned Fairfax’s judgement, saying on Twitter: ‘[Former Fairfax Media rugby union journalist Greg] Growden who was great jornio (sic) and now we have someone who has no idea about the game.’ He later tweeted, ‘Sometimes it is good to see some people react to thing you say. Please relax and see the light side of life. All press are the same.’ Fairfax has defended Robinson, highlighting her experience in rugby reporting (she has previously covered the Rugby World Cup, Super Rugby the Rugby Championship), hailing her as ‘a fine rugby reporter’, one of ‘the best’. While Campese has now removed the comment, he has received much criticism via Twitter and offline.
Carla Bruni doesn’t think feminism is relevant
Former French first lady, singer/songwriter, and former model, Carla Bruni told French Vogue this week that feminism was irrelevant to her generation. ‘In my generation we don’t need to be feminist…There are pioneers who paved the way for us. I am not a feminist activist at all. On the contrary I am a true bourgeoise. I love family life and doing the same thing every day,’ she said. Her remarks have since caused quite a stir amongst Twitter with a French feminist group Osez le feminisme! spearheading the assault, inviting people to respond to Bruni under the hashtag #ChereCarlaBruni (Dear Carla Bruni). The French senator Laurence Rossignol was among the tweeters, writing : ‘For as long as I get asked if I am the senator’s assistant, the coming generation will need feminism.’
American women in combat
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has recently launched a court case to allow women who serve in the armed forces recognition for their combat service and to formally allow them to be exposed to combat situations. American women have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq for the past decade, often working in spaces where it isn’t clear where the frontline even is. Even though they are technically banned from serving on the frontline in direct combat situations, many have been exposed to this situation. Now, four female war veterans—including some who have won Purple Hearts for their efforts—are suing for recognition of that reality, and the end to the rules that officially bar them from combat. The women argue that ‘nearly a century after women first earned the right of suffrage, the combat exclusion policy still denies women a core component of full citizenship—serving on equal footing in the military defence of our nation.’
Covered on lip this week
UN calls for global ban on female genital mutilation
Sweden’s top toy company releases “gender-neutral” Christmas catalogue
Chinese women protest inequality, invasive tests
Giulia Jones rejects “nagging feminists”
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