in brief: penny wong encourages more politicians to identify with feminism

Acting Labor leader Penny Wong has spoken up and urged women in politics to not be afraid to call themselves feminists. She argued that the term is not “extreme” and is not exclusive to women who are more left-inclined.

Wong is ‘set to take issue with Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women Michaelia Cash’s refusal to label herself a feminist.’ Senator Cash stated in an interview in February that ‘labeling myself as a feminist, if that is a prerequisite now for being a Minister for Women, that’s ridiculous’ and further that ‘because you are a feminist does not mean you will implement policies that empower women.’

So, Penny Wong has taken a stand and is trying to salvage what is left of the idea of feminism in politics. She asked the question ‘Why would Australia’s Minister for Women want to portray feminism as an outdated ideology of the past?’ clearly targeted towards Cash, and pointed out that ‘there are many right-wing feminists.’ She wants women to be proud to call themselves feminists and to not back away from the term, as extreme as it sometimes gets labeled.

Lately, we’ve seen a bit of backlash involving women who don’t want to term themselves feminists, and the debate has been circling since right-wing feminists spoke up at the Heritage Foundation’s panel on International Women’s Day and the state of feminism. And since Australia doesn’t actually have a Minister for Women, but just as Assistant to Tony Abbott as the Minister for Women, it looks to be that feminism is really being run away from in politics. Wong will be giving a speech on this matter at the Jessie Street Trust’s annual fundraising lunch, so we can only hope that the discussion takes a turn for the better.