Ten years later, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard reflects on her landmark “misogyny speech”: “I had no idea the impact it would have.”
Ten years later, Julia Gillard has reflected on the implications of her infamous “misogyny speech” in Parliament.
The former Australian Prime Minister – the first and only woman to hold the role – made a famous speech about sexism in Australian politics during a parliamentary session in October 2012.
The comments sparked a global debate.
Ten years later, Julia Gillard has reflected on the implications of her infamous “misogyny speech” in Parliament. Featured in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine
A decade later, the 60-year-old says, she didn’t know how meaningful her words would be.
“When I gave the speech, I had no idea the impact it would have,” says Gillard in this week’s Stellar Magazine.
“If you asked me 30 seconds after I sat down, ‘How is the press gallery going to cover this? How will it resonate?” I would have said, “I don’t see this resonating in the world.” So I didn’t have that sense for it.’
The former Australian Prime Minister – the first and only woman to hold that role – gave a searing speech about sexism in Australian politics during a parliamentary session in October 2012 (pictured).
Within minutes, Gillard saw the true impact of her stirring words.
“Even after walking back to my office from the Chamber – which was only a two or three minute walk away – there were initial calls and a response from beyond Canberra,” she told the publication.
“So I had a hunch early on that it would have some sort of emotional resonance beyond the confines of Parliament.”
“When I gave the speech, I had no idea the impact it would have,” says Gillard in this week’s Stellar Magazine
“I think its power lies in the fact that there are millions of women — and I feel like I’ve met millions of them — who have had sexist and misogynist experiences,” she added
Gillard believes her speech resonated with women around the world who shared her experiences.
“I think its power lies in the fact that there are millions of women — and I feel like I’ve met millions of them — who have had sexist experiences, misogynistic experiences,” she said.
“And at 3 a.m. they’re like, ‘Oh, I wish I’d said that, I should have given it back to him, I shouldn’t have taken it.’ And it’s a speech that helps capture the frustrations of those moments.”
Julia was Prime Minister from 2010 to 2013
Julia was Prime Minister from 2010 to 2013.
In 2012, during a heated debate over the Speaker’s Texts scandal, she was praised for her firm stance on sexism in government.
Gillard spent 15 minutes attacking opposition leader Tony Abbott outside the Australian House of Representatives during a debate on a motion to sack House Speaker Peter Slipper after he sent a series of text messages to his male aide referring to women in a related derogatory way were made public.
Gillard was widely praised for her speech, with New Yorker Magazine even suggesting at the time that then-US President Barack Obama might learn a thing or two from Gillard in politics after the heated debate. Pictured recently
She accused Abbott of sexism and addressed the former Liberal Prime Minister during her speech.
Under her comments, she said: “I will not let this man lecture me on sexism and misogyny. I will note that the government will not be lectured on sexism and misogyny by this man. Not now, never.
“If he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia, he doesn’t need a motion in the House of Representatives. He needs a mirror.”
Gillard was widely praised for her speech, with New Yorker Magazine even suggesting at the time that then-US President Barack Obama might learn a thing or two from Gillard in politics after the heated debate.
Read more in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine