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CHAPTER 4Seen and Heard

It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.

—Madeleine K. Albright

It was perfectly galling. Over the three and a half years Julia Gillard, the 27th prime minister of Australia, had been in office, she'd been subjected to a stream of sexist insults. The commentary about the country's first woman to serve as deputy prime minister and prime minister was savage and, often, obscene. She had delivered nation‐changing policies in education, sustainability, and healthcare, and made strides towards improving the country's mental health programs. She also led Australia through one of the worst economic crises in its history. Yet it seemed all the local opposition politicians and media pundits cared about were the size of her breasts, the tone of her voice, and the fit of her pantsuits.

So, when the leader of the opposition party, Tony Abbott, brought forward a motion in 2012 to have the Speaker of the House of Representatives removed after it was revealed he'd sent some misogynistic texts, suggesting that it was a reflection on Ms. Gillard herself, she was compelled to speak out. “I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not,” she said. “And the government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. Not now, not ever.”

Ms. Gillard went on to list some of the egregious comments and actions made by Abbott. Like the fact that he proudly stood next to a placard ...