Chapter 1. In the Frame: Women and the discursive construction of gender equality in theory and practice -- Chapter 2. Great Hopes: "Second-wave" Seventies' Feminism and state provision from Whitlam to Fraser (1972-1983) -- Chapter 3. Labor's Economic rationalism: Women under the Hawke & Keating Governments (1983-1996) -- Chapter 4. Defending the mainstream: Women and neoliberalism under the Howard Government (1996-2007) -- Chapter 5. Social democracy, the "Fair Go" and Gender Wars: Women under the Rudd and Gillard Governments (2007-13) -- Chapter 6. Framing a business case for Equality: Women under the Abbott, Turnbull & Morrison Governments (2013-2022) -- Chapter 7. Unfinished business: the Albanese government and Gender equality policy (2022 -?) -- Chapter 8. Gender equality and the failure of political imagination: Lessons for reframing in uncertain times.
This open access book provides the first in-depth study of the development of federal gender equality politics and policy in Australia from the 1970s to the present day. Australia has a history of gender equality innovation, including granting women's suffrage long before equivalent countries. From the 1970s on, it became the first country to introduce a women's adviser, femocrats (feminist bureaucrats) and gender responsive budgeting but then fell behind, partly due to the influence of Anglosphere neoliberalism. However, the Albanese government has pledged to make Australia a world leader in gender equality again. The book situates Australia in an international context, assessing the useful, though sometimes salutary, lessons which the Australian experience provides. It engages with key literature, including feminist political theory, discursive framing analysis, gendered public policy analysis, LBGTIQ+ issues, path dependency, and gender and leadership. It will interest academics, undergraduate and postgraduate researchers, public policy experts and practitioners, and a broader readership interested in issues of gender equality. The book makes innovative contributions to the study of the politics of gender equality policy, addressing what a gender equality policy agenda could look like if the needs of women, in all their intersectional social diversity, were the driving force. In doing so, it addresses a range of issues that are impacting the future of women, including an ongoing pandemic, technology, education and training agendas, issues of sovereign capability, securitisation, climate change and the growth of campaigns that oppose so-called "gender ideology". It explores how current government agendas, such as the focus on wellbeing, could be made even more gender-inclusive. Finally, the book suggests that Australia, as a multicultural but predominantly Western, settler-colonial society situated in the Asia-Pacific has some potentially unique insights to offer in a world facing major geoeconomic and geopolitical change.
Intro -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- 1 Social Democracy and the Crisis of Equality: The Background -- Australian Social Democracy in an International Context -- The Australian Labor Party's Focus on Equality -- Early Conceptions of Economic Equality -- Early Racial Exclusions from Equality -- Equality and the Male Wage Worker Head of Household -- Transformations in the Concept of Equality -- Chapter Structure of Book -- References -- 2 Social Democracy and Racial/Ethnic Equality -- Australian Social Democracy in an International Context -- Curtin and Chifley Governments (1941-1949) -- Whitlam Government (1972-1975) -- Hawke and Keating Governments (1983-1996) -- Rudd and Gillard Governments (2007-2013) -- Labor Post the Rudd/Gillard Governments -- Excluded from Equality: Asylum Seekers -- Conclusion: Social Democracy and Racial/Ethnic Identity -- References -- 3 Gender: From Male Breadwinner to the Independent Adult Worker -- Australian Social Democracy in an International Context -- The Curtin and Chifley Governments (1941-1949) -- Whitlam Government (1972-1975) -- Hawke and Keating Governments (1983-1996) -- Rudd and Gillard Governments (2007-2013) -- Tensions Between Feminism and Social Democracy -- Labor Post the Rudd and Gillard Governments -- Cultural Politics and Gender Inequality -- Conclusion: Australian and International Social Democracy -- References -- 4 Sexuality: From Morality to Equality -- Australian Social Democracy in an International Context -- Pre the 1970's Whitlam Period -- The Whitlam Government (1972-1975) -- The Hawke and Keating Governments (1983-1996) -- Relationship Recognition: The Rudd and Gillard Governments (2007-2013) -- Same-Sex Marriage and the Rudd and Gillard Governments (2007-2013) -- Conclusion: Australian and International Social Democracy -- References.
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This article emphasises the role that political leaders' discourse plays in evoking positive emotions among citizens in uncertain times, such as feeling protected, secure and proud in addition to the leaders' (often interconnected) role of encouraging negative feelings such as fear, resentment and anger. The article argues that such discourse frequently involves performances of gendered leadership. It cites examples from a range of countries to illustrate the points being made, but focuses on the 2020 US presidential election which saw a contest between two forms of protective masculinity: Trump's exclusionary, macho, hypermasculinity versus Biden's more socially inclusive, empathetic and softer version. Trump's protective masculinity failure over managing the COVID-19 pandemic was arguably one of the factors contributing to his electoral defeat, while Biden aimed to make voters feel safer and more protected than under Trump. The article also provides examples of protective femininity, with a particular focus on the discourse of New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern.
Opinion polls suggested that Australia's Coalition (Liberal and National Party) government was likely to be replaced by a Labor government at the 2019 election. However, in fact the government was returned. Key issues in the 2019 election centred around managing the economy, including levels of taxation and issues of inequality; around spending on government services such as health and education; and around issues of climate change. There were elements of populism in both major parties' campaigns, and two minor populist parties played a significant role in preference distribution. There were also some simmering issues that reflect the broader geopolitical and geo-economic changes that are impacting upon Australia. These include not only challenges for Australia's economy and identity in the 'Asian Century', but also issues of Australia's relationship with China.
Former Australian Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard was accused of unfairly playing the gender card against then Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in her accusations of sexism and misogyny. It was also claimed that she had thereby initiated the first "gender war" in Australian politics. Analyzing Australian politicians' discursive mobilizations of gender during the Gillard period provides useful insights that are relevant to the broader international literature on gender and politics, particularly given that Gillard's experiences have similarities with those of prominent female politicians in other countries, including Hillary Clinton. The article argues for a much broader understanding of playing the gender card that includes both issues of femininity and masculinity and that also emphasizes the close relationship between issues of playing the gender card and issues of gender performativity.
