No strings attachedNo strings attached
On June 8, I gritted my teeth and switched on the TV to that epitome of gutter journalism, 60 minutes. Why? — the promise of a deeper insight into the life and times of the new head of the Office of the Status of Women (OSW), Pru Goward.
The interview, conducted by Geoff McMullen over family meals and numerous cups of cappuccino along with Goward's famous daughter, model Kate Fisher, was predictably trite. Despite his fawning, however, McMullen did elicit some revealing comments from Goward about how she sees gender inequality, the women's liberation movement and her role as the Liberals' "official feminist".
Goward's life story is undoubtedly one of hard work, personal commitment and assertiveness. And she has succeeded — good for her.
But the life of this woman, who is now supposed to represent (to the federal government at least) all women in Australia, is in no way typical of the majority.
A high profile and "probing" journalist, radio host and commentator for the establishment media for many years, Goward comes to the OSW with no movement-strings attached. Her credentials for her new job are her personal successes in the corridors of power, not a past or present commitment to equality for all women.
And it shows. When asked if women are still discriminated against, Goward replied: Of course they are. Women are only a tiny proportion of politicians; the salaries of female corporate managers are still less than those of their male counterparts; and women are still grossly under-represented in the upper echelons of government departments.
She made no mention of the fact that women's average pay is still only 67% of men's, or of the barriers that inadequate and — thanks to her new boss — declining public child-care services create for women who would also like rewarding and fulfilling employment.
Goward's "feminism" is encapsulated in her final statement to 60 minutes: Yes, women have made some progress over the last two decades, but "they will come up a lot faster when men learn that it pays to make room at the top".
That is, big businesses and their political parties can do even better for themselves if they incorporate a few more women into the ranks of their top exploiters, liars and crooks.
John Howard must be laughing all the way home to his loyal anti-feminist wife. Goward's appointment makes a mockery of the OSW and neutralises a whole generation of ALP feminists who lobbied so hard for its existence.
There is no doubt that the new Howard-Goward team will teach feminists a lot of hard lessons while they hold office.
First among these is that it is utter foolishness to rely on bureaucratic posts and their high profile occupants to represent or advance the interests of all women.
Without a large, strong women's liberation movement which is independent of the political parties and can uncompromisingly represent the needs and desires of the majority of women, Goward cannot be made accountable to anyone but herself and John — turn the clock back to the 1950s — Howard.
By Lisa Macdonald