Name: Madeline McShane
Community/State: Port Lincoln, South Australia
School: Saint Joseph’s School
Age/Grade: 17 Years, Year 12
Bio: Click here
“Life is a roadtrip with twists and turns. How can we support one another to navigate the road to gender equality?”
Recently, Australia watched intently as the position of Prime Minister dangled precariously before our eyes. An array of Liberal candidates eager to fill the space Turnbull had been deemed unfit to occupy. Of these; one candidate appeared undeniably more credible. Julie Bishop; a woman with over 26 years of political experience, strong leadership attributes and well-grounded policies. Yet, she was not supported by her party, who instead voted for the newly elected Scott Morrison.
Now- why is this? One could argue that Morrison was a superior candidate. That this is but a natural shift in power unrelated to the notion of gender. However, to say this would be to disregard the notion that this is but one event in a continuous pattern of many in which men are chosen over women. The power shift epitomises the division between men and women which underpins Australian politics.
Despite consistent advancements towards a more egalitarian society, such changes are not always represented in politics. Since 1999, Australia has regressed from 15th to 50th in terms of women’s overall parliamentary representation. This reflects reluctance to embrace the transition towards a more equal distribution of power.
There are many unknown implications of consistently having women in positions of authority. But if our society is to function optimally, we must continue to adapt to the ever-changing world around us. And this world is calling for balance. For it understands now, that the different attributes of women are equally as imperative to the function of society as those of men.