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Leadership and the media: Gendered framings of Julia Gillard's ‘sexism and misogyny’ speech

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Katharine A. M. WrightORCiD

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Abstract

This article analyses Australian media portrayals of former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's ‘sexism and misogyny’ speech to parliament in October 2012. Our analysis reveals that coverage of the speech comprised three principal gendered framings: strategic attack, uncontrolled emotional outpouring and hypocrisy. We argue that these framings demonstrate the role the media plays as a gendered mediator, perpetuating the gender double bind that constrains female political leaders, as they negotiate the demand to demonstrate masculine leadership attributes without tarnishing the feminine qualities expected of them. In this instance, gendered media framings limited the saliency of Gillard's speech, curtailed calls for wider introspection on Australian political culture and further disassociated women from political leadership.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Wright KAM, Holland J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Australian Journal of Political Science

Year: 2014

Volume: 49

Issue: 3

Pages: 455-468

Online publication date: 30/08/2014

Acceptance date: 01/05/2014

ISSN (print): 1036-1146

ISSN (electronic): 1363-030X

Publisher: Routledge

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10361146.2014.929089

DOI: 10.1080/10361146.2014.929089

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