Pop quiz: Women in Parliament

Pop quiz!

Pick the comment that came from the WA Liberal Party Women’s Affairs Spokesperson:

1. “There’s a definite flirtation level (from some male MPs) that does make you feel a bit awkward at times, you know because some of the members do think they are superstars when they see themselves on the news.”

2. “It is just another in a series of derogatory comments aimed at women on both sides of Parliament. The Labor Party themselves have to look inwards … the Premier himself has to look at what his members are doing and saying in that chamber.”

3. “I have never worked in any profession as male-dominated or as ruthlessly sexist as this. I was quite shocked by it. [...] Politics and particularly that parliament is particularly male-dominated and extraordinarily chauvinistic, in a very primitive physical way that I didn’t expect people to still behave. I do not intend to back off.”

4. “I mean, I give it out and I expect to get it back. But I do make the exception, as I say — or wanted to make the point, I suppose — that there is a level of criticism about females for being female that I find unacceptable.”

5. [on women in Parliament]: “We’re still just getting to a third. It’s not an impressive record, and it does lead to fundamental questions about the status of women in Australia and leads to some troubling conclusions: that we are still at some levels a pretty sexist society and that it has been particularly difficult for women.”

6. “If you believe, as I do, that merit is equally distributed between the sexes, then you must also believe that our country can’t afford to turn away half the talent and half the ability of the Australian community. And we cannot in conscience frustrate half the aspirations. There will come a time when we will be judged purely on our achievements and our strength of character rather than whether we ascribe to what are seen as feminine traits, fit a particular model of attractiveness for public life or have fruit in a fruit bowl.”

7. “The parliament’s no place for a princess. People have to have strength of character and be incredibly willing to withstand the competition and challenges that come to them. If people are too precious to deal with those issues then the parliament is not the way for them to try and meet their objectives.”

[via a comment by Frank Calabrese.]

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