Sarah
Hanson-Young
The Greens senator for South Australia sued her
Senate colleague David Leyonhjelm for defamation,
after he accused her of being a misandrist and
slut-shamed her. The case is still pending, but
Hanson-Young has already won the highroad.“My daughter Cora came into the world during my first
election campaign in 2007. I don’t know politics without
her, and I don’t know motherhood without politics. From
day one, she’s kept me grounded. She’s helped me
determine and remember what my values are, and why I’m
doing all of this. In the rough-and-tumble of politics, Cora is
my home base.
“I WILL NOT BE
SILENCED ANY
MORE ABOUT
THE SEXISM
I EXPERIENCE”I found out I was pregnant at the same time I was given
the opportunity to run. Some people advised me not to
go into politics with a baby, that I should wait. But that
didn’t feel right. So I persevered, and I think that was
the right decision.
I’m very passionate about ensuring we have a parliament
with more women. That’s only going to happen if women
feel welcome. When David Leyonhjelm made sexist slurs
towards me, I knew I needed to call it out for what it was,
and I needed to do it for Cora and her peers. I will not
be silenced any more about the sexism I experience.
As challenging as that is, I think about what it will mean for
Cora and her friends when they’re older,
and how it might change the world for
them. That is a huge motivator. I want her
to go into the workforce knowing she has
every right to be treated equally – in pay,
and in attitude.
I never wanted this attention, but it’s
done something amazing; it’s pushed
conversations about the types of sexism
women experience every day, to the
forefront. We often don’t talk about it
because we see the consequences for
other women, like me. Sexism is like bullying: if you call it out,
you get shamed. It’s easier to stay quiet and pretend it’s not
happening. So to have such a strong and supportive public
response has been heartening. People don’t want this kind
of Australia. Womenandmen want their daughters to grow
up in a world that’s much more equal. As do I.”Dress, $175,COS,
cosstores.com/au;
earrings, $599,
NATASHA SCHWEITZER,
natashaschweitzer.comWE
ARE
WOMEN
2018