The Dark Shadow Shrine

embrace the darkness; that you may see the light nestled within it......

Monday, September 28, 2015

New Aussie defence minister's quiet rise

Click HERE
After Julia Gillard we now have another female heavyweight on the Aussie political scene --Marise Payne. And unlike Grace Fu in Singapore's cabinet, Ms Payne is put in charge of an important portfolio  -- defence, something usually overseen by men.
Note also ow the media is quick to dig out all the 'dirt' and controversies about her, esp those in her private life. She is labelled a 'cougar' (a term about older women 'preying' on younger men in a sexual relationship). Think successful women being vilified. Her predecessors have also suffered a similar fate, whether in Australia or elsewhere. When successful women are at the top, they are often under the intense scrutiny of the media; this is not to say that men are spared from this, but women get this 'privilege' more. They are a rarer species at the top, so they induce more interest, no to mention envy and even hatred. Every step by them is watched closely, and once they stumble or miss the step, the media will swoop in for the kill, like a bunch of hyenas or vampires! The prejudiced notion that women have no place being there means that they are held up against a higher benchmark and face harsher criticisms should they fail, and the media is less forgiving towards women then it would be over a similar mistake made by men. For a greater understanding of this, go HERE.
For that better, Obama can also be said to be under greater scrutiny and judgement by the media as he is also considered a 'rare' species at the top, being the first Black President of the US.

Qn: 'There has never been a better time than now to be a woman.' Comment. (SRJC Prelim 2015)