Extract from The Guardian
When was the last time you remember a US presidential candidate
borrowing the political capital of an Australian prime minister in a
campaign ad?
‘Gillard and Clinton are close. But their relationship goes beyond an
excellent working partnership in office to a personal friendship.’
Photograph: POOL/REUTERS
When Julia Gillard gave her “misogyny speech”
in the Australian parliament, the Canberra press gallery shrugged and
called it indulgent. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people watched
it online and cheered. The video of Australia’s first female prime
minister standing up to sexism went viral, travelling far and wide –
including, I understand, to the White House, where Barack Obama and
Hillary Clinton both gave it rave reviews.
The misogyny speech seemed to touch a nerve, as Gillard voiced the words that many a woman wished she’d said to some man at some time. Given our political press gallery is still predominantly male, maybe they just didn’t get it.
Gillard is something of an international superstar these days, and not just because of the misogyny speech. Emerging as one of the top education leaders in the world, Gillard commands global respect to such an extent that the putative next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton, included our former prime minister in campaign video released this week.
The misogyny speech seemed to touch a nerve, as Gillard voiced the words that many a woman wished she’d said to some man at some time. Given our political press gallery is still predominantly male, maybe they just didn’t get it.
Gillard is something of an international superstar these days, and not just because of the misogyny speech. Emerging as one of the top education leaders in the world, Gillard commands global respect to such an extent that the putative next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton, included our former prime minister in campaign video released this week.
Think about that – when was the last time you remember a US
presidential candidate borrowing the political capital of an Australian
prime minister in a campaign advertisement? Yes, I can’t think of an
example either.
Gillard and Clinton are close, getting to know one another during the Australia-US ministerial consultations (Ausmin) in Perth in 2012. Both women recognised shared purpose, particularly when it comes to supporting the advancement and development of young women and girls through education. But their relationship goes beyond an excellent working partnership in office to a personal friendship and recognition of shared values and experiences. Independently, the two women praised each other in their mutual books, especially for standing up against sexism in politics and society.
When the Clinton campaign asked Gillard to be part of the campaign video two weeks ago it was an easy decision for Gillard, who has previously publicly supported Clinton’s presidential bid, to say yes.
Some former prime ministers join boards. Some retire to a quiet life. Some pursue personal agendas (or vendettas) and some seem, for a short or long period after leaving office, to be a bit lost and drifting.
Gillard, who had a bruising and difficult time with a hung parliament, hostile sections of the media and undermining from within, has risen above the Australian political fray to a distinguished and respected international career. How has she done this? By remaining true to her sense of purpose, and for Gillard, her purpose is education.
Raised by a father who knew the consequences of leaving school early, Gillard learned from an early age the value of a good education. It was the primary purpose of her political career, and some of her greatest achievements as a minister and prime minister occurred in education.
Now chair of the board of directors at the Global Partnership for Education, she’s directing resources and money to provide schooling to children in the world’s poorest countries. Through her work at the Brookings Institution she leads policy development on the most effective ways to deliver education at scale in disadvantaged communities.
The world looks to Gillard as a leader in education, particularly of young women, and in the last few weeks alone she’s spoken at the United Nations, Columbia University and appeared with Michelle Obama and Charlize Theron in New York City on a panel on the global importance of educating girls.
The misogyny speech made Gillard internationally famous. She’s still stopped in the street, on college campuses, and in board rooms the world over by people who have watched the YouTube clip. But it would be a mistake to think her reputation globally begins and ends there.
Where some former prime ministers seem to crave attention, missing the spotlight, Gillard has been doing substantive things these past few years – and without the need to broadcast it – by following her passion. The rest – the attention, the international profile – has followed.
Rather than trying to parlay that profile into a personal gain, Gillard is instead using her considerable international political capital to direct attention, money and new approaches to transforming the lives of the world’s most disadvantaged children, especially girls.
And now, quite possibly, helping elect America’s first female president.
Gillard and Clinton are close, getting to know one another during the Australia-US ministerial consultations (Ausmin) in Perth in 2012. Both women recognised shared purpose, particularly when it comes to supporting the advancement and development of young women and girls through education. But their relationship goes beyond an excellent working partnership in office to a personal friendship and recognition of shared values and experiences. Independently, the two women praised each other in their mutual books, especially for standing up against sexism in politics and society.
When the Clinton campaign asked Gillard to be part of the campaign video two weeks ago it was an easy decision for Gillard, who has previously publicly supported Clinton’s presidential bid, to say yes.
Some former prime ministers join boards. Some retire to a quiet life. Some pursue personal agendas (or vendettas) and some seem, for a short or long period after leaving office, to be a bit lost and drifting.
Gillard, who had a bruising and difficult time with a hung parliament, hostile sections of the media and undermining from within, has risen above the Australian political fray to a distinguished and respected international career. How has she done this? By remaining true to her sense of purpose, and for Gillard, her purpose is education.
Raised by a father who knew the consequences of leaving school early, Gillard learned from an early age the value of a good education. It was the primary purpose of her political career, and some of her greatest achievements as a minister and prime minister occurred in education.
Now chair of the board of directors at the Global Partnership for Education, she’s directing resources and money to provide schooling to children in the world’s poorest countries. Through her work at the Brookings Institution she leads policy development on the most effective ways to deliver education at scale in disadvantaged communities.
The world looks to Gillard as a leader in education, particularly of young women, and in the last few weeks alone she’s spoken at the United Nations, Columbia University and appeared with Michelle Obama and Charlize Theron in New York City on a panel on the global importance of educating girls.
The misogyny speech made Gillard internationally famous. She’s still stopped in the street, on college campuses, and in board rooms the world over by people who have watched the YouTube clip. But it would be a mistake to think her reputation globally begins and ends there.
Where some former prime ministers seem to crave attention, missing the spotlight, Gillard has been doing substantive things these past few years – and without the need to broadcast it – by following her passion. The rest – the attention, the international profile – has followed.
Rather than trying to parlay that profile into a personal gain, Gillard is instead using her considerable international political capital to direct attention, money and new approaches to transforming the lives of the world’s most disadvantaged children, especially girls.
And now, quite possibly, helping elect America’s first female president.
No comments:
Post a Comment