Earlier today, it was announced Gladys Berejiklian has been elected, unopposed, as the leader of the NSW Liberal party.
Ms Berejiklian, who was Mike Baird’s deputy and state treasurer, then attended a press conference ahead of being sworn in as the 45th Premier of NSW.
During this press conference, she was asked why doesn’t have children. Because apparently that’s more important than her politics.
Buzzfeed published the whole exchange between Ms Berejiklian and an unnamed journalist:
*Journalist: Julia Gillard was prime minister and she copped a lot of questions about her marriage status and her child status, many of them unfairly. How prepared are you for those sorts of questions?
Berejiklian: I have been in public life for a long time. I have been a senior minister for six years. I am ready for anything.
Journalist: So was Julia Gillard and she did get questions about it and there will be questions about it. Are you prepared for those questions?
Berejiklian: Sure, ask me one.
Journalist: The obvious question is do you think this is a disadvantage politically because people have kids and they have families and people identify with that like they did with Morris Iemma…
Berejiklian: Take me as you see me. [New deputy] Dominic Perrottet has made up for me, he has four kids. I am someone who has always been myself. Not all of us can plan how our life turns out. I am a very happy person. If you asked me 20 years ago would my life look like this? It probably wouldn’t be how it looks like. But I am grateful for the opportunities I have had. I also want to say again, not because I have to but because I want to, the closest people in my life are my family. I am not going to judge anybody on their personal circumstances. I am here to govern for everybody and I hope that people judge me on my merits and what I can do.*
Gladys Berejiklian’s response was certainly classy.
It comes as former NSW Premier (and the first woman to hold this position), Kristina Keneally, has urged the media not to be sexist in their treatment of Ms Berejiklian.
In a lengthy piece for The Guardian, Ms Keneally writes she’s been “inundated” with requests asking if she has any advice for the new Premier.
Hilariously, she writes:
“Look, I get it. Berejiklian has two x chromosomes and a vagina, and so do I. Never mind our obvious differences when it comes to politics, party affiliation, economic and social policy, or ideology. Clearly, as a fellow chick, she would want to hear my thoughts.”
Ms Keneally then advises the media:
“Resist the urge to write about – or read about – their shoes, hair, nail polish or jewellery. They will wear the same dress twice, just like male politicians wear the same suit over and over. Deal with it. Don’t fixate on or overemphasise the men in their lives – husbands, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, colleagues. Female politicians aren’t defined by these men any more than male politicians are by their female partners or colleagues.”
Unfortunately it seems this advice has already fallen on deaf ears if the journalist’s sexist question in the press conference is anything to go by.
