<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/01/why-im-not-done-fighting-for-animal-rights-and-for-women>
"Monday was the day that duck shooting should have been banned in Victoria.
Instead it was the day we saw the government betray parliamentary processes,
our wildlife and our community. And somehow, that day ended with a bizarre form
of sexism against me.
I won’t pretend public life since my election as an MP has been easy,
especially as a young woman.
I never thought it would be, particularly because I didn’t want to – and
couldn’t – pretend to be the kind of woman people easily accept as a
politician.
It’s why I chose to share parts of my story, including that I am a former sex
worker, and my experience with abortion.
I’m a member of the Animal Justice party and, to me, that means defending the
non-human constituents largely ignored in politics. It means going up against
traditionally patriarchal, inherently violent systems where animal abuse and
sexism can form a dangerous alliance.
Being on the front foot has always felt like an important form of
self-preservation and protection. But it shouldn’t have to be, and it is
apparent to me that it is not this way for my male colleagues.
Monday marked a new low. Against a backdrop of shooter bravado, and woven
between endless messages from men vowing to kill more ducks “for me”, a
mainstream TV news channel betrayed not just me but all women.
An image of my outfit and my body was altered without my permission; my dress
was turned into a two-piece, revealing my stomach, and my breasts were
enlarged. Even if accidental, for this image to be broadcast on TV was not
something I thought I’d face at the end of the worst day of my career to date."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
