19. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton 1980

 

9 to 5, for service and devotion
You would think that I
Would deserve a fair promotion
Want to move ahead
But the boss won't seem to let me

 

International Women’s Day (8 March) is very timely for Australia this year.

We have women coming forward about sexual harassment in the Australian Parliament House. We’ve had spiralling instances of domestic violence over the twelve months of COVID-19 – coincidently, since the last International Women’s Day - as the ongoing pandemic means that some women are forced to spend more time at home with their abusive significant others. Finally, we have ongoing gender disparity in the Australian High Court. So, what exactly are we celebrating this year for International Women’s Day?

Firstly, let’s look at the Brittany Higgins situation. I can’t say much more than what is in this well researched and balanced article. However, I do want to say that a raped women should NEVER have to choose between sucking it up and getting on with the job in order to keep her job, or seeking justice for being raped. Sure, Brittany’s accused rapist lost his job, but Brittany had to talk to the media, forgoing her rights as a victim to privacy, before anything started to happen.

Just two days back there was a headline on news.com.au reading ‘Life comes crashing down for man at centre of Brittany Higgins rape claim’. Seriously? Are we meant to be refocusing on ‘Oh my God! The man!’ in a rape situation! Maybe I shouldn’t be so judgemental as a title like this didn’t inspire me to read the article, but you can if you want.

So, as International Women’s Day approaches after 110 years of celebrating this day, what has really been achieved?

Sure, we’ve won the right to vote, the right to work, the right to equal pay, the right to self-determination as to what happens to our bodies and other achievements, but we’re still viewed as substandard as others seek to use our bodies for self-gratification. Or is it dominance as these alpha-male types feel threatened by us in the workplace and therefore try to keep us down as they provide opportunities to, and promote, younger versions of themselves as the best man for the job?

This situation of male fear of the rise of ‘Oh my God! The women!’ isn’t limited to Parliament House. This kind of situation happens in many different work environments, and as discussed in Post 7 and Post 8, violence against women is a very real problem outside of the workplace in this country, as men seem either unable to control their sexual urges, unable to control their emotions and/or feel threatened by women having the same rights and (apparent) opportunities to them.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxUSsFXYo4

 

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