Where are we now, ten years on from Julia Gillard’s “misogyny speech” – the speech that stopped us all in our tracks? The new book from Australia’s former prime minister, Not Now Not Ever, is a barn-burning piece of Australian feminist history in the making.
Gillard’s incisive speech in Parliament House, made on 9 October 2012, continues to energise and motivate women who need to stare down sexism and misogyny in their own lives.
With contributions from Mary Beard, Jess Hill, Jennifer Palmieri, Katharine Murphy and members of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Gillard explores the history and culture of misogyny, tools in the patriarchy’s toolbox, intersectionality, and gender and misogyny in the media and politics.
FANZA arts patron Kathy Lette looks at how the speech has gained a new life on TikTok, as well as inspiring other tributes and hand-made products, and we hear recollections from Wayne Swan, Anne Summers, Cate Blanchett, Brittany Higgins and others of where they were and how they first encountered the speech.
While behaviours may have improved since the misogyny speech, there remains a way to go and Julia Gillard explores the roadmap for the future with next-generation feminists Sally Scales, Chanel Contos and Caitlin Figueiredo to motivate us with that rallying cry: Not now, not ever!
Available from all good book stores. Proceeds from the book go to the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL).
