Housing clearances in Canberra in 2022
It is beyond belief that in the 21st century a self-nominated progressive Labor/Greens coalition government sanctioned the eviction of its own social housing tenants.
Category Archives: women
ACT Public Art and inequality
It was stunning to see the images of Premier Dominic Perrottet after NSW opened up on October 11; he welcomed people back to his version of normal – that of blokes, pubs, beers and more blokes. Women were absent.
Pentecostal Morrison
The danger to Australia’s civil society is the current Australian Prime Minister.
This blog article based on personal experiences reinforces that. click here.
Cherry picking your values 2
follow-up on a community groups choosing their values
Proposal to answer queries – a follow up piece
More on Bill Pye Park Ainslie and the YWCA
An article was published this week about the proposed building of social housing on a site now leased by the YWCA on the corner of the block that is largely Bill Pye Park in Ainslie.
Cherry picking your values
Community Group as developer chooses to ignore basic values
When the ACT government announced it had approved the development application by the YWCA to build social housing on the corner of Bill Pye Park in Ainslie*, there was a collective sigh of frustration from residents.
Australian 2021 Budget farce
when most media fall for the spin
With the 2021 Australian budget announced last night, the sad part is the way most in the media accept the spin.
ACT Government stacked boards
Board members irrelevant to Canberra
The boards of the City Renewal Authority, the National Capital Authority and the Suburban Land Agency have little connection to the everyday life of residents.
Scott Morrison and women
These boys have a problem
It took my breath away when I read the line by the prime minister’s office – “nothing in the budget is gendered”
Equity in the media
We are not there yet
Sometimes we fool ourselves that equity is being treated seriously by most sector of society.
Rebecca Solnit
Trump and on not being inattentive and indifferent
Rebecca Solnit has written about regimes such as Trump’s do not last forever.
White Males
Another listing of white males
Every time this happens from within government bureaucracies, it makes you wonder.
equity and talent in cabinet
How women dress
alternative facts
a Telstra NBN story
Another mess made by Malcolm Turnbull
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154819656957544&set=p.10154819656957544&type=3
Women in music
A list of women in music – turning the tables; click here
All Liberal – all men
click on the image for the story – and wonder which century these people live in?
K D Lang
Uber and Defeating Sexism
The story of one woman who demanded to be heard
The Uber CEO is gone – why?
click here for the story in The Guardian and read about Susan Fowler, the person who did not do as advised – to ignore the sexist behaviour around her.
Anna Gray AM
Queen’s Birthday honour to former NGA curator
As listed: Dr Anne Mary Gray AM
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton makes a fiery commencement speech at her alma mater – taking aim at Trump and his colleagues. She makes the speech nearly 50 years after graduating from Wellesley College in 1969
Hillary Clinton
Inventing the Wicked Witch: Review of Susan Bordo’s The Destruction of Hillary Clinton
Penguin - Michelle Smith, Deakin University
Hillary Clinton
A message to all the purists liberals
see message below – very appropriate for all those who bought the lies
Hillary Clinton
The Destruction of Hillary Clinton
I have already reviewed this book – click here.
However I cannot stop pondering the challenge this story throws up for anyone interested in equity, fairness, and the role of the media in so many aspects of our daily lives.
If we had a real media, this story would have been totally different. Instead what happened here was the total manipulation of the media and through them members of the public, by all forms of malicious groups of people and individuals.
Hillary Clinton
The Destruction of Hillary Clinton
It was on hearing certain phrases used over and over again on Australian TV programs talking about the 2016 US election campaign that I became suspicious that we were witnessing a lazy press.
Almost daily the media was taking the same phrases and words and using them over and over again – with no evidence that they could be accurate except that they were the words and phrases being used by most journalists and commentators at the time.
On the basis we were supposed to accept their words as fact.
Julia Baird
Julia Baird on the sleaze bags that affect people’s lives – click on the image
International Women’s Day 2017
Celebrating with visual art and music
click on image for more….
Women Photograph
click on the image for the website – Women Photograph
Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Very good article about this event – click on the image
trump
Jane Fonda on Trump
Michelle Obama
Hillary Clinton
Leslie Knope writes to America about Trump
US election
Kristina Keneally gets it right on her take on this disaster.
Being Turnbulled
The Australian Government has carried on bullying good people
All this and more is happening with the blessing of the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull. The country is being Turnbulled again – or is that ‘still’. There are two good articles that address the issue of this officially sanctioned bullying. This is an international disgrace. Here’s the first – click here; and the second – click here.
Women in Art
click on image for the story in The Guardian
Women in Museums
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama on Trump
She nailed it. How do we vote for Michelle Obama?
The creature from our worst nightmare
Image linked from a site by Amy Dickinson – click here
Women & Trump
click on image for the piece by Anne Summers
Being Turnbulled: equity
click on the image for some more wise words from Kristina
Ageism and Women
From The Guardian UK – a piece about ageism – and how it effects women – and men. click here
Women in Politics
Turnbull a FIZZA on women
The evidence continues of just how bad this man has been as Prime Minister. Click here or on the image for this sad tale. and
Being Turnbulled
In so many ways Australia was being Turnbulled by Malcolm Turnbull.
Now he and his treasurer have struck out against women – when will this stop? Click here for the story about the budget.
Places Women Make
Book Review: Places Women Make, Jane Jose, 2016
This book is a celebration of the contribution by women to our cultural, social and urban lives. The book has the secondary title ‘Unearthing the contribution of women to our cities.’
Helen Muspratt photographer
click on image
Feminism has failed and needs a radical rethink
International Women’s Day 2016
Mansplaining a qualification for being a federal bloke
another male federal politician, another of Malcolm Turnbull’s chosen boys, demonstrates how being patronizing to women must be a qualification for being in the Turnbull government.
Continue reading Mansplaining a qualification for being a federal bloke
Witches both mad and bad: a loaded word with an ugly history
From The Conversation, Michelle Smith, Deakin University
Over the weekend, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton inadvertently sent a text message calling journalist Samantha Maiden a “mad f—ing witch” to Maiden herself, rather than his intended recipient, fellow MP Jamie Briggs.
Continue reading Witches both mad and bad: a loaded word with an ugly history
a week of sexism in Australia
an article in the guardian – click on the image above
gropers, leakers, fibbers, fools, frauds, dickheads and dopes
An article that sums up the problems within the current government…. click on image
Women photographers
The fight to gain equity in the recognition of women in the art world just keeps on having to be repeated. The historical biases just do not go away.
But then along comes something that is really strange.
Women on TV
The New York Times article on women in TV is a sad tale of how far things have advanced with women’s employment. In this case, the author states that things did improve but that it was a spike rather than a trend. Click here for the article.
Women Photographers
There needs to be more articles such as this one from The Guardian.
Anne Summers Report
August/September 2015 issue available online – click on the image for the download
Mhairi Black
A political speech with a difference! She nailed the issue right on the head!
Here in Australia there is no-one like this in our Parliament. It is time for a change – where are the Australian Mhairi Blacks?
Women in the Art World
recommended reading…
click on the image – for many articles about the art world and its not so fair treatment of women. If one sector of this world should have sorted this by now – surely it should have been the arts. But alas, it just ain’t so. Here’s the link again.
Loud! at AGNSW
This is a small exhibition of nine works has been produced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of International Women’s Year (1975).
Katy Gallagher
Here in Canberra we are very lucky to have a good person as one of our national senators. She was a great Chief Minister of the ACT and now given her personal commitments to issues, let’s hope the great beast of the Labor Party does not do her in. Click here for her maiden speech to the senate. Go Girl!!!
Anne Summers Reports
The lack of equity in film
click on image for the story from Crikey
Marriage Equality
It has been interesting to watch the political responses to the decision by the Irish to back marriage equality. Sometimes a writer’s opening lines hit the nail on the head.
Rorting Women
All the boys in the Australian Government continue to prove to the world their attitude to women. Through the recent budget processes, we had the astonishing revelation that so many women at home with children who had been using the paid leave system available to them have now been identified by this government, those wonderful band of big boys, as being rorters and fraudsters.
Equity and Corporate Boards
One would think that by now people would make sure there is equity with the appointment of people to corporate boards, panels, committees etc.
Anne Summers Reports
Anne Summers Reports – April/May 2015
Please download Anne’s latest report on many issues – always a good read. And once you have read the reports, see if you can support this publication by becoming a subscriber. Click on image for the link.
Anne Summers in Conversation
Anne Summers in Conversation with Elizabeth Broderick: an evening of appreciation and gratitude.
Thursday, 7 May, 2015 6:30PM
City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sydney. Click here.
Equity and Corporate Boards
and how we still do not get it!
to quote from a Guardian article: There are more men named Peter in the chief executive and chair positions of companies in the ASX200 – Australia’s 200 largest listed companies – than there are women. click here for the article. and..
A Campaign to Put a Woman on the Twenty-Dollar Bill
click on the image for this great story – we wish them all the best!
International Women’s Day 2015
click on image for link to UN Women website
Anne Summers Reports
Anne Summers first report for 2015
Definitely worth downloading – click on image above. And please consider providing support – see details within the report.
Gender Equity 2015
Comment on gender equity in 2015
No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality. The UN has invited men to sign up to assist with achieving gender equity.
It’s A Man’s World – still
click on the image for the story
Anne Summers Reports
Reminder – to download
The Anne Summers Reports
Please find the time to download and read Anne Summers Report # 10. It is online with all the previous reports. click here. and – remember to think about providing support through a donation – see the links on the page – click here
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Paul Costigan
Women and Carbon Tax
The Abbott as Minister not for Woman
As 2014 draws to an end, the Credlin Government spokesperson, Tony Abbott, went on TV to talk positive about the changes to the Ministerial portfolios just announced. It was supposed to be an opportunity to finish the year with a positive after being such a crap government all through 2014.
But he blew it. Again! Boss Credlin will be very unhappy. Again!
Anne Summers
Women Mentors
The Politics of Leadership for Women
The lack of senior women as mentors for the next generation of women.
The publication of statements by Julie Bishop would be doing nothing to encourage young women about their opportunities and possible career paths. Her attitude seems to that women should stop complaining and get on with it.
Anne Summers report
Please have a look at Anne’s latest report. click here Continue reading Anne Summers report
Anne Summers Reports
Please have a look (click on banner above) and then take out a subscription to the Anne Summers Reports – click here – and note that the subscription is free!.
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Paul Costigan, 20 September 2014
World Architecture Festival Jury
Comment: On the gender mix of this architecture jury
It is sad to see that world architecture has continued the trend to have a dominance of the boys in their decision-making – this picture says it all!
The Monster Morrison and his freind
commentary: Good journalism
There are still journalists who tell it as it is really happening. A few.
I link here to two stories relating to two of Australia’s most evil men. There’s a few more!
One is a story of both of them by Jenna Price in the Canberra Times.
Women taking on-going hits
Commentary: on the on-going inequities
Croakey author, Michelle Hughes, highlighted the ongoing inequities within the health science arena – click here.
I identify with her final comment on the selection of keynote speakers as the issue of getting women as key-note speakers was a focus of mine in the past. I did come up with a strategy to deal with it. See my notes below.
Women take another hit
Commentary: on how the women of Australia have been hit (again) by so-called education reforms.
One wonders just how long all thinking Australians are going to put up with so many terrible decisions being made by a federal cabinet that has just the one token woman present. Jane Caro has written a very good piece in the Guardian on how that stupid Education Minister is putting into place even more barriers to equity in employment. click here.
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Paul Costigan, 11 August 2014
The Honour Code
Gender Inequity in Galleries
Confronting art world sexism
From an article by Jori Finkel in the Art Newspaper:
In New York, Sperone Westwater comes in at 91 versus nine. Team Gallery at 85 versus 15; Matthew Marks at 84 versus 16, and Mary Boone at 83 versus 17. Some of the top galleries in Los Angeles tell a similar story: Blum & Poe is 89 versus 11; Prism is 88 versus 12; Thomas Solomon is 85 to 15, and Patrick Painter is 83 to 17.
Cate Blanchett in conversation with Anne Summers
Event announcement
Cate Blanchett in conversation with Anne Summers
Click on image above – or click here
Equity in Australian Political Leadership
Politics and Equity
Once upon a time in the not too distant past a gathering of Australian State/Territory Premiers and the Prime Minister looked like this image below.
and now? Continue reading Equity in Australian Political Leadership
Australian Women’s History Forum
The Australian Women’s History Forum – Great Debate 2014
Held in the Albert Hall, Canberra, on 26 March 2014.
The proposition was that ‘Australia doesn’t need Women’s History Month’. Continue reading Australian Women’s History Forum
Women Musicians and Rolling Stone
Music: How Women still are overlooked by Rolling Stone Magazine
Over the years there has been a massive increase in the recognition of women musicians. It would therefore be a natural expectations that important music magazines would reflect this achievement. Then again, why such optimism?
Something Really Scary
Politics Australia 2014 Style
Do you want to see something really really scary?
The Monthly has published an excellent article of the Abbott crowd and how his old boys are in charge. The image on the cover is worrying simply because it is so factual. The artist has captured their collective personalities far too accurately.
Do not show this image to children. Click here.
Brisbane’s South Bank Corporate Equity
Comment: On equity gone missing!
Brisbane’s South Bank Corporation’s lack of equity in their management
It was while researching the background on my pieces on Brisbane and in particular on the South Bank Corporation, that I was checking on its corporate status when I came across a rude piece of evidence on the corporation. Continue reading Brisbane’s South Bank Corporate Equity
Senator Louise Pratt
Politics and Humanity
Senator Louise Pratt: No more Labor Bullocks for Australia’s sake
It is definitely worth reading these fine words from a Labor politician who has just been done over by her own party’s election processes.
And to add to her fury, she was insulted by the election of a complete dud and stupid bloke to a senate position that should have been hers.
click here for her side of the story in glorious detail.
Equity and Corporate Boards
Why Corporate Boardrooms Need More Women
When women earn high positions and speak up for their professional goals, they encourage more to do the same. There’s an online article by Barbara B. Kamm in which she says: Continue reading Equity and Corporate Boards
status of women
Opinion: Girls can do everything, just not all at once
Canberra Times Article, by Marie Coleman
With the first female Governor General now having departed the scene, it was indeed timely for a local writer to sum up the messy situation that occurred thanks to our infamous Prime Minister.
That is, The Rabbott took this opportunity of the departure of this well-loved person from this high office, to confuse any celebration by announcing that he was bringing back the out of date honours of Knighthoods and Dames. To rub it in fully, The Rabbott announced that Quentin Bryce was to be the first to be honoured.
Motherhood
Opinion Piece on Queen Victoria and Motherhood
Queen Victoria, Another Maligned Mother
Julia Baird, New York Times
Julia Baird has published an opinion piece in the New York times using a review of a book to comment on how mothers who work continue to be maligned in the 21st Century.
Julia Gillard’s misogyny song
“Not Now, Not Ever!” (Gillard Misogyny Speech)”
The following YouTube presentation is a must view – the audio takes a moment to kick in – but it is worth it.
Being Bossy
Not All Good Leaders Are Bossy
We should be doing everything we can to ensure leadership positions are available to women. But in the process let’s not forget that some women prefer to plot their world domination quietly.
Click here for a nice article in The Atlantic identifying that we have to do something about linking being bossy and leadership.
Status of Women 2014
Nine Stories on the Status of Women
The first story was told to me about a proposal being put to someone’s recent board meeting suggesting that the organisation needed to do far more about the status of women in their particular workforce. That is, along with the business councils in Australia, the organisation could devise some manner by which annually they recognise and award the female achievers.
In a world of inequity, the reactions should not have been so surprising.
International Women’s Day
Links to more on International Women’s Day
More Male Faces
Opinion: faces on panels
I wonder how long before it becomes unusual to see a line up of male faces on panels and seminars? It remains unusual to see an all female line up. And this is the 21st Century.
The latest Grattan Institute talk sounds like a worthy discussion to attend.