
1 minute read
Abusing women, abusing power
from 2018-07 Perth
by Indian Link
BY PAWAN LUTHRA
Heard enough from old white men. Seeing these words on the t-shirt of a fellow public transport user recently left me strangely uncomfortable. I’ve waxed forth frequently about not generalising about people in this manner, not stereotyping fellow human beings based on race and gender, religion and language, age and sexual orientation.
And yet this week, the lack of respect towards women we have seen from a certain section of the Australian community has left us gobsmacked.
Demeaning comments targeted at women have been made by men in positions of social power - politician David Leyonhjelm in Parliament, and Australian entertainment personality Bert Newton at the Logies. Sporting legend Barry Hall was a similar culprit on Triple M radio, but has since apologised for his unacceptable behaviour.
Worse still, the offenders - a media icon, a politician and a sporting legend - failed to understand the gravity of their comments.