When it comes to dealing with backlash against gender equality, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher believes the answer is in presence, participation, persistence, perseverance and vigilance.
Declaring herself an optimist, Gallagher said that history, context, and perspective around the fight for gender equality are important, “when we actively feel the pushback happening.”
“We get thousands of small moments that, over time, add up to the kind of big change that later looks inevitable.
“History shows us that backlash and resistance have always been part of that story, too.
“But they’re not the end of the story,” she said.
Speaking at the Women UNLIMITED leadership summit, organised by the Global Institute of Women in Leadership and the Hatchery, Gallagher conceded there is a rising sense of unease, especially among women of her generation, who are worried about some of the trends they’re seeing and reading about, especially online with rising harassment and disrespect and a resurgence of outdated and misogynistic view being shared with young people.
“Some women ask, how do we make sure that everything that’s been fought for over decades won’t be lost? How do we keep moving forward, especially when the times feel so uncertain, so unpredictable?” she said.
“I have two ways that I generally answer these questions:
“First, that we keep showing up, we never retreat.
“And second, that we understand that progress is never linear, it’s never been one-way traffic, it’s not inevitable and without vigilance and commitment, the gains that were so hard fought for can be lost very quickly.
“Every gain for women – every right, every reform, every inch of ground – was fought for and won often after decades of campaigning and almost always in the face of, and despite fierce resistance.”
Listing out what she says her government has achieved on gender equality, including changes to paid parental leave, more funding for women’s health and investment and protections against violence and harassment, Gallagher said it highlights that structural, practical reforms continue in the face of gender equality pushbacks.
“But there is always more to do, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that progress is never achieved easily.”
She said the answer to progressing gender equality is simple: we push on.
“We keep pressing on. History is littered with examples of successful campaigns for women’s rights but none of them were achieved without significant pushback.
To keep pressing on, Senator Gallagher noted a number of essential ingredients, including:
- Presence, to keep showing up
- Participation, to get and stay involved on not leave it to others
- Persistence, to never give up
- Perseverance, to stay the course
- And vigilance, to never let our guards down.
“Underestimating pushback would be a big mistake,” Gallagher said.
“But acknowledging it’s always been there in various forms reminds us to stay focused on our North Star – equality for all.
“And, as we keep our eyes on those who seek to bend the arc of reform away from justice, we get on with making the difference we can deliver now.