What prompted this armchair feminist to take action

What prompted this armchair feminist to do something

armchair feminist
By Deanna Palen 

I’m usually just an armchair feminist who prefers to shout at the telly & mutter to myself – being a solo parent of five, one with special needs, will tend to do that.

But Bettina Arndt being awarded an Order of Australia and her myriad goading and damaging comments since got me out of my armchair.

On Tuesday I sent an email to the Governor-General’s office to expressing my views. This is what I wrote.

“Bettina Arndt does not represent Australia in her publicised views on feminism, men’s rights, misogyny, misandry, equal rights, family law, criminal justice or domestic violence.

She represents the voice of a furious minority who seek the privileges of a majority, with none of the incumbent legal or ethical responsibilities.

Not only does Bettina Arndt speak for a loud and bitter few, rather than the majority of Australians, but as a deliberate antagonist. Her published views have no empirical substance or charge for positive change: her public discourses seek to name-call (young women who reject unwanted advances as ‘uncaring bitches’ and mothers who leave abusive male partners, and initiate legal action to this end, as ‘spiteful and’ vindictive bitches’), and incite misogyny and bigotry.

Rewarding Bettina Arndt with an Order of Australia does not merely dishonour or discredit the Order, it debases it. Please consider rescinding Bettina Arndt’s Order of  Australia. It cannot be objectively concluded that her comments serve ‘the community’ or ‘gender equity’ in Australia.”

Thank you Women’s Agenda for getting this armchair feminist to finally put her name to something and take some action.

Deanna Palen. 

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