Now, I do have to admit. I voted for Julia Gilliard at the last election. For those who don’t know, Julia Gilliard is the head of a minority government compromised of the Labour and Green parties. Traditionally, they’ve stood out as being more accepting of migrants and the lower class, as well as since this video came out, a staunch defender of female liberties and identity.
However, Julia Gillard’s partner, Tim Mathieson, made a rather stupid gaffe in a speech to the West Indies Cricket Team about females, in particular, small Asian ones. His comment, in regards to examinations prostate cancer: “We can get a blood test for it, but the digital examination is the only true way to get a correct reading on your prostate so make sure you go and do that, and perhaps look for a small Asian female doctor is probably the best way“.
Decried for being sexist, racist and even according to Tony Wright, National Affairs editor of the Melbourne Age newspaper, sizeist, it’s really not a good thing for someone who actively attacked the opposition leader for holding a similar attitude.
It’s a bit disgusting that Tim draws a line between “small” and “Asian”, perhaps subconsciously due to the misconception that Asian females are small and petite, and even that Asian males have small peckers. Yet it seems that the outrage is more directed at the sexism in the remarks rather than any perceived racism.
Perhaps for me, I actually wasn’t THAT offended… are you?
Photo credit: Mark Graham/AFP/Getty Images
