Yesterday Australia's Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced the appointment of Susan Keifel as chief justice of Australia's high court (replacing retiring Robert French). Keifel will be the first woman to hold this position which will mark a milestone in Australia's constitutional history.
I love seeing women succeed in their careers, expanding the minds and possibilities of young girls everywhere. I think back to when I was just a girl and I can feel the constraint of my own dreams. See without seeing people who resemble you, whether that be gender or race, its easy for your subconscious to scrub things out. I don't recall thinking I couldn't do something because I was a girl, I just didn't think at all about having a thriving career fullstop. I was blessed with a mother who cared and loved so deeply but she only knew being a stay at home mum, as was most of her friends, that was my exposure. Yes it is a win that Susan Keifel has been appointed but she was the most skilled for the role and had already had a few 'first woman' roles prior to reaching the position she now holds. She was simply the best candidate. Keifel holds a similar view as when PM Turnbull called and asked "How she felt about breaking the glass ceiling" she responded noting it was more 'natural progression'. Most large organisations today have diversity programs, equal opportunity policies ensuring women are present on boards and in positions of senior leadership, I think society has recognised the benefit's of diversity and shun those that don't follow. The challenge companies are faced with is the lack of female candidates. Its almost impossible to get a 50/50 split of applicants so the likeliness of hiring a man over a women continues. This I believe is where the significance of Susan Keifels position really sits. We need more women to think more openly about what is possible, and put themselves on paths to be the most suitable candidates. We need organisations to be able to accommodate careers and parenting as this is society's issue not just a female issue. We need to be able to get girls to believe in a bright future, get the skills and then stay in business while families are being grown. When we look at the gender balance at university's its encouraging news with the national average being 55.5% female, with Education and Health bringing in the largest numbers respectively. The next challenge is moving past entry and mid tier positions and keeping women 'naturally progressing' post children. When discussing her working life Keifel remarks "I have been very fortunate to have found my path very early in life and then to be able to follow it and be supported and encouraged at every step" Susan Keifel was Queensland's first female queen's counsel in 1987 and the first women to get a seat on the state's supreme court. Photo: AAP/Andrew Sheargold
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There are women everywhere today who sit in complete disbelief. Horrified by what they have witnessed. On a day that should of been a victory for women everywhere, another monumental crack in the glass ceiling, a memory to savour and share with your daughters and granddaughters in years to come, America voted, and America got it wrong.
This whole election has been a gross campaign of the over indulged, entitled, elite white male. His comments and beliefs about women, our rights, our roles in society, our bodies and our overall equality are sickening, I feel deeply saddened for America. That times are so tough that they have lost a sense of humanity. That somehow they have forgotten the years of rebellion that has led to the free world that they so lovingly chant. That the shame of their prior behaviours have been overlooked and a sexist, racist, bigoted celebrity is who they turn to. I don’t understand the 52% of white women who voted for Trump, I wonder what has gone on in their lives that they have put their very own respect, rights to their bodies and right to equality as second priority to whatever it is they think Donald is selling. I wonder how they turn to their daughters and grand-daughters and say I voted that this behaviour is better than the America we live in today. I am aware that employment is a key issue. That this hate that is being spruiked to Mexicans, Muslims, Chinese and all races, even their own the Black American, is because people are afraid. The global economy has changed and we have seen the rust belts of America suffer. I hope that it is from lack of education that America voted, that they genuinely believed the promise of jobs and a stronger economy could actually unfold from the ridiculous proposals put forward by Trump. For those middle class men and women who went to university, who understand the global market place and the realities of what is about to happen, shame on you. Trump’s acceptance speech was of a different line then what he has been vomiting throughout this campaign. There was slightly more reason and sensibility within it. But I don’t think anyone should be fooled, that his views that relate to his humanity and decency as a person are still the same Donald Trump we have seen for the last 20 years. So as women we need to rise above this, it is business as usual, one old white male is not stopping this train. The sisterhood is alive and well. #ImWithHer |
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