Michel Smith spent some time in a talk at Rice Universty talking about the crude values the boys in his Australian childhood took to be required. The behavior is far from universal, but it got a good airing in discussions of the country’s PM.
Thanks to Brian Leiter for the link to this video:
While it’s unfair to say that all of the men in Australia have such ‘crude values’, the treatment of Gillard certainly does highlight that a large percentage do. The misogynist and sexists values in Australia always made me feel uneasy, and an outsider while growing up. While abroad, I would often be asked why I left Australia, and the sexists and misogyny aspects were always up there (which surprised a number of people).
I also not surprised by the treatment and reception of Gillard. I can only hope that the next female Prime Minister is treated with much more respect and less vitriol.
What this despicable video made me think of is how Clinton may be treated if she becomes President.