YWCA Adelaide Annual Report 2013-14 | Page 52

ADVOCACY Blair Williams was our annual University of Adelaide Arts Intern in 2013 and she chose to focus her research on the Media Portrayal of Julia Gillard when Prime Minister and the impact on women’s leadership aspirations. In an online survey, 31% of respondents said that in their lives they had had aspirations to enter politics at a local, state or federal level. When asked if “the media treatment of Julia Gillard while Prime Minister made” participants less or more likely to stand for election, two-thirds of those previously interested in politics stated that they were less likely to be interested in standing for election again in the future. Women over the age of thirty-one were more affected by this, with 80% of women over 31 saying they were less likely to stand at a local, state or federal level after witnessing negative media treatment of Gillard. Women between the ages of 18-21, on the other hand, were not as affected. Still – more than half in that age group - 57% - said they were less likely to stand at a local, state or federal level. Of women in the 18-21 age group, 43% said the media treatment of Julia Gillard did not affect their decision at all. Throughout the survey, many respondents expressed “shock, horror and dismay” at the media treatment of Julia Gillard with one respondent stating: “our society excuses and legitimizes the unfair and discriminatory treatment of women”. However, for some, it was a motivating factor. One respondent stated that the media treatment of Julia Gillard while Prime Minister “encouraged women to speak up … and I know I am not alone. It was a shocking yet confidence building realization”.