Yahoo Lifestyle John Howard Derides Julia Gillard’s Famous Misogyny Speech
In a television interview last night former Australian Prime Minister John Howard called Julia Gillard's famous misogyny speech "nonsense."
During the interview, which aired on Seven's Sunday Night, Howard said that while he believed the there should be more women in politics, "play[ing] the misogyny card" was not the way to do it.
"I think it is the worst possible way of promoting a greater involvement by women in public life," Howard said. "To play the misogyny card -- so many women of ability I know in the community pour scorn on that."
When asked if he felt that the speech resonated widely, Howard said that he did not think that it had, and that it had not made an impact on "any women I know."
This runs in contrast with what Gillard told marie claire in the days after she made the now-famous speech in November 2012.
In an exclusive interview with editor Jackie Frank, Gillard said: "The office was besieged by people ringing up and sending emails.
"A friend of mine whose daughter goes to an all-girls school in Melbourne said that the class his daughter is in watched the speech and spontaneously broke into cheers and applause at the end of it, so that touched me."
The then-Prime Minister also commented on the international reception of her speech.
"In India I had two women who were around me across the visit...Indian security women - and on the last day they asked if they could get a photo with me to remember the trip by. And we were just going to get that photo done and one of them said, "I Googled your name and this amazing speech came up!"
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