WFT,

You assert that "From 1856 as Australian states became self-governing voting rights were extended to all male British subjects over the age of 21. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males were excluded."

No, they weren't, at least not in SA. I precised a letter from the Superintendent at Poonindie Mission, remarking that he had drive some men into Port Lincoln to vote. And, of course, when women got the vote in SA in 1894, the second place in the world ever to give women the vote after New Zealand, Aboriginal women were included: they voted on Missions at least as much as the men. Aboriginal women in South Australia thus had the vote long before women in the UK, US or France. Turnout for the 1896 elections at one Mission was reported as twice the state average.

It's fascinating to contemplate that my wife's Aboriginal great-grandmother had the vote before my own English grandmother.

But you are spot-on about the rest. Thank you, WFT!.

Joe

Dear WTF?,

Thank You for the information.

I have always believed that feminism(as given in
dictionaries) was the belief that men and women
should have equal rights and opportunities.
That it was the theory of the political, economic
and social equality of the sexes.

What many people like Penny Wong, Julie Bishop,
Selma Hayek, Michaela Cash, to name just a few
don't like is feminism being
hijacked by noisy activists who often have views
on gender which lean towards the extreme.

There are also politicians that go hand-in-hand with
some of today's feminists that not everyone wants to sign
up to, as Penny Wong pointed out on Monday evening on
"Q and A," when she agreed with Michaela Cash in
criticising the extremists.

Thank you Loudmouth for the correction and update. Perhaps my Queensland-centric view of the world is to blame. Obviously social change in some states was more advanced then others at the time leading up to federation.

Yes Foxy, extremist views on any subject, be that feminism, religion, migration, race, sexuality etc, is very off putting to say the least. I don't like extremist feminists who try to tell other women what we should or shouldn't want....in a very negative way.

Many people believe in the myths about feminism through a culture of fear put about by both radical feminists and scared little males with not a neuron between them.
Feminists don't demonize men at all, they just want equality, not enemies.
The vast majority of Feminists have male partners and relatives, so I don't believe this supposed male hatred thing at all.

The silliest feminism myth of all though is the mad idea that feminism has somehow destroyed the 'traditional family unit'. This little gem is usually put out there by men who are unhappy that women in our country now have the freedom to get out of a relationship, rather than back in the good ol' days where they were forced to stay in loveless or abusive relationships because of 'ownership' laws re money, property, and children.

I unreservedly thank the feminist trailblazers of the past for working hard to get women the vote, safe/legal abortions, effective contraception, no-fault divorces, child custody changes, superannuation changes, more job equality (still not enough though), and education choices.
Feminists don't want to be the SAME as men (shudder!), but merely to have the same rights, choices and opportunities. And I would hope all men would also want that for their beloved female relatives.....surely?

Dear Suse,

Unfortunately there are quite a few men and women
who believe in the myths regarding feminism.
They seem to forget that men can be raped as well
and oppressed by a culture that teaches them what
they must do to be "manly."

cont'd...

Talking about feminism myths. I came across the
following link:

http://www.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/gws/resources/myths.html

which lists the following myths:

1) All feminists are lesbians and bra-burning radicals
who hate men.
2) Feminism has made women equal now and there is no
need for feminists or the current women's movement.
3) Women can't be feminine and be a feminist at the
same time.
4) Feminism is only for middle-class white women.
5) Feminism only liberates women at the expense of men.

The facts are:

1) Being a feminist has nothing to do with sexual
orientation or discrimination of the male gender.
Feminists come from all different backgrounds and
cultures to support equality and equity in general.
2) Women are still behind in many different ways.
They continue to be paid less on average than men,
many jobs are not friendly to mothers, women
continue to be responsible for the majority of
household work.
3) Feminism is fundamentally about giving women
choices, not about finding new ways to limit their
self expression ...
4) Feminism is historically a multicultural cause.
Today's feminists are women and men of all walks
of life who seek to combat racism, sexism, classism,
ageism, et cetera.
5) Feminism doesn't just liberate women. It shows
that men don't have to be "macho" that it's allright
to show weakness and to show their emotions.