Misogyny, Power and the Media
Clementine Ford
6:30pm Wednesday 6 March
Manning Clarke Theatre 2, ANU
Clementine Ford will examine the various ways women are exercising power in the face of a world that has tried to control them socially, culturally and politically. While the old media have often gagged feminist voices Clementine will focus on the presence of women in the media and in popular culture. She will explore factors that have contributed to an invisibility of issues relevant to women in public life and in the public consciousness while highlighting avenues for change. Cyberspace can pit women against each other, but in spite of its dark side with the spread of violent and anonymous misogyny, women have been able to collectively organise in a completely different way. Individual actions have been given an international focus, and provided a high profile for women’s issues. Protest events such as Pussy Riot's Peace Prayer, movements such as Slutwalk, and publicity for the cause of Mukhtaran Bibi in Pakistan who turned her gang rape into an opportunity to highlight sexism and violence in Pakistan are some examples. In Australia, new social media provides an opportunity for women to assert a public and collective presence with a powerful voice. Bloggers and women-focused websites such as Women’s Agenda, Howling Clementine, and Mamamia are attracting more than 3.5 million readers with a reputed 2 million ALP voters. Prime Minister Gillard hosted women bloggers at Kirribilli House twice in 2012 and we can expect to see more about gender politics in this year’s federal election.
Clementine Ford is a Melbourne based writer and social commentator. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Age, the Canberra Times, the Big Issue, New Matilda, the ABC and Sunday Life. She also writes a weekly column for Fairfax Digital's Daily Life, where she was voted one of 2012's Most Influential Female Voices. Clementine has appeared on ABC's Q & A, Channel Ten's The Circle, Mornings on Channel 9 and ABC 24's The Drum. She is a regular guest on ABC 774 and ABC 891, and has hosted shows on Adelaide's 5AA and Melbourne's 3RRR. As a public speaker, Clementine has addressed audiences at the Wheeler Centre, ACMI, Adelaide Writer's Week and Melbourne Fringe. She doesn't own nearly enough socks, but makes up for it with an abundance of laddered blue stockings.
For more information please call Andrea: 0410 257 377
This lecture was supported by University House, ANU___________________________________________________________________
The 2013 Pamela Denoon Lecture by Clementine Ford will be broadcast on ABC Big Ideas on Wednesday 17 April.
A transcript will be available shortly from the archive on the left menu 2013 Pamela Denoon Lecture
