Julie Bishop: ‘Why we DON’T need an International Men’s Day’

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has revealed that she used to be asked all the time why there is not a day set aside to celebrate the achievements of men. And now she is ready to answer.

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In March every year, International Women’s Day marks a celebration of women’s achievements in the pursuit of gender equality.

For some it is a day of protest about gender discrimination.

I know, I know. What about an International Men’s Day? I’ve heard this argument before.

It’s hard not to respond with, “So the remaining 364 days of the year aren’t enough to celebrate men’s achievements?”

I used to hear a similar argument when I was the minister responsible for Women’s Issues. Constantly. By men. Only men. “When are you going to have a Minister for Men’s Issues?”

In 2013, when I was the only female minister in the Federal Cabinet of 19 ministers, it was clear the question required no answer.

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Perhaps the answer is as simple as my mother’s wry response on Mother’s Day when I would present her with a gift: “Shouldn’t every day be Mother’s Day?”

The same should be said of International Women’s Day. However if we want to live in a fair world with equality, then there’s a long way to go.

“So the remaining 364 days of the year aren’t enough to celebrate men’s achievements?” (Picture: Kym Smith)

International Women’s Day can be removed from the calendar when girls in developing countries receive the same educational opportunities as boys, when female genital mutilation is outlawed, when women are no longer the target of domestic violence, when sexual violence against women and girls is not used as a weapon of war, when the global gender pay gap of more than 30 per cent is 0 per cent, when many more than 17 of the almost 200 nations of the world have a female leader, and when women in developing countries no longer die in their hundreds from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

I could go on. However, it may be some time before we see progress — even in gender pay and political representation.

According to a recent World Economic Forum report, on current trends, it will take another 60 years in Western Europe for equality in these areas to be achieved, and another 150 years in the Middle East.

Every International Women’s Day, I seek to focus on a different area of gender empowerment.

This year it’s women’s health. There is much more to be done to ensure diseases that affect women are given appropriate funding and resources.

There is currently no early detection test for ovarian cancer, like the screening for bowel cancer or a mammogram for breast cancer.

There are no obvious symptoms of early-stage ovarian cancer, so most women are diagnosed in the advanced stages.

Julie Bishop’s column features in this Sunday’s Stellar.

It is estimated that there will be 1046 deaths from ovarian cancer in Australia this year.

We need to ensure this insidious disease receives the same focus as other cancers.

As a 2019 Ambassador for Witchery’s White Shirt Campaign, which supports the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, I will do what I can to raise awareness of this disease and the need for research.

Recently I had the opportunity to meet a number of women, including young women in their 20s, living with ovarian cancer.

With courage and dignity they are undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments, while grappling with the reality that there is no cure. We can, indeed we must, change this.

So my advice to men and women alike: take the opportunity on this International Women’s Day to support a cause that supports women.

The Hon Julie Bishop is the former Foreign Minister and the federal member for Curtin. Witchery’s White Shirts go on sale next month.

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