Page 13: Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell stars in Let’s Get Explicit campaign calendar

She’s the youngest female MP in Victoria’s parliament and has copped misogynistic criticism at every level — now Georgie Purcell is taking back her power in a provocative campaign for women.

Every day at work Georgie Purcell feels like her gender rubs up against her.

As the youngest female MP in Victoria’s parliament, the 31-year-old has already faced misogynistic criticism at every level.

From the ink on her skin, opening up on abortion, her former work as a pole dancer being leaked, to her body and breasts being digitally altered and photoshopped.

Sadly, Purcell says she is not alone and that working in politics is vicious and brutal for all women.

“There is a really strong gendered element to the way I get treated in and out of parliament,” Purcell says.

“But I think all women in politics have a rough time.

The Let’s Get Explicit calendar will feature women dressing down in settings where they feel, empowered, to provoke conversations about violence against women. Picture: Saoirse Byers, Hello Bloom Photography

“My body is used and weaponised against me and I feel like my gender rubs up against me every day at work and that needs to be changed.”

Change is something Purcell feels passionate about. Not just in her role as the Animal Justice Party of Victoria MP, but as a woman in politics, which is where Esme Louise James comes in.

After meeting as speakers during April’s protests across the country against gendered violence, James reached out to Purcell and other politicians, academics and female stars.

From Rachel Payne MP, to actor Sharon Johal and journalist Antoinette Lattouf and others to “strip down to stand up” for women experiencing violence.

“We’re taking back control of our bodies to say enough is enough,” James says.

Inspired by the Calendar Girls story, which saw a group of women in the UK raise funds through a revealing calendar, the Let’s Get Explicit campaign features women dressing down in settings where they feel empowered to provoke conversations about violence against women.

Rachel Payne, MP for the Legalise Cannabis Party. Picture: Saoirse Byers, Hello Bloom Photography

The calendar is also marked with important dates throughout the year, with dates like the AFL grand final, to remind Australians when there’s a spike in domestic violence incidents.

“Often days that are celebrated and that we look forward to can be the most harmful days on the calendar for women across the country,” James says.

“For women experiencing domestic violence it can be a day that they dread.”

Purcell said she jumped at the chance to join in the calendar.

“It’s my body and what I choose to do with it does not affect how I do my job.

“We are all willing to go extreme efforts to bring attention to this issue that it deserves.”