Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister, says that if Hillary Clinton is elected as president of the United States, she should be prepared to face down some sincere and severe sexism in office.
On Tuesday, the former prime minister gave the keynote address at the #MoreInCommon event in London, discussing women in politics and public life. Gillard emphasized the harmful effects of online threats against women who pursue power—threats which she said she received daily while prime minister.
“And of course, as a woman in public life, the violent threats take on another sickening dimension. Threats of violent abuse, of rape, are far too common. A woman in public view may expect to receive them almost daily,” said Gillard.
The event was held in honor of Jo Cox, the British Labour MP who was killed during her constituency last June as the result of firearm and multiple stab wounds by a far-right extremist gunman with a history of mental health problems.
During her speech, Gillard said that more women should be encouraged to enter politics despite the obstacles adding, “But … understand that you will encounter sexism and misogyny and prepare yourself to face it and ultimately to eradicate it,” according to The Guardian.
She has been an ardent supporter of Clinton, who she called “the most qualified and prepared presidential candidate the United States has ever seen.”
“Mrs. Clinton should not have to deal with this alone. Every democrat, every republican, every person who believes that women and men are equal should call out any sexism,” wrote Gillard in a New York Times op-ed in July.
The former prime minister recently appeared on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS to discuss her trials as the first female head of Australia. During the segment she discussed her now famous speech in the Australian parliament calling out her opponents’ sexist attacks, which you can watch in full below.
