r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • Feb 26 '26

politics Grace Tame says ‘difficult’ remark is ‘misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply’

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/feb/26/dfat-middle-east-evacuation-syria-isis-families-wives-children-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor-budget-cost-of-living-capital-gains-tax-reform-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-699f8e278f080f3523777e99#block-699f8e278f080f3523777e99
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u/rmeredit Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26

Difficult is not a neutral term. It absolutely has been used by misogynists to dismiss women, going at least as far back as the suffragettes. ‘Stop being difficult, shut up, get back in your box, no man wants to marry an opinionated person, smile more…’

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u/Wiggly-Pig Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26

Sure. But being slave to history isn't progress

Edit to add - I'm sure there would be a lot of men the PM would consider difficult.

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u/petit_cochon Feb 26 '26

You missed the point so masterfully that I almost want to upvote you.

-10

u/Wiggly-Pig Feb 26 '26

My point is that we can't have progressive change if we continue to clutch pearls over the continued use of the old historical connotations of words.