Ms Represented

4.8 (370)
POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

One hundred years after Australia elected its very first female parliamentarian, journalist Annabel Crabb and comedian Steph Tisdell chart the rise of female politicians in Australian politics and the unbelievable things they got up to along the way.

13/07/2021

06| Booze, morals and the Social Purity Society

In the early days of the women's suffrage movement, some argued that the presence of females in parliament would bring a better moral tone to politics. The Women's Suffrage League in South Australia was first called the Social Purity Society and lobbied to protect women from the scourges of booze, gambling and violence. But some men were concerned that admitting women to the parliamentary process would be like having their wives come to work and nag them to give up drinking. Steph and Annabel take a look at how alcohol has shaped parliamentary culture and often excluded women.

30 min
13/07/2021

05| Are you even a real woman?

Enid Lyons, the first woman in the House of Representatives had 11 children. But ever since she entered politics, women have been bombarded with questions about their kids. Sometimes it's about who is minding their children, or why they don't have children at all. Annabel and Steph chat about why we are so focused on the child-bearing capacity of our female parliamentarians.

31 min
13/07/2021

04| The thing they all say

Annabel has spent the last year interviewing female politicians of all ages and political persuasions. They have plenty of different views, but on one issue, they were nearly all in agreement. When a woman suggests a good idea, it is often ignored until a man says exactly the same thing. So, female politicians have had to concoct some inventive ways to get their views heard.

31 min
13/07/2021

03| Clothes maketh the woman

There's a clear uniform for men in politics: a suit for weekdays, no tie on weekends and an Akubra if you are making a rural announcement. But fashion isn't so straightforward for women. Annabel and Steph ponder why we are so obsessed with how our female politicians look and how much time is wasted on hair and makeup. It is estimated that during her time as PM, Julia Gillard spent about 1100 hours having her hair and makeup done.

28 min
13/07/2021

02| A safe workplace for all?

Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins triggered a #MeToo moment in Canberra this year when she alleged she had been raped by a colleague in Parliament House in 2019. Her story inspired others to come forward and share their own stories of harassment, including one prominent former politician who alleges that she was assaulted by a colleague in Old Parliament House decades ago. In this episode, Annabel and Steph ask just how safe women feel in Australia's halls of power.

36 min
13/07/2021

01| Not designed for women

Australia was the first country in the world where women were allowed to vote and run for parliament. But no one thought women would really run for office. When Parliament House was built, there weren't even women's toilets. Annabel and Steph take a look at how Parliament House was designed with only blokes in mind.

36 min
02/07/2021

INTRODUCING - Ms Represented

A podcast about the history of women in Australian politics. One hundred years after Australia’s first female parliamentarian, journalist Annabel Crabb and comedian Steph Tisdell look at how women have shaped politics from the first women to speak in the House of Representatives, the first to bring a baby to work with them and the ones who broke through the beer glass ceiling and drank with their male colleagues in the members bar.

2 min

7 Episodes

4.8

out of 5

370 Ratings

Perfect duo

03/10/2023

You should try using adverbs

I have really started to enjoy Annabelle Crabb’s TV show Kitchen Cabinet this year. There’s something in her approach that’s finally clicked for me: she’s unapologetically nosy but allows the interviewee space. Here, with Steph Tisdell is a lovely balance. Steph Tisdell is a genius in stand-up, and has the special distinction of being the only comedian who had me laughing at all 10 of her funniest things on the internet with the Guardian. Annabel has years of anecdotes which are retold to the younger Steph, who really listens and often responds with a slightly different take on things - which occurs to me is a way of keeping stories alive. It’s very well-researched and structured, has plenty of humour and with clips from the original interviews with politicians to add variety, it’s all round entertaining.
Really Amazing!

05/03/2023

Sk8trgirl3346

This podcast is so inspiring and I play it on my way to school, I even started blasting it on the station bc I had just missed the train and I was already fired up by the stories of these women
Brilliant

26/05/2022

GeatyH

Love this podcast and particularly love the show. Unbelievable, inspiring and at times heart breaking. Just amazing. Thank you Annabel Crabb 🙏🏽
Unexpected

30/08/2022

Not a political journalist

This is a strange podcast. It would seem that Annabel Crabb has conducted a series of lengthy interviews with influential people - yet we only hear short snippets of those interviews during the podcast. It’s as if there should be a link to the actual interviews - which the listener could consume in conjunction with the podcast.

One hundred years after Australia elected its very first female parliamentarian, journalist Annabel Crabb and comedian Steph Tisdell chart the rise of female politicians in Australian politics and the unbelievable things they got up to along the way.