Wendy McCarthy on Why Politeness Doesn’t Pay

Wendy McCarthy is one of Australia’s most influential women.  For more than 50 years Wendy’s been at the forefront of feminism, corporate and public life in Australia.  Her trailblazing advocacy has truly shaped this country. For example, if your dad was at your birth, you can thank Wendy because back in the 1960’s she fought for the rights of fathers to be at their child’s birth. She’s also fought for equal pay for women, affordable childcare, and access to contraception and abortion law reform.  In fact, in 1972 she famously risked prosecution by taking out a full page ad announcing she’d had an illegal abortion. But Wendy is not just an incredible change maker. She’s an educator, author, mother, business owner, board member, university chancellor, the Deputy Chair of the ABC and a wonderful mentor to countless other women.