The Iron Butterfly and the Political Warrior: mobilising models of femininity in the Australian Liberal Party. Issue 3 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee-Koo, Katrina; Maley, Maria
• Is Part Of: Australian journal of political science. Volume 52:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 317
• Page End: 334
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Australian politics -- feminism -- models of femininity -- Julie Bishop -- Peta Credlin; Australasia -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; 320
• DOI: 10.1080/10361146.2017.1336202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1036-1146

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Chief of Staff Peta Credlin have experienced very different political fortunes. Once the two most powerful women in the Australian Liberal Party, Credlin's political demise was mired in controversy, while Bishop continues to enjoy the support of her Party and the public. While there are many reasons for this, the article focuses on the gendered politics surrounding their experiences. Based on analysis of the media representations of Bishop and Credlin between 2011 and 2015, we argue that Bishop successfully negotiates gender politics by deploying the Iron Butterfly model of conservative femininity, while Credlin's fierce Political Warrior persona saw her pilloried.