Latest news with #womenLeadership
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Not important': Liberal leader Sussan Ley dismisses quota criticism in pitch to women
Opposition leader Sussan Ley has dismissed backlash to calls for a gender quota within the Liberal Party as not 'important', as she pitched 'vital' policy changes for women. It comes after reports former Liberal Party vice president Teena McQueen described the organiser of a NSW Liberal Party branch petition for a gender quota as a 'moron'. Asked about the comment and backlash within the NSW Liberals to the idea of a quota, Ms Ley told reporters on Thursday she 'didn't actually think that's important'. 'I'm not going to go into the descriptions that may or may not have been given to certain points of view … What I welcome is the constructive debate,' Ms Ley said. 'I will make it clear every single day that we do need to improve, increase female representation in our party and that means through the pre-selection processes and in our parliament. 'Now, the Liberal Party state divisions have the final responsibility for that. So I welcome any ideas they may put forward. 'I'm agnostic about what those methods may be, but I am an absolute zealot that we have higher female representations and that we reflect the role of women in our party and in our policies.' The new Liberal leader has not specifically endorsed or disendorsed introducing gender quotas in her quest to recruit more women to the party. Ms Ley met with about 30 women business and community leaders on Thursday, which she said would help inform the party's future policies. She told reporters it was critical the party listen to women following its bruising loss at the federal election in May. 'It is absolutely vital we fix our policies going forward,' Ms Ley said. Asked about what policy changes the party was willing to consider, Ms Ley said they were still under review. 'Lots of policies are being raised and it's important that in this listening phase, I remind people that our policies are under review, and that's important because we got smashed at the last election, and we need to examine those policies,' she said. 'Shadow ministers will be doing that work, and then we need to continue to consult, to engage, and most importantly, to listen.' Ms Ley said they had received 'terrific feedback' on Thursday, with women voicing concerns especially around cost of living and childcare. 'I know what the struggle is when you feel like you have to do so much, but you can't achieve it all,' she said. 'Women often take that burden on the caring responsibilities of responsibilities in the home. 'The statistics tell us that it is still women who are doing all of those things, and that's why we need women's policies, and that will be very prominent in the policy development that we undertake.'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
People Are Rightfully Roasting This MAGA Influencer After He Told A Young Girl She Should Only Go To College To Get A 'MRS.' Degree
I tend to tune out whatever nonsense comes out of conservative MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk's mouth, but then I remember we live in a country where thousands of people follow him for their political opinions, and I am suddenly curious why someone would do such a thing. My curiosity piqued into action this past week after seeing that hundreds of women, whose values are centered on "faith, family, country," came together for the 2025 Young Women's Leadership Summit (YWLS), reportedly the "largest conservative gathering for women in the country." The summit was held by Kirk's conservative nonprofit organization, Turning Point USA, which focuses on spreading conservative values to young adults, particularly on college campuses and in the media. And to my horror, but (unfortunately) not to my surprise, a clip circulating on social media shows Charlie Kirk delivering a profoundly regressive response to a 14-year-old girl interested in political journalism asking for his advice on college. First, Kirk asked the audience of teen girls if their top priority is to "get married and have kids." After some hands went up, he said, "Interestingly, I think there is an argument to bring back the M-R-S degree." For those unfamiliar, a "Mrs. degree" is a sexist term that gained popularity in the mid-20th century to mock women who supposedly went to college just to find a husband. But here's the thing: in a time when women couldn't open bank accounts, buy homes, or build credit without a man, marriage was often the only path to security and social acceptance. Women were shamed for seeking the very stability that society limited them to. Higher education was, in itself, a radical act — a way for women to claim independence, knowledge, and autonomy. So, in a way, cheekily calling it a "Mrs. degree" was just a coded effort to try and remind women what they were "really" there for. Not to get their own education and career, and essentially a pathway to some patriarchal freedom, but to find a man who gets to do that instead, so they support his ambitions while being confined to domesticity, reproducing the very system designed to keep them dependent. And yet, here is Kirk, reviving the same tired logic in 2025. After the audience lightly laughed at the term, he doubled down, "NO, seriously. Just be clear that's why you're going to college, right?" He then mocked women who thought they were going to school school. "Don't lie to yourself, like, 'Agh, I'm going, I'm studying sociology,'" Kirk said. "No, you're not, we know why you're here. And that's OK, actually! That's a really good reason to go to college, actually." Related: Gavin Newsom Just Absolutely Dragged Trump's Military Parade, And Trump's Really, Really Not Gonna Like It Then came dating advice. He suggested young women should consider looking for husbands at Southeastern Conference (SECC) schools, in particular. "Like, you will find a husband, if you have the intent to find a husband at Ole Miss. Like, it's just going to happen, OK. Or wherever. Or at the University of Alabama," he said. Keep in mind: this is the same guy who wrote The College Scam, a book arguing that universities are "bankrupting and brainwashing America's youth" with "far-left professors." Yet, here he is, suddenly pro-college, if it means becoming a modern young tradwife. "I say college is a scam, but if you're going to find your life partner, that's actually a really good reason to go to college," he said. He then romanticized college being a great time to partner up because, ya know, "they're at the prime of their attractiveness." He said, "You don't get much better than that. It doesn't get better after college there." Related: "Honestly Speechless At How Evil This Is": 26 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week Then he delivered this intelligent line: "And, so yeah, you could go learn some stuff, that's fine, I guess, or whatever, just don't listen to your professors." He insisted, again, that the "Mrs. degree" was the real reason women went to college in the '70s, '80s, and '90s, and that this is why marriage rates have "plummeted" since. Yeah, sure, Jan, or maybe marriage rates dropped because generations of women got the memo not to spend their lives with men who think Anyway, I'm clearly not the only one screaming into the void. Here's what people have said online: "these creepy weirdos dream of having trad wives because women can't stand them. Instead of self improvement they choose to indoctrinate young girls into thinking they aren't huge losers," one person wrote. "THIS is what grooming actually looks like," another added. "hope the majority of these girls do go to college and gain insight, knowledge, and life experience that allows them to break from this conservative brainwashing <3 i also hope they all actually graduate with a degree, unlike charlie! :)," this user said. (Charlie Kirk does not have a college degree. He attended a community college briefly but dropped out.) Another wrote, "I'm grateful that I grew up with strong men and women who encouraged me to explore the world, seek knowledge, and grow with God. The saints we studied, especially the women, were educated and adventurous. I can't imagine being 14 and told to chase an MRS degree." "This is so weird," one simply put. Some pointed out a broader issue, which is that women are outperforming men in education and the workforce, so "suddenly there's a 'crisis'": "It's obvious that they are afraid of women," one wrote. And then, there was this dad, who kinda made me want to cry to see a man so beautifully see us and future generations of women as human: Well, all I can say is exactly what he said. Our daughters, and all women, are worth far more than the only option being finding a husband to have babies with. We didn't claw our way into classrooms, workplaces, leadership roles, and positions where we make our own choices in life just to be told to sit back down, shut up, and be a good wife. If this is your grand vision for the future of American women, then the real scam here isn't college, it's you. Also in In the News: 31 More Absolutely Hilarious Signs From The "No Kings" Protests Also in In the News: Trump Had A Middle-Of-The-Night Meltdown About... Well... So Many Things Also in In the News: A Clip Of Donald Trump Getting Angry After Being Fact-Checked Is Going Mega Viral, And It Sums Up His Entire Presidency In A Nutshell
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
"You will find a husband": Charlie Kirk tells 14-year-old girl to get an "MRS degree"
Conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk told a 14-year-old girl to think about finding a husband when she asked for his advice about attending college. The Turning Point USA founder was taking questions from the crowd at his recent Young Women's Leadership Summit in Dallas, Texas. A high school freshman walked up to the mic, mentioned that she was hoping to start a career in political journalism and asked for Kirk's "pros and cons" on attending college. Kirk responded with a monologue, pointed at the "young ladies here in high school," that encouraged them to spend their school years seeking out a husband. "Who's here where your top priority is to get married and have kids? Raise your hand," he said. "Interestingly, I think there's an argument to bring back the 'MRS degree.'" For the under-40s reading this, the phrase "MRS degree" refers to going to college for the express purpose of getting married to an educated man. Kirk said the girls in attendance should "be clear that's why you're going to college." "We know why you're here, and that's okay," he said. "That's a really good reason to go to college, actually. Especially, an SEC school." Kirk went on to say that he thought college was "a scam," but lauded the idea of attending to get hitched. He added that college-aged students are at the "prime of their attractiveness." "You don't get much better than that. It doesn't get better after college," he said. "That actually was the reason why a lot women went to college... and it worked."
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS War erupts in the Liberal party after elder erupts about women becoming 'assertive'
Senior female political leaders have condemned remarks made by a Liberal Party elder about the assertiveness of women in the organisation. Former federal president Alan Stockdale, 80, reportedly claimed women had become 'so assertive' the party might need to consider support for men. 'The women in this party are so assertive now that we may needs some special rules for men to get them preselected,' he told a meeting of the NSW Liberal Womens' Council, the Daily Telegraph reported on Thursday. Mr Stockdale, who was treasurer under ex-Victorian premier Jeff Kennett, made the remarks at the womens' executive gathering on Tuesday and later told the Telegraph he had made 'a lighthearted but poorly chosen remark'. But that didnt stop senior Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie and former Labor premier for Queensland Anna Palaszczuk from joining forces to condemn his remarks. 'Honestly, Alan, read the room,' Senator McKenzie told Nine's Today show on Thursday. 'It was a shocking comment - I think it's time for Alan to head back to the Melbourne Club, have a stiff whisky and chat with the old boys about what went wrong.' Ms Palaszczuk said she couldn't believe it. 'You've finally got one step forward for the Liberal Party with Sussan Ley being elected (federal leader), and it's three steps backwards with these comments,' she told Today. 'These are not appropriate in this day and age, and honestly, the Liberal Party needs a good hard look at themselves, especially the men.' Senator McKenzie said she was on a 'unity ticket' with Ms Palaszczuk over Mr Stockdale's remarks. During the federal election campaign, the Liberal party announced a policy requiring public servants to stop working from home. It was blamed for alienating women voters, many of whom use working from home to balance their jobs with child care and other duties, ahead of Labor romping home to government. Deputy opposition leader Ted O'Brien also questioned Mr Stockdale's comments, appealing to strong women to join the Liberals. 'To any of the assertive women out there, the Liberal Party is your party,' he told ABC's News Breakfast on Thursday. 'We need more women engaging with our party, running for our party. 'I'm proud to have Sussan Ley as our leader.'
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Helen Huang Joins Global Women Leaders at UN Event Highlighting Gender Equity and Climate Action
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, June 2, 2025 / / -- Helen Huang, co-founder and creative director of GOB (Gorgeous Beauty), was invited as a featured speaker at a high-level side event during the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in March 2025. The event, titled 'Enhancing Global Women's Leadership in Addressing Climate Change,' was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Senegal to the UN, the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN), and the World Madam Foundation. As part of a growing global dialogue on women's leadership in climate resilience and sustainable development, the event brought together policymakers, UN agencies, business leaders, and civil society. Huang's participation emphasized the importance of integrating emotional wellness and somatic healing into broader strategies for gender-inclusive climate action. 'True empowerment is not symbolic—it's structural. As women face the frontlines of climate change, we must ensure they are resourced not just to survive, but to lead,' said Huang in her remarks. 'I believe care, empathy, and emotional intelligence must be embedded into the systems we design to build a more sustainable and just future.' Through GOB, Huang champions restorative, design-forward wellness experiences that bridge beauty, emotional health, and self-leadership. Her work aligns closely with the mission of the World Madam Foundation and its EmpowerHER Global Women's Forum, which continues to spotlight women's potential across entrepreneurship, policy, and public health. The event also underscored the international community's renewed commitment to gender-responsive climate policy. It served as a platform for action, urging cross-sector collaboration to uplift women in leadership roles across business, technology, education, and community development. 'I'm deeply grateful to ARDN and the World Madam Foundation for including me in such a meaningful dialogue,' said Huang. 'I look forward to continuing this work with global partners who are equally committed to a more inclusive and emotionally intelligent model of progress.' About GOB GOB (Gorgeous Beauty) is a next-generation wellness brand founded by Helen Huang, focused on emotional restoration, regenerative design, and somatic empowerment. Based in New York City, GOB integrates ancient healing traditions with modern aesthetics to create experiences that support self-leadership, softness, and structural inclusion, particularly for women and underrepresented communities. About Helen Huang Helen Huang is a creative artist whose work spans healthcare, beauty, fashion, theatre, and immersive interactive installations. With a philosophy rooted in the fusion of beauty, functionality, and emotional resonance, her designs invite connection and spark wonder. Inspired by the interplay of light, texture, and space, Helen creates transformative environments that blur the line between reality and imagination. As Creative Director/Chief Strategy Officer of GOB and a core member of the Vermilion Theatre, she brings a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective to her practice. Chloe Zhao Noon Creative email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
