After Quote by Jenny Shipley
“I do remember when I first went into politics, one of my competitors asked me, 'Well, Jenny Shipley, who's looking after your children?' I don't think many of my male colleagues have faced a similar question.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: New Zealand Parliament, 1999
Women in politics often face gendered personal questions that male colleagues rarely encounter.
In simple terms: Female politicians get personal attacks about family.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gender bias in political discourse.
Themes
gender bias
politics
media scrutiny
Mood
frustrated
determined
Type
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- campaign speeches
- media interviews
- public debates
Key Concepts
double standards
public perception
women leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- How can media hold politicians accountable without gender bias?
- What strategies help women navigate personal attacks?
A Different Perspective
Such questions can distract from policy issues and reinforce stereotypes.
![“Jean [Kennedy Smith, JFK's sister] told me she thinks the whole sports angle has been overplayed, that politics was central to him. This nonsense that he only went into politics because his older brother Joe was killed is not true. He was determined he was going to be in politics, but he would…” quote by Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a89/chris-matthews-1682_angle_jean-kennedy-smith-jfk-s-sister-told-me_2997381.jpg)
