It’s Time To Elevate Her Voice And Inform Her Opinion

When Maybanke Anderson became the President of the New South Wales Women’s Suffrage League in 1893, the influential women’s liberation campaigner could never have known just how far women’s engagement in politics would come in the next century.

Maybanke went on to publish the fortnightly newspaper Woman’s Voice, drawing women’s attention to suffrage issues at the national and international level. Today, feminists wanting to keep the world informed and engaged in issues impacting women need only a Twitter account and a handful of keen followers; never mind a printing press.

In 2019, the fourth wave of feminism is demanding equal representation in parliaments across the globe and women voters are mobilising to build a fairer, kinder and more inclusive world.

However, in Australia, we’re not making those same gains. Over the past decade, our country has fallen from 15th to 51st in the world on gender representation in national parliament. It’s not necessarily that we’re going backwards, but the rest of the world is moving forwards, faster.

At Future Women, we want to continue the work that Maybanke and countless other suffragettes across Australia bravely began. We believe safe spaces where female politicians can educate, encourage and inspire other women to follow in their footsteps is the perfect way to do just that.

 

“It isn’t just about elevating one voice; it’s about promoting a network of perspectives to help improve the lives of women from all walks of life and all sides of the political spectrum.” 

 

That’s why we’re launching #HerVote, a campaign focussed solely on elevating women’s voices and informing women’s opinions ahead of the 2019 Federal election. It will begin with a town hall-style event together with Twitter Australia, to help amplify emerging voices on the campaign trail and encourage political engagement among women of all ages and backgrounds. Because women’s representation in politics isn’t just about elevating one voice; it’s about promoting an interlacing network of perspectives to help improve the lives of women from all walks of life and all sides of the political spectrum.

At this #HerVote event, you’ll hear from today’s leading female politicians and emerging candidates about women’s representation in politics: where we’re at and where we need to get to. You’ll also have the opportunity to get to know the women behind the campaigns, as well as the reasons why they’re passionate about politics and its future.

Join us on Friday, April 5 to be part of a constructive discussion guided by reporter, news presenter and author Allison Langdon. Deputy Leader of the Opposition Tanya Plibersek, Independent candidate for Warringah Zali Steggall, and Labor member for Deakin Shireen Morris are just some of the incredible women speaking on the night.

It was activists like Maybanke Anderson who helped advance women’s involvement in Australian politics, and now it’s women like you who can continue to amplify the message that we won’t be silenced. You don’t have to be outspoken to be part of the movement. You can simply be informed. All that requires is firstly caring, then listening, and allowing your voice to be heard at the ballot box.

Because your vote is #HerVote.