... and ain't I a woman?: Our duty as women
As a young woman, you are the future of Australia.
Yes, I can study to become a medical scientist and find a cure for cancer, AIDS, chronic childhood asthma ... or maybe become an engineer, design new hospitals, energy-efficient public buildings for schools, libraries, community centres ... I can learn a trade or work outdoors ... a teacher, I can be a teacher, and, with a better understanding of Australia's real history, I can encourage students to take an active role in changing to our society.
With the increase in the availability of information, I can educate myself and others, and join with them to protest against the injustices committed here and around the world. I can be a writer and relate my experiences, and those of others, in bringing about change. I can write of new discoveries that will develop the potential of humanity ...
Your mission: increase the population of Australia.
Oh.
Now, I don't have anything against motherhood, but I don't see it as my duty, or as the only contribution I can make to our society.
Jeff Kennett says this is what young women must do.
But if we need more people, which isn't a bad idea, why can't we let more of the people from other countries come here? Especially, if they are fleeing from a really uncool situation in their own country.
But we need Australian babies, to grow up to be Australian citizens, strong and healthy, white and pure.
Well, if I start having babies now, will the government help me financially?
Yes, the government will give family assistance for families — not much, mind you, but you can't have everything.
But I'm not married yet. What about assistance for single mothers?
Single mothers are a drain on the economy.
Oh, I see. We have to have more "Australian" babies, but not expect much assistance if we are not married.
Yes, it is families that are important. The security and stability of the nuclear family. It is the way God intended.
I don't believe in God.
God exists, it says so in John Howard's constitutional preamble. God wants us to live in families.
But most cases of child sexual abuse happen within the family, and domestic violence is the most common form of violence committed against women.
Stronger families will solve all society's problems.
Many families break up due to financial pressures. How are ordinary families going to cope with the introduction of the GST, for example?
Senator Harradine says that we wouldn't need to have a GST if we didn't have a narrowing tax base.
So what has that got to do with me and my school friends?
He says that the tax base is narrowing because families are not having enough children.
So the introduction of the GST is women's fault, because we're not having enough babies, and the fact that women will suffer disproportionately under the GST is only fair, because if we had more babies to begin with we wouldn't have had to change the tax system?
Yes.
I'm glad we sorted that one out.
By Margaret Allum