SYDNEY, Australia — The women were members of Australia’s Parliament, but they said some male colleagues were more interested in commenting on their hair or their wardrobe choices than discussing policy. They said male lawmakers hectored them during speeches and even blew kisses at them. Rebekha Sharkie, a lawmaker who was elected in 2016, said she started to dread giving speeches about legislation because of one colleague’s persistence in antagonizing her. Sexism has long been part of the reality faced by women in Parliament. Julie Bishop, who resigned as foreign minister after her bid to replace Mr. Turnbull failed, said in a speech last week that women in Parliament had long been subjected to “appalling behavior.”

Source: New York Times September 10, 2018 07:01 UTC