Australia and the World Past and Present

Julia Gillard’s ‘misogyny speech’ is a memorable political speech in modern Australian history. It provides an example of Gillard’s idiolect – her characteristic and recurring patterns of language use.

Some have applauded the contents of the speech.

Others contend that she was playing the sexism card to distract from genuine failings of her government.

This piece is not concerned with whether Gillard was right or wrong in her arguments.

Rather, it focuses on Gillard’s language and how she used it.

Although she had jotted down some notes before she launched into her oration, she was essentially speaking off the cuff. It wasn’t a carefully crafted speech prepared by speech writers. It was formulated at the dispatch box on the floor of the House of Representatives and as such, it is an example of Gillard’s genuine way of talking.

Her speaking style combines a legalistic structure, rhetorical repetition and a degree of indignation.

One feature of the speech was Gillard’s use of repetition. She repeatedly returns to a small set of key lexical items. The following words feature strongly – “misogyny“, “sexism” and “offended“. Hypocrisy and double standards are key themes for her.

The target of her speech was the then Leader of the Opposition – Tony Abbott. Throughout the speech, Gillard refused to use his name.

Gillard also makes use of anaphora – repetition at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. For example, she proclaims, “I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not.” The beginning and end are the same.

Gillard said that she was offended no less than 8 times. She built up a catalogue of grievances.

Her sentence structure reflects both parliamentary tradition and her professional background as a lawyer. Gillard reconstructed some of Abbot’s past remarks, lining them up for rebuttal. For example, she cites Abbott’s previous comments about women’s representation and abortion. This evidentiary style resembles legal argumentation. She utilises a first, second, third format for presenting her points. She first presents exhibits, establishes a pattern of conduct then draws a broader conclusion about hypocrisy and sexism.

Another hallmark of Gillard’s idiolect is her use of rhetorical symmetry. She utilises phrases such as “not now, not ever” and “every day, in every way” to provide emphasis.

Gillard’s vocabulary was relatively charged. She employs strongly emotive language such as “repulsive” and “vile”.

Irony and sarcasm are also components of her speech. She suggests that Abbott “needs a mirror”.

The speech is confrontational and it challenges the legitimacy of the critic.

A further distinctive feature of Gillard’s idiolect is her movement between the personal and the collective. She frequently shifts from “I was offended” to references to the “women of Australia.” This allows her simultaneously to present herself as an individual target and also as a representative figure speaking on behalf of broader group.

Overall, Gillard’s idiolect in the misogyny speech is best characterised as legalistic, emotive, repetitive and confrontational. Her language demonstrates a combination of argument, moral conviction and rhetorical technique. The speech shows that Gillard had the capacity to use language in order to create a memorable public moment.