By Katelyn Fry with contributions from Savvy Auntie Staff Writers


On January 23, New South Wales elected their first Liberal female premier, Gladys Berejiklian. But it took only about 15 minutes in office before her marital status and childlessness came into question. Berejiklian is 46, single and childless. A reporter asked what she deemed “the obvious question" of the new premier: “Do you think [being single and childless] is a disadvantage politically, because people have kids and they have families and people identify with that like they did with [previous leaders who are married parents.]?

The premier handled the question it eloquently:

Take me as you see me. [New deputy] Dominic Perrottet has made up for me, he has four kids. I am someone who has always been myself. Not all of us can plan how our life turns out. I am a very happy person. If you asked me 20 years ago, would my life look like this? It probably wouldn’t be how it looks like. But I am grateful for the opportunities I have had. I also want to say again, not because I have to but because I want to, the closest people in my life are my family. I am not going to judge anybody on their personal circumstances. I am here to govern for everybody and I hope that people judge me on my merits and what I can do.

It's not the first time a woman’s family status has come into question regarding her ability to understand citizens who are parents. Last July, Theresa May, who is married and childless, became UK Prime Minister after her rival, Andrea Leadsom, suggested that being a mother meant she had more of a stake in the future than May. The public backlash was immediate, and not too long after, Leadsom apologized, conceded the race, and the 60 year old May, who once served as Minister for Women and Equalities (2010-2012), became Prime Minister.

In a 2012 interview with the Telegraph, May said  “Sometimes things you wish had happened don’t...but you accept the hand that life deals you." And more recently, May revealed that she and her husband had struggled with infertility.

New South Wales’ Gladys Berejiklian joins current world leaders Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and South Korea President, Park Geun-hye.

Not that these female world leaders' family status matters.


Photo: Richard Dobson of The Daily Telegraph
Published: February 1, 2017