Social media users are sharing stories of sacrifices their mothers made and discrimination they faced after Bill Shorten’s emotional speech paying tribute to his late mother in response to a critical News Corp article.
The Australian opposition leader had praised his mother, Ann, on Monday night’s Q&A program, saying he drew his political inspiration from her. She had wanted to be a lawyer, he said, but instead studied teaching on a scholarship because her family lacked the money, and because she had to care for her younger siblings.
On Wednesday Sydney’s Daily Telegraph published a front-page article headlined “Mother of Invention” that said Shorten had “neglected to mention that Mrs Shorten … graduated with a law degree from Monash University in 1985 with first-class honours, and went on to practise at the bar for six years”. But Shorten has previously acknowledged the fact that his mother went to university later in life, including in an interview with the Guardian last week.
The Labor leader condemned the Tele’s article as “a new low” and the prime minister, Scott Morrison, said it should not have been published. Many on social media echoed his concerns.
My mum. #auspol #qanda pic.twitter.com/VXi04aLoYS
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) May 7, 2019
With some using the hashtag #MyMum, people began sharing stories of their own mothers, the opportunities they were forced to give up and the discrimination they faced.
Talk of Shorten's mum highlights how much wasted talent there was in older generations of women, who were limited by what society told them they could/should be. Imagine where we'd be if these smart, capable, driven women were given the opportunities to follow their dreams?
— Shalailah Medhora (@shalailah) May 8, 2019
The ABC newsreader Juanita Phillips said her mother had left school early and “never had the opportunity to go back”, and the Sydney Morning Herald cartoonist Cathy Wilcox said chauvinism had stopped her mother going to university.
My clever mum left school at 14 and never had the opportunity to go back. So much wasted potential in that hardy generation.
— Juanita Phillips (@Juanita_Phillip) May 8, 2019
The chauvinism of my mum’s father stopped my mum. “No daughter of mine is going to university, to become an intellectual snob!” She didn’t think to rebel.
— The Cathy Wilcox (@cathywilcox1) May 8, 2019
She reflected later to me that she found the law fascinating while working as a secretary in a law firm.
Others spoke about the challenges faced by migrant and Indigenous women.
My mum couldn't speak English on arrival in Oz, excelled at maths & science at school but dropped out & got a job at 14 when her dad died. Later, she volunteered as a maths tutor for kids who needed help.
— Giovanni Torre (@GiovanniTorre) May 8, 2019
Maybe some day I'll be famous enough for the Daily Telegraph to trash her.
Just on Bill Shorten's Q&A answer about his mum (and the subsequent Daily Tele front page today) #auspol #ausvotes. I think the reason Shorten's account was so well-received was that it resonated with so many of us - particularly migrants. (1/12)
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) May 7, 2019
Government took my mum out of primary school, and she (and other children) was forced to work for farmers or look after white women's children. The modest domestic servant fee went straight to the Church, to pay back the shoes that hurt & poor-nutrition meals she'd had as a child
— Karen Wyld (@1KarenWyld) May 8, 2019
On Q&A on Monday, Shorten said his mother’s story was what had motivated him to enter politics. “I can’t change what happened to my mum but I can change things for other people,” he said.
On Tuesday night he said her experience as a barrister later in life had also taught him about the age discrimination faced by older women.
#MyMum was taken out of school by parents at a time when the choices for women were heavily circumscribed. She never reached her potential and Australia was the poorer for that.
— David Day (@david_day_) May 8, 2019
#MyMum worked night shift as an RN for 15 years to provide for her four kids (after kicking out her abusive, alcoholic husband). Once her kids left the nest she went back to university and obtained 2 degrees in sociology. She finished her career teaching Aged Care at TAFE #auspol
— Ship of Fools (@zakmckrakken) May 8, 2019
