Outstanding Women of English Speaking Countries

Outstanding Women of English Speaking Countries 

1. Julia Gillard (Australia). On 11 December 2007, she became the first female Prime Minister in Australia and still holds this role. Soon after Gillard first took over from former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, she expressed her support for mandatory internet filters in Australia and justified her stance by saying that images of child abuse and child pornography should not be legally available on the internet. Do you support her position? How important is it that she is the first female to hold the Prime Minister position in her country's history?

2. Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé (April 26, 1922 – January 26, 1993) was the first woman to serve as Governor General of Canada (May 14, 1984 – January 28, 1990). Sauvé caused some controversy, mostly due to increased security around the office, as well as an anti-monarchist attitude towards her position. What does the Governor General do? Would you support or criticize her for her views?

3. Dame Jenny Shipley (New Zealand) served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999, the first woman to hold this office there. Under her administration, Shipley personally helped lower the legal alcohol age from 20 to 18 in 1999. What’s your attitude toward this achievement? Why is this issue important?

4.Margaret Thatcher (UK) , was the longest-serving British Prime Minister (1979-1990) of the 20th century, and the only woman ever to have held the post. Her political philosophy and economic policies emphasised deregulation (particularly of the financial sector), flexible labour markets, the privatization of state-owned companies, and reducing the power and influence of trade unions. Why would her accomplishments be considered important? Do you share her views?

5. Madeleine Albright (USA) was the first woman to become Secretary of State. In this position, Albright reinforced the United States' alliances, advocated democracy and human rights, and promoted American trade, business, labor, and environmental standards abroad. How important were her successes in this role?

See you next week: Thursday, April 12, 7.30-7.00 PM; Saturday, April 14, 10.30 – 12.00 AM