Fran Bailey and the McEwen Electorate: Women's Leadership in Representative Democracy
Jackie Dickenson
Abstract
This study explores women’s leadership in representative democracy using the case study of Fran Bailey, the first Liberal woman elected to the House of Representatives from Victoria and widely acknowledged as being a ‘good’ local member. Based on an interview with Bailey, the study discusses her approach to leadership in her electorate, finding that, while she used so-called feminine attributes in a pragmatic fashion in order to survive in a highly marginal seat, she also initiated important legislative change for disadvantaged women and their families.
Keywords
women, leadership, representative democracy, Fran Bailey, politicians, Liberal Party
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