HAYLEY SORENSEN

“Mano has too many lil bubs to care for, Natasha is too nasty …. Eva may be the Switzerland that unites,” Lawrie wrote.

Strangely, I don’t recall any questions raised about CLP chief minister Adam Giles’ ability to lead when he and his partner welcomed their first child while he was in the top job. Parenthood, it seems, is only a career affliction when it applies to women.

I’ve watched the indefatigable Manison face down some incredibly difficult situations in her almost three years as Deputy Chief Minister. The only time I’ve seen her waver was when, while pregnant with her second child, she described the toll the criticism she faced after she gave birth to her first had taken.

Half told her she was neglecting the job she had been elected to do.

The other half told her, in incredibly lurid, personal and hurtful terms, she was a coldhearted monster for going back to work while she had a six-week old at home.

The free parenting assessments would have been a lot for any new mum to deal with, even one as capable and selfassured as Manison.

Equally as galling as the way she dismissed Manison was the word Lawrie used to cut down Fyles.

Nasty. The accusation is a weapon Lawrie faced herself

“Parenthood, it seems, is only a career affliction when it applies to women”

many times through her own political career. It’s one that’s been used forever against any woman who dares to try to rise above her station.

Donald Trump used against Hillary Clinton.

His retort to Clinton during a 2016 leaders debate — “such a nasty woman” — angered and galvanised women around the world.

What was intended as an insult transformed into a rallying cry.

Women wore T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase, proud to be “nasty women”.

The world could do with a few more nasty women at the top. And it could do with fewer women so willing to subject their peers to the same kind of prejudice they faced.

Hayley Sorensen is the Sunday Territorian’s resident columnist it