One surprising inclusion in the 2020 Australia Day honours list was a Member of the Order of Australia award for Bettina Arndt. It was surprising not because the recipient was undeserving (which she wasn’t), but because such public awards tend to favour those pushing politically palatable (and increasingly left of centre) causes.
You would probably be aware that Bettina is an active supporter of various issues affecting men and boys, and that this has put her in the cross-hairs of the feminist lobby on more than a few occasions.
And thus once the awards were announced, the feminist lobby went rather crazy. This included approaches being made to the Governor-General’s office by a number of politicians, including the Victorian Attorney-General, seeking to have Bettina’s award withdrawn. Such an approach is typical of the approach that feminists (and their attendant White Knights) often take.
(Update: In September 2020, it was announced that Arndt would keep the award)
And also true to form, although Bettina’s views have been described as “dangerous”, most of the media comment focused on her professional integrity rather than the specific issues she raises. Look for example at the Twitter stream for ‘New Matilda’ (@newmatilda) and you’ll see tweet after tweet after tweet concerning Bettina’s academic qualifications, but none addressing her views regarding (for example) an alleged campus rape culture.
Kindly read on for relevant details, including Bettina’s response to those launching the attacks on her.
The Kangaroo Justice of Sexual Assault Cases (2 October 2021)
New Matilda Statement On Bettina Arndt’s Defamation Of Nina Funnell (26 February 2020) Bettina Arndt has previously suggested that Nina was conducting a long-running & concerted campaign against her. Readers might wish to scan social media and form their own view. The Twitter stream @CEOWomensSafety could be one place to start.
Labor demands men’s rights activist Bettina Arndt be stripped of Order of Australia (25 February 2020) So we see that whilst most politicians are themselves too gutless to stand up for men/boys, they do manage to summon sufficient courage to punish people who will. Absolutely disgraceful
Episode of The Drum (ABC) shown on 24 February 2020 (video). One of the topics addressed was, what the panel perceived as, the desirability of stripping Bettina Arndt of her OAM. See The Drum’s Twitter feed for further discussion (@ABCthedrum)
Calls grow for Bettina Arndt to be stripped of Order of Australia (22 February 2020)
Divorce is painful enough without Bettina Arndt involved, by David Penberthy (15 February 2020)
When men are victims of domestic violence, by Augusto Zimmermann (8 February 2020)
Bettina Arndt interviewed the teacher who raped Grace as a child. She wants Arndt’s honours to be taken back (8 February 2020)
Gendered prejudice and the wrath of the left, by Tanveer Ahmed (7 February 2020)
In defence of Bettina Arndt (6 February 2020)
Agony Arndt: The Precarious Future Of One Of Australia’s Loudest Men’s Rights Voices (4 February 2020) How pathetic that a men’s magazine would make such a weak effort to identify and discuss the male perspective. They might have at least spoken to a male or female MRA, or someone who had a clue. And it seems this publication has quite a history of bowing at the altar of feminism (example 1, example 2, example 3). Sad effort, people, sad.
A video by Daisy Cousens entitled ‘Feminists attempt to cancel Men’s Rights Advocate – Bettina Arndt’ (4 February 2020)
Another great video – This time from ‘Independent Man’ addressing the story to date (2 February 2020)
A great Gary Orsum video entitled ‘Bettina versus the Three Stooges’ (1 February 2020)
And then the feminists came for Bettina Arndt (1 February 2020)
Bettina Arndt and the Australia Day honours, by Eva Cox (1 February 2020)
Batty ‘thrilled’ with government call to remove Arndt’s gong, calls for men to join push (30 January 2020)
‘Absolutely hilarious’: Row over Bettina Arndt’s honour explodes (30 January 2020)
Strip Bettina Arndt of OAM, says Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy (30 January 2020) You can hear a related ABC radio interview here. Further details are available at the Twitter accounts of @JillHennessyMP and @thebettinaarndt
No. There is no evidence of evidence of Bettina Arndt’s ‘contributions to gender equity’ (28 January 2020)
Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Doctor Or None Of The Above? Will The Real Bettina Arndt AM Please Stand Up! (28 January 2020) Hit piece from Nina Funnell and Chris Graham
How can a woman who supports a convicted male paedophile be rewarded? by Jenna Price (27 January 2020)
One specific criticism that has been levelled at Bettina is in relation to her allegedly ‘going soft’ on paedophiles, particularly in relation to one specific interview she conducted. One of the odd things here though, is that I have yet to hear any feminist speak out about the burgeoning problem of female paedophiles. And thus more feminist hypocrisy.
Online change.org petition aiming to stop Bettina Arndt’s award (26 January 2020) There is more than one petition to revoke the award, as well as petitions to congratulate Bettina for receiving the award.
Rosie is sickened, by Mark Dent (27 January 2020) Recommended reading
‘Sickened’: Rosie Batty’s fury after men’s rights advocate is given Australia Day honour (26 January 2020)
Controversial commentator given Australia Day honour for ‘advocacy for men’ (26 January 2020)
Bettina Arndt awarded Australia Day honour for services to “gender equity” (25 January 2020)
Response/s from Bettina Arndt:
Qualifications beat-up fails again (29 January 2020)
Bettina in a videotaped interview with Chris Kenny on the Daily Telegraph web site (27 January 2020)
Bettina Arndt – Achieving gender equity through advocacy for men (video)
Nina Funnell tries to rain on my parade (January 2020)
Bettina Arndt hits back at ’poisonous’ side of feminism as backlash grows against her Australia Day honour (27 January 2020)
(Stay tuned … more to come on this issue)
Related posts within this blog:
Beware the ire of an angry feminist
On the censorship and erasure of non-feminist perspectives and opinions