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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tim Mathieson: why is Australia's 'first bloke' in the headlines? | Tim Mathieson: why is Australia's 'first bloke' in the headlines? |
| (30 days later) | |
| Age: 55. | Age: 55. |
| Appearance: Retired cricketer. | Appearance: Retired cricketer. |
| Who or what is Tim Mathieson? He's a man. | Who or what is Tim Mathieson? He's a man. |
| And what is he famous for? Going out with someone famous. | And what is he famous for? Going out with someone famous. |
| Oh. Like Michelle Obama? Yes, someone famous like Michelle Obama. | Oh. Like Michelle Obama? Yes, someone famous like Michelle Obama. |
| Who specifically? Australian prime minister Julia Gillard. | Who specifically? Australian prime minister Julia Gillard. |
| The one who made that searing feminist speech in October last year? That Julia Gillard. Yup. She has also done a fair few other important things in her two and a half years in charge of the world's sixth-largest country, but nonetheless seems doomed to be known to international audiences solely as "the anti-sexism speech woman". | The one who made that searing feminist speech in October last year? That Julia Gillard. Yup. She has also done a fair few other important things in her two and a half years in charge of the world's sixth-largest country, but nonetheless seems doomed to be known to international audiences solely as "the anti-sexism speech woman". |
| And this Mathieson fellow is married to the anti-sexism speech woman? No, actually the pair are unmarried. Which goes some way to explaining why Australian newspapers tend to refer to him either as the "first de facto" or, more affectionately, as the country's "first bloke". | And this Mathieson fellow is married to the anti-sexism speech woman? No, actually the pair are unmarried. Which goes some way to explaining why Australian newspapers tend to refer to him either as the "first de facto" or, more affectionately, as the country's "first bloke". |
| So he's a bloke-y kind of guy? He is and he isn't. His training as a hairdresser isn't exactly standard bloke territory. But then again he did say, "You again!" on his second meeting with the Queen. Classic bloke. | So he's a bloke-y kind of guy? He is and he isn't. His training as a hairdresser isn't exactly standard bloke territory. But then again he did say, "You again!" on his second meeting with the Queen. Classic bloke. |
| What has he done now? Made a well-intentioned but considerably less feminist speech of his own, prompting red faces, a denunciation from his partner and a swift apology. | What has he done now? Made a well-intentioned but considerably less feminist speech of his own, prompting red faces, a denunciation from his partner and a swift apology. |
| What did he say? Speaking in his role as a Men's Health Ambassador for the government, he told male guests at an official reception: "The digital examination is the only true way to get a correct reading on your prostate, so make sure you go and do that, and perhaps look for a small Asian female doctor is probably the best way." | What did he say? Speaking in his role as a Men's Health Ambassador for the government, he told male guests at an official reception: "The digital examination is the only true way to get a correct reading on your prostate, so make sure you go and do that, and perhaps look for a small Asian female doctor is probably the best way." |
| Is that really a gaffe? Depends who you ask. Australian newspaper the Age described the joke as "racist", "sexist" and arguably "sizeist". | Is that really a gaffe? Depends who you ask. Australian newspaper the Age described the joke as "racist", "sexist" and arguably "sizeist". |
| But? But Australian film-maker Corrie Chen tweeted: "As an Asian woman with small hands, I thought what Tim Mathieson said was just common sense." | But? But Australian film-maker Corrie Chen tweeted: "As an Asian woman with small hands, I thought what Tim Mathieson said was just common sense." |
| Do say: "Doesn't he deserve to be heartily applauded for raising awareness of male health?" | Do say: "Doesn't he deserve to be heartily applauded for raising awareness of male health?" |
| Don't say: "Does anyone know any big-handed Nordic male clappers?" | Don't say: "Does anyone know any big-handed Nordic male clappers?" |
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