Women advised to ignore sex discrimination at work

Isobel Redmond, South Australian Opposition Leader, has told a women’s leadership forum in Adelaide that women facing sexual discrimination in the workplace should simply ignore it and avoid confrontation. 

Her comments attracted criticism from key figures such as Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, who said she did not agree that discrimination should be ignored.

 “Without a critical mass of complaints being lodged, behavioural changes will not take place, attitudes will not change and sex discrimination will not be reduced,” she said.

Ms Redmond was forced to defend her comments on ABC Radio, where she explained her view that putting up with discrimination helps to “break down the barriers for the next your woman that comes along.”

"Whereas if you take that legal approach then very likely all you'll do is entrench the hatred of women in the very people whose minds you're trying to change,” she said.

She went on to point out that bullying and sexual harassment were separate issues, and would warrant legal action in some circumstances.