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'What was it like to be involved in the heady days of ‘second wave’ feminism in Australia, when the role of women at home and at work changed decisively? Iola Mathews was one of the founders of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, a journalist at The Age, and later a leading ACTU advocate for women workers during the ‘Accord’ with the Hawke-Keating Government. She was one of the first generation of women trying to ‘have it all’ with a career and children.
In this honest and revealing memoir, she takes us inside the day-to-day groundwork required to bring about reforms in areas like affirmative action, equal pay, superannuation, childcare, parental leave and work-family issues. This is an important record of a pivotal time for women in Australia’s history. Iola brings wisdom and experience to it, reflecting on where we are today, with suggestions for further reform. It’s a vital source for policy makers and all those interested in women, work and families.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Large print.
- Dyslexic edition.
- Braille.
Works about this Work
-
Michelle Arrow Review of Iola Mathews, Winning for Women : A Personal Story
2021
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Journal of Biography and History , August no. 5 2021; (p. 233-237)
— Review of Winning for Women : A Personal Story 2019 single work autobiography -
Three Lively Feminist Lives
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: Lilith , January no. 26 2020; (p. 239-246)
— Review of Germaine : The Life of Germaine Greer 2018 single work biography ; Winning for Women : A Personal Story 2019 single work autobiography ; Unfettered and Alive : A Memoir 2018 single work autobiography 'These three books chronicle the lives of Australian feminists Germaine Greer, Iola Mathews and Anne Summers. By way of brief introduction: Summers is one of Australia’s best-known feminists. She was part of the collective that founded Elsie, the first women’s refuge in Australia, and in 1975 she authored the Australian feminist classic Damned Whores and God’s Police.Summers also worked as a journalist in Australia and internationally, and as a political advisor at the highest level of government to improve the lives of Australian women. Unfettered and Alive is the second volume of her autobiography, which begins in 1976 where her first, Ducks on the Pond (1999), ends. Iola Mathews started her career as a journalist at The Age and was one of the founding members of the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL), an organisation that sought reform of party politics along feminist lines. She also worked at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) where she pursued equal pay and paid parental leave. Germaine Greer wrote what is sometimes called ‘the classic text of the [women’s] movement’ The Female Eunuch (1970) and is a global celebrity, thinker and provocateur.' (Introduction) -
[Review] Winning for Women: A Personal Story
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Historical Studies , vol. 51 no. 2 2020; (p. 310)
— Review of Winning for Women : A Personal Story 2019 single work autobiography'The last few years have seen a spate of new memoirs and biographies charting the lives of Australian women who were connected in various ways with the second-wave feminist movement. Iola Mathews’ Winning for Women: A Personal Story is a valuable addition. As a journalist, trade unionist and politician's wife, Mathews was uniquely placed to observe not only the internal workings of the women's movement but its impact on some of the country's most influential political institutions, including the Labor Party and Australian Council of Trade Unions. Her book is directed primarily at a feminist readership interested in questions of women, work and family. However, Mathews’ insider account should also prove useful to historians of Australian politics, industrial relations and the media more generally.' (Introduction)
-
Revisiting Iola Mathews' Feminist Battlegrounds
2019
single work
column
— Appears in: Eureka Street , 19 May vol. 29 no. 10 2019;'When people describe their part in events of our own life time, they often awaken in us recognition mixed with self-reproach. We recognise how greatly our attitudes have changed, but also that our images of significant people and movements are still tinged with our earlier prejudices.' (Introduction)
-
[Review] Winning for Women: A Personal Story
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Historical Studies , vol. 51 no. 2 2020; (p. 310)
— Review of Winning for Women : A Personal Story 2019 single work autobiography'The last few years have seen a spate of new memoirs and biographies charting the lives of Australian women who were connected in various ways with the second-wave feminist movement. Iola Mathews’ Winning for Women: A Personal Story is a valuable addition. As a journalist, trade unionist and politician's wife, Mathews was uniquely placed to observe not only the internal workings of the women's movement but its impact on some of the country's most influential political institutions, including the Labor Party and Australian Council of Trade Unions. Her book is directed primarily at a feminist readership interested in questions of women, work and family. However, Mathews’ insider account should also prove useful to historians of Australian politics, industrial relations and the media more generally.' (Introduction)
-
Michelle Arrow Review of Iola Mathews, Winning for Women : A Personal Story
2021
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Journal of Biography and History , August no. 5 2021; (p. 233-237)
— Review of Winning for Women : A Personal Story 2019 single work autobiography -
Three Lively Feminist Lives
2020
single work
review
— Appears in: Lilith , January no. 26 2020; (p. 239-246)
— Review of Germaine : The Life of Germaine Greer 2018 single work biography ; Winning for Women : A Personal Story 2019 single work autobiography ; Unfettered and Alive : A Memoir 2018 single work autobiography 'These three books chronicle the lives of Australian feminists Germaine Greer, Iola Mathews and Anne Summers. By way of brief introduction: Summers is one of Australia’s best-known feminists. She was part of the collective that founded Elsie, the first women’s refuge in Australia, and in 1975 she authored the Australian feminist classic Damned Whores and God’s Police.Summers also worked as a journalist in Australia and internationally, and as a political advisor at the highest level of government to improve the lives of Australian women. Unfettered and Alive is the second volume of her autobiography, which begins in 1976 where her first, Ducks on the Pond (1999), ends. Iola Mathews started her career as a journalist at The Age and was one of the founding members of the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL), an organisation that sought reform of party politics along feminist lines. She also worked at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) where she pursued equal pay and paid parental leave. Germaine Greer wrote what is sometimes called ‘the classic text of the [women’s] movement’ The Female Eunuch (1970) and is a global celebrity, thinker and provocateur.' (Introduction) -
Revisiting Iola Mathews' Feminist Battlegrounds
2019
single work
column
— Appears in: Eureka Street , 19 May vol. 29 no. 10 2019;'When people describe their part in events of our own life time, they often awaken in us recognition mixed with self-reproach. We recognise how greatly our attitudes have changed, but also that our images of significant people and movements are still tinged with our earlier prejudices.' (Introduction)
