Karen Pickering | Public figure

Karen Pickering

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24.01.2022 On the Four Corners revelations, let me say this: I think an affair is one thing (that I’m not particularly interested in litigating). But making a workplace unsafe, preying on much younger women and junior colleagues, abusing the power imbalance, exposing fellow staffers to sexualised behaviour and an atmosphere of sexual activity, jeopardizing people’s (women’s) jobs and livelihoods by putting them in those situations and YES, then campaigning publicly on family values, mak...es you an abuser, a hypocrite and a criminal. But to be clear, this happens in every political party. It happens in workplaces others than Parliament House. It happens in sectors and industries across the country. It happens in universities, hospitals, sporting clubs, unions, restaurants, law firms, theatres, high schools, orchestras, film sets, festivals, radio stations, NFPs, airlines, military bases and comedy clubs. The common denominator here is men. Men who feel entitled to sexual conquests. Men who treat women as objects or view them as possessions or status symbols. Men who engage in toxic masculinity. Men who protect each other from consequences. Men who promote their friends and allies regardless of how putrid their sexism is. Men who abuse the privilege that they only have because patriarchal systems have given it to them: status, wealth and power. It’s not just politicians, but it’s perfectly reasonable that we’re more enraged by this when it’s on the public payroll, after electors have cast their vote and placed their trust, perpetrated by men who preach family values in order to take rights away from others. Absolutely shameful.

24.01.2022 Maths is not my strong suit but according to my calculations $215,000 is about 0.6% of $37,000,000 and that’s before endorsements. (First image via Nelly Thomas, second is my screenshot) Edited to include correction: I initially thought it was 6%

21.01.2022 I've never been more proud of my city. We have done something incredibly difficult, that has affected every single person, and it has taken real grit. Most Melburnians have acted with compassion, consideration and respect for others. The winter has been long and dark. I think the one of the second order consequences of this lockdown will be a profound grief, that we'll all be processing for a long time. The emotional impact of loneliness, loss, isolation, insecurity, fear and sadness is real and deep. Right now, I can't even describe how I feel. It's joy and affirmation, yes, but also anxiety and exhaustion, pride and gratitude along with sorrow and a kind of numbness. We won't be the same ever again. But we got here. And my heart is very full.

19.01.2022 With countries, just like with people, it’s easy to let the best of yourself slip away

05.01.2022 You might know that I’m a single mum but I’m also a sole carer for my son. Being a carer is different to being a parent, or a person paid to care, and is usually a family member providing care for a disabled person. It might be helping them with their daily needs, booking and taking them to appointments, researching medical care and treatments, dealing with admin and bureaucracy, and advocating for them to get the assistance they need, whether it’s physical, mental, financial... or medical. In my case it’s all of that, on top of the usual demands of parenting. Being a single mum and sole carer definitely increases the level of difficulty! But despite how hard it is, I feel incredibly lucky to be Harry’s carer, not just because he’s extraordinary, and the source of constant joy, hilarity and love, but also because he’s teaching me every day what’s really important. Being a carer means you ‘miss out’ on a lot of things other people take for granted, but I know that what I gain, and what Harry gains, far outweighs any perceived or real loss. I mean, obviously I’m biased, but he’s the best thing that ever happened to me, so despite a lot of ableist narratives, I know he’s exactly who he’s meant to be, and so am I. What I do wish though is that our culture valued the work of care, especially all the unpaid labour that’s mostly done by women. I wish our society had better supports in place for carers. I want disabled people to have access everything they need - not to fix or cure their disability but to recognise their full humanity, and change the world to fit them, not the other way around. So this #CarersWeek2020 I’m asking you to think about the carers in your community and how you can show your support for them, by valuing their work and listening to what they need. Ask your friends if they’re carers. You’ll be surprised how many are! They might care for disabled kids or adults, parents, brothers, sisters, vulnerable kids, people with chronic illness, elderly people, people with terminal illness, aunts, uncles, partners or even friends. It’s noble and sacred work, and it’s done for no money, little support and mostly no recognition. So if you find that your friend, colleague or neighbour is a carer, you could reach out: check in, offer to help, or stay informed about the issues they face. Take an interest, be curious, and share in the love that carers are driven by, every day they show up to care. (Image description: a little boy sits with his back to the camera on some brick steps. He is wearing an orange floral hat and shorts, eating an orange icypole and looking at his hammock and trampoline.)