The question of “sexism” has been dragged into the public’s face yet again.

Greens Party leader, Senator Bob Brown, claims that Julia Gillard has been “getting a rough time . . . and quite a bit of the criticism is sexist . . . .”

Surely the word sexist should be abandoned.

It has no definable meaning.

Like a lot of other “isms” it is used as a term of abuse and not much more.

* * *

Senator Brown also said that there is “a big swing around from the average punter in favour of Julia Gillard.”

Is there?

If there is, J. Gillard doesn’t know about it.

In her desperation, she hosted an “informal” barbecue at the Lodge the other night and made a speech about loyalty and discipline — and how opposing her Prime-Ministership amounts to “helping the Liberals”.

* * *

Isn’t the sexism bit just another tactic to stall off the seemingly inevitable?

If JG can get her critics labelled with the unthinkably untrendy label of “sexist” — might that distract Labor MPs from their desire for a better leader?

Rightly or wrongly, average punters consider Julia Gillard a disloyal back-stabber — and a conscience-free liar.

Her atheism also makes her a liability.

Her gender is less of an item.