When the Prime Minister described Grace Tame as “difficult,” it echoed a label that outspoken, confident women have been handed for generations.
For women, “difficult” is rarely a neutral descriptor. It is shorthand. It is the word used when a woman is direct instead of diplomatic, firm instead of accommodating, unwilling to smooth over discomfort for the sake of social ease.
In case you missed it, the moment came during a radio interview, where the Prime Minister was asked to respond to a quick-fire word association prompt about public figures. When Grace Tame’s name was put to him, he replied with a single word: “difficult.” The comment sparked immediate backlash, with critics arguing the descriptor carried familiar gendered undertones.
Seemingly in response, Tame reshared a post from sex abuse survivor and advocate Harrison James on her Instagram Story that read: “Difficult is the misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply. History tends to call her ‘courageous.’”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves — except, perhaps, in the words of musical artist Jack River, who took to Instagram to share a photo with Tame following the PM’s interview.
“It’s difficult to tell the truth. It’s difficult to take your perpetrator to court. It’s difficult to take on systemic child abuse. It’s difficult to write a book. It’s difficult to start a not-for-profit to fight child sexual abuse. It’s difficult to talk about war and genocide on the national stage when your political leaders refuse to. It’s difficult to win a bloody marathon,” she wrote.
“But the person who does these things is rarely difficult. No. They are someone who has overcome difficulty and turned it into action. They are someone who understands difficulty deeply, but does the thing anyway.”
The powerful sentiment was echoed by Heartbreak High star Chloe Hayden, who also took to the platform in support of Tame and “difficult” women everywhere.
“It doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman — that’s why there’s so many of us,” she penned.
“Here’s to every woman ever labelled difficult by a mediocre, weak man, for we are only labelled difficult because we cannot be controlled by them.”
Greens leader Larissa Waters also spoke out, saying: “Labelling women as difficult won’t silence us. It won’t stop us speaking truth to power. Next time try ‘unbreakable’ or ‘warrior’ or ‘fierce’, Prime Minister.”
Prime Minister Albanese has since apologised for labelling Tame as “difficult,” calling it a “misinterpretation.”
“If there was any misinterpretation, then I certainly apologise,” Mr Albanese told reporters. “She has had a difficult life and that was what I was referring to. What Grace Tame has done is turn that difficult experience that she had into being a strong advocate for others.”
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