A Woman’s Voice: the parliamentary careers of Joyce Steele and Jessie Cooper

Endorsed for safe Liberal seats, and duly elected in March 1959, these Liberal women MPs had not only to represent their party (and class), but inevitably also their gender. Their novelty value as lone members of ‘the fair sex’ both protected and restrained them in the early years while Playford still reigned. From 1965, they were hit not only by the advent of unfamiliar Labor Governments and the slow disintegration of the old LCL, but the challenges of the second wave of feminism. Jessie survived 20 years in a Legislative Council which was being transformed, while Joyce was elevated to a Cabinet role by Steele Hall and came briefly to exercise real power. Both retired under less than ideal circumstances, but could feel some satisfaction at their achievements.