Summarised by Centrist
Political commentator Chris Trotter examines the shift in political allegiances between men and women in New Zealand since James K. Baxter’s 1969 poem, where “Labour Dad” and “National Mum” represented stereotypical political loyalties.
In the past, Labour was strongly supported by men, with unions and labour movements portraying progress as a masculine endeavour. However, Trotter recognises that women also played a major role in industries like textiles, where they fought for economic justice alongside men.
As women became more progressive and sought policies that addressed their needs, the “gender gap” emerged, with women increasingly supporting Labour.
Meanwhile, the National Party recognised the importance of the women’s vote in the post-war period. Trotter writes: “After all, it was women voters who had kept National out of power until it undertook to leave Labour’s welfare state intact, and who, weary of post-war controls and shortages, had seated National on the Treasury Benches for the first time in 1949.”
National’s 1951 victory during the Waterfront Lockout, Trotter argues, was a key moment when women voted for stability over class division.
He notes that while working-class men became more focused on “bread and butter” issues, women were looking for broader change. In the 1970s and 80s, it was the younger generation, particularly daughters, who re-energised the Left, challenging the conventional politics of their parents.
