Two steps forward,

...one step back.

Quentin Bryce will be the new Governor General of Australia, when the incumbent's term is over. This has generally been perceived positively, with most people and media acknowledging that she is very accomplished and extremely suited for the role, as well as saying how great it is that a woman has broken another barrier.

However, even when it looks like we are making progress, that it is normal for women to be considered for and obtain these roles, there's always someone who can't accept it:

...I thought the Governor-General was there for all Australians, not just women, those who live in the bush or indigenous Australians. But then what would I know? I'm only a white, male city-dweller.

This was from a Letter to the Editor in the Sydney Morning Herald. Naturally, he was shot down the next day.

Aren't there enough white, male city-dwellers in power?

The thing that struck me about this letter, was yet again the assumption made by white men that white men can represent anyone, but any non-white and/or non-man must have some agenda that means they are out to strip privilege from those who have it. As the second writer pointed out, the white city-dwelling male population doesn't have anything to worry about.

This whole concept of the 'other' not being considered able to include the whole population is really playing out in the run-up to the US election. With both the Democrat contenders being different from the traditional old white man candidate, issues of race and gender have really come to the fore. I find it amazing that a country that believes it is world leading still has problems with the idea of diversity in it heads of states.