Melissa Dunphy

Commissioned by Dr. Michelle Murphy DeBruyn, in loving memory of Joel William DeBruyn (1975-2019) who was a champion of equal rights and just treatment of all individuals in both word and deed. Thank you to Columbus State University of Columbus, GA for its support of this artistic work through faculty development funding.

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THE JOB

I. Just another day
Speech before the US House of Representatives by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, July 23, 2020

I was minding my own business, walking up the steps.
[He] put his finger in my face.
He called me disgusting, he called me crazy,
he called me out of my mind, he called me dangerous.
In front of reporters [he] called me,
and I quote, “a fucking bitch.”
All of us have had to deal with this in some form,
some way, some shape, at some point in our lives.
I have waited tables in restaurants.
I have ridden the subway.
I have walked the streets in New York City,
and this kind of language is not new.
It’s just another day, right?
Yesterday, [he] decided to make excuses for his behavior,
and that I could not let go.
I could not allow my nieces, the little girls that I go home to,
I could not allow victims of verbal abuse and worse
to see our Congress accept [that excuse] as an apology.
I could not allow that to stand.
[He] mentioned that he has a wife and two daughters.
I am someone’s daughter too.
It happens every day in this country.

II. Not now, not ever
Speech before the Parliament of Australia by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, October 9, 2012

I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man.
I will not. Not now, not ever.
Because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like,
he needs a mirror.
That's what he needs.
He has said, and I quote:
“If it's true, that men have more power than women,
is that a bad thing?”
“What if men are, by physiology or temperament,
more adapted to issue command?”
“Abortion is the easy way out.”
“What the housewives need to understand as they do the ironing…”
[He] stood next to a sign that said “Ditch the witch.”
[He] stood next to a sign that described me as a man's bitch.
Misogyny, sexism, every day from [him].
Every day in every way,
across the time [he] has sat in that chair and I've sat in this chair.
Apparently, he's woken up after this track record,
and he's gone, “Oh dear! There's this thing called sexism.
Oh, my lords! There's this thing called misogyny.”
Doesn't turn a hair about any of his past statements,
doesn't apologize for the things that come out of his mouth.

III. Maiden Speech
Speech before UK House of Commons by Kim Leadbeater MP, September 9, 2021

It is with a huge amount of pride
and a significant amount of nervousness
that I make my maiden speech today.
But as the House [pays] tribute to my sister,
I mean no disrespect when I say
that I would give literally anything
not to be standing here today in her place.
For me, she will always be many other things before an MP:
a compassionate and caring humanitarian;
a proud Yorkshire lass;
a friend to many;
a loving daughter;
a fantastic sister-in-law and wife;
an outstanding mum;
and the best big sister anybody could ask for.
Jo’s murder ripped the heart out of our family.
It still does not feel real.
Jo said in her maiden speech,
"What surprises me time and time again
is that we are far more united
and have far more in common
than that which divides us.”
I believe those words are as true today
as when she said them—
perhaps even more so.
Since my election,
the one thing that people keep saying to me is,
“Kim, please don’t change,”
and I do not intend to.
I will always stay true to my roots and identity.
If I can be half the MP my sister was,
it will be a huge privilege
to get on with the job.

Artwork by Melissa Dunphy.

Performances

• 17 Aug, 2024: Shellie DeBruyn at Legacy Hall, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
• 23 May, 2024: Shellie DeBruyn at Pou Chen Performing Center, National Taichung University of Education, Taichung, Taiwan