Bewitched and Bedevilled: Women Write the Gillard Years is a provocative analysis of Australian attitudes towards the nation's first female Prime Minister. A selection of Australia's most influential, entertaining and controversial female voices examine the country's reaction to Julia Gillard and debate the successes and failures of her prime ministership. Bewitched and Bedevilled investigates Gillard's position at the receiving end of a barrage of sexism and misogyny; questions why she was so vehemently attacked; and discusses the role this played in her ultimate undoing. Bewitched and Bedevilled also uncovers the impacts (reinvigorating, divisive, disturbing) of the Gillard years on feminism, on the Australian community and on our image abroad. Packed with wit, ire and incisive comment, this is a compelling anthology for all those who were intrigued or outraged during Julia Gillard's tenure as Prime Minister. Contributors include: Tanya Plibersek, Jane Caro, Eva Cox, Clementine Ford, Kathy Lette, Chloe Hooper, Helen Razer, Shakira Hussein, Emily Maguire, Tracey Spicer, Ruth Hessey, Catharine Lumby, Helen Pringle, Carol Johnson, Claire Harvey and speeches from Anne Summers and Julia Gillard.

Contents: Introduction : The queen's knickers and other stories / Samantha Trenoweth -- Essays -- Sick stomach, stiff spine ; broken heart, clear head / Emily Maguire -- Not quite human / Jane Caro -- View from a broad / Kathy Lette -- A Keynesian in wonderland / Helen Razer -- Back to the barricades / Eva Cox -- The pornification of Julia Gillard / Helen Pringle -- The body politic / Catharine Lumby -- No gender war here / Claire Harvey -- The red barren / Clementine Ford -- Big arse, slipping dupatta and patriarchal bargains : Benazir Bhutto, Julia Gillard and female leadership / Shakira Hussein -- Too supercalifragilistic for you? / Ruth Hessey -- When you grow up, you can be prime minister but will you want to? / Tracey Spicer -- The credit she deserved : Gillard and the Labor legacy / Carol Johnson -- Diary of a convert / Chloe Hooper -- Onward from Tilbury / Tanya Plibersek -- Speeches -- Her rights at work : the political persecution of Australia's first female prime minister (31 August 2012) / Anne Summers -- The misogyny speech (9 October 2012) / Julia Gillard -- The concession speech (26 June 2013) / Julia Gillard.

Includes an essay written by Tania Plibersek, Parliamentary Author. Includes bibliographical references (pages 244-252)