Gender shouldn’t matter when it comes to politics, but the fact is it does.

When I wrote my women in politics blog four weeks ago I didn’t consider that very soon we would have a female Prime Minister. The statistics simply didn’t allow for that.

The coverage about Julia Gillard becoming PM, and what it means for women and feminism, is extensive so I won’t go into too much detail.

But I do want to note from the perspective of a woman in her twenties what this meant to me. When I was at University I pondered studying politics. I took a few topics but found nothing that could really sustain my interests. There was something about the middle-aged men in suits that really put me off. There were women in politics of course, making headlines for breast-feeding in the parliamentary chamber, but none with whom I really identified.

When Julia became PM I felt proud, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Here, at last, was someone with whom I identified.

And as for the no kids, un-married, atheist point of view – good on her.  As far as I am concerned being unmarried and with no children is a benefit if you have a job like that – no accusations of being a “lame gay churchy looser” Tony Abbot style.

So while I am still waiting for some policy to base my excitement on, as a red-headed, unmarried, childless, non-religious, feminist, who can’t stand Tony Abbott, I am stoked that after her long career Julia Gillard is PM.