Jean Kekedo discusses the fight for equal pay for equal work, the role of her sister Rose Kekedo in the teacher's union and the discrimination in housing and pensions.
Jean Kekedo discusses the challenges of being a woman in PNG, including the lack of access to jobs like agriculture and engineering. She cites the influence of western society in gendering these jobs, despite women having a long tradition of planting and harvesting.
Jean Kekedo recalls that she left high school with the leaving certificate in 1965 and won a scholarship to university which she declined. She states that she made two applications - to be either a patrol officer and to study agriculture, both of which women were barred from.
Matilda Pilacapio states that she drew a bigger wage at Burns Philp than her husband who was a medical midwife. She reflects on the flexibility of gender roles in Milne Bay, and the importance of the matrilineal society in men respecting women.
Josephine Abaijah discusses her experience as the first and only woman in the national assembly, how she was spat upon and had her hair pulled. She recalls not feeling welcome but gradually she established good relations with the men.
Josephine Abaijah discusses her reasons for visiting schools, providing a role model for children as a woman in parliament. She discusses her access to research on Papuan history.
Josephine Abaijah discusses the reaction of others in parliament to the Papua Besena movement, the lack of support from other Papuans in parliament because she was a woman and the research that Papuans have since conducted into their own history. She recalls making arrangments to visit Australia but no government minister would meet with her resulting in her use of demonstrations back in PNG.
Josephine Abaijah discusses her campaigning, and the reaction of Australians counting the votes who made a declaration in other seats but did several recounts because they could not believe a woman had won the seat even though she had a big margin.
Josephine Abaijah discusses how she became involved in activism. She recalls her time at the Papuan Medical College and her contact with the Australian medical profession who taught her to stand up for herself as at that time the status of women in PNG was very low. She recalls that while at the Papuan Medical College she represented the country at the South Pacific Games held in Fiji in basketball.
