Winning not lecturing

Even more fascinating was that a similar though less pronounced difference existed between ALP and Liberal preferencing males.

So perceptions and world view are significant factors in whether you experience sexism or not, or are the victim of it.

This was reflected in responses with Liberal voting women likely to retail stories about earning the respect of workmates, or having seen work situations change over the years so that men might now be likely to be the target of sexism from women.

The attitude is mostly pragmatic, and sexism is linked in with a number of other aggressive things that occur in workplaces and that need to be coped with or managed. Respondents in some cases felt that victims brought it on themselves by the way they behaved.

Labor voting women were somewhat different. There was less of the "get over it" approach, but plenty of nuance. Sexism is something that you can oppose, but also remember with humorous fondness as well: "I have been propositioned and chased around my desk a few times :)"

But while the specific speech may have failed it seems that the general Labor approach is having some effect on Abbott's standing. When you look at the responses on preferred prime minister they are less kind to Abbott than they were.

Two years ago "honesty" was listed as a key reason for voting for him, but now it has all but vanished from responses, and critical language is blunter.

This hasn't mattered in the past, because while Abbott has had a low personal rating his party has been ahead on the issues that count. Recently Labor has started to recover, largely because it has found issues it owns that also count, like the NDIS. The image of the PM also seems to be improving with the word "strong" joining her list of personal attributes.

Abbott has also stumbled by being too inflexible and clinging to the issues that have got him where he is rather than adapting as circumstances change.

Our polling doesn't show sexism as a significant voting issue, which is why at one level the PM's attack has been successful. By diverting attention away from the economy and boat people she has diverted Abbott from successful battlegrounds. She has also taken control of the agenda.

Abbott was genuinely surprised by the attack, and allowed himself and his frontbench to be drawn into the controversy, distracting him from issues which long term might do him more good.

In this respect, while Labor lost the debate, it is improving its position in the war.