Pauline Hanson 'Loves' Her New Golliwog Face Mask

Pauline Hanson is showing no signs of trying to spend a month without saying or doing something controversial.

In a bid to no doubt prove she's not afraid of 'telling it like it is', the One Nation Senator has proudly posted a photo of her wearing a face mask.

But it wasn't just any face mask.

Ms Hanson said on Facebook that she 'loves' her new piece of personal protective equipment that comes with pictures of golliwogs on them.

Gollys, or golliwogs, originated as fictional characters in children's books in the late 19th century. During the 1970s, golliwogs were reproduced as rag dolls with black skin, frizzy hair and large lips.

While the toys were once a normalised and popular part of culture, particularly in Australia and the UK, they are now considered to be racist representations of black people.

Despite a broad change in attitudes and awareness, there are still those who seem oblivious or unconcerned by the offence the dolls can cause.

Pauline Hanson appears to one of those people, however she would be under no illusions that her face mask would be considered by many as racist.

The Australian politician was backed by dozens of her followers on social media, with many congratulating her for wearing the face mask in public. However, not all were in favour.

One person wrote: "That's just waving a red flag in front of bull to see if you get a reaction. I love my golliwog but don't need to wave him around in public knowing how sensitive some people are. Come on Pauline, you are better than that."

Another added: "How interesting. Of all the designs. Almost as if you're signaling something to your more racially motivated supporters. I wonder what it could be...hmmm."

A third said: "Yes you grew up with them and you never had any awful opinions about people of colour, but you are all smart enough to do some learning and read about the very racist history of these dolls and how they form part of a broader issue. Is your childhood nostalgia so important that you can't open your eyes a little?"

Ms Hanson hasn't shied away from controversial statements in the past regarding race and ethnicity, and it's unlikely she'll stop any time soon.

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Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie