The recent wave of sexual harassment and abuse sweeping various workplaces, including our parliament, underscores just how rife gendered violence is in our workplaces and our community, how culturally entrenched it remains in our society.
In March, over 10,000 women took to the streets in the #March4Justice, the grassroots movement that pushed thousands of women to rally all over Australia in yet another cry for justice and equality for women. Dare I say that some of our VMWS members are muttering “this needs to happen, still?”
And yes, sadly, annoyingly, still. Our voice remains of continued importance. Yes, education is key, and yes, women cannot be expected to carry the burden of change, but whilst we work to include multiple stakeholders in the ongoing discussions to effect change, we also need to take a greater stand in our own lives. One of the ways I’ve personally found empowering and useful is being an active bystander against everyday sexism and discrimination. There are multiple strategies that can be used in asserting yourself in conversations with family, friends, and co-workers. Here are some resources I’ve found helpful:
https://whv.org.au/training/prevention-violence-against-women
https://www.genvic.org.au/focus-areas/projects/online-active-bystander-project/
https://www.monash.edu/respectful-communities/resources/dont-stand-by
VMWS continues to advocate strongly in this area. If you need advice with regards to sexual harassment or discrimination in your workplace, we are here to assist. You can find more information on our website.
