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I agree, and I think that's why this misogyny discussion is long-overdue in Australian society. Personally, I suffered from sexual harassment in high-school, involving explicit material and bullying and it affected my education. This was in the '90s. Luckily, I was able to do a bridging course and was able to go to uni in my thirties. But the impact of the misogynist abuse has stayed with me to this day, and I feel compassion and empathy towards anyone who is suffering in a similar way, and is afraid to speak out about their experience. I feel that a big part of the problem with misogyny in Australia is that women are threatened and intimidated so severely to 'ignore it and shut up.' Instead of making misogyny diappear, it has then been allowed to fester uncontrolled, to the point where we are at now, where it has 'gone feral.'
I think what has changed now, however, is that Australia is no longer the relatively isolated continent it once was - we are now part of a globalised culture, so women and men from overseas are now aware of what women here have been told to 'put up with' for years. Quite a few comments from men (like the UK citizen commenting on Dr Summers' speech), who have expressed their concern about the level of misogyny in Australia, are particularly heartening. I think it's important to expose misogny in Australia, using concrete examples, because clearly, ignoring it and being silenced is not going to make the problem go away. Like many of the people commenting said, in many ways, a lot of women in Australia are still battling the same misogynist attitudes that Dr Anne Summers illustrated in her ground-breaking book, 'Damned Whores and God's Police.'
I'm sorry you went through that.
I think that the events surrounding Jill Meagher's death and the public response afterwards is doing far more to push the message that women will no longer tolerate to feel unsafe in our own streets than any speeches in parliament.
I think that the events surrounding Jill Meagher's death and the public response afterwards is doing far more to push the message that women will no longer tolerate to feel unsafe in our own streets than any speeches in parliament.
I think the main thing is for women not to feel intimidated or threatened to 'ignore it and shut up' when it comes to misogny, whether it's through speeches or in marches. Like other social justice movements like the Civil Rights movement, it takes speeches, marches and stronger sexual harassment laws, etc, to actually help bring about change, regarding misogyny in Australian society.
Last edited by goldfrapp; 10-22-2012 at 06:38 AM..
I think the main thing is for women not to feel intimidated or threatened to 'ignore it and shut up' when it comes to misogny, whether it's through speeches or in marches. Like other social justice movements like the Civil Rights movement, it takes speeches, marches and stronger sexual harassment laws, etc, to actually help bring about change, regarding misogyny in Australian society.
Legally, women have rights. There are harassment laws. What needs to be done is to encourage women to speak up, and to have firmer application of said laws.
And we must acknowledge that some women abuse these laws. It happens.
Well he's gone and put his foot in his mouth today, in an interview on channel 7 he said the "Government" is not qualified to talk about parenting in regards to the baby bonus. Now that can only mean one thng he was referring to the Prime Minisiter and not the Gov. This man will never learn he has to go.
Legally, women have rights. There are harassment laws. What needs to be done is to encourage women to speak up, and to have firmer application of said laws.
And we must acknowledge that some women abuse these laws. It happens.
It's really important that women speak out about sexual harassment. In a lot of cases, women blame themselves for it and throw away evidence such as explicit material. They often feel ashamed and traumatised, making them want to quit school or work. They should be reassured that it's not their fault, and encouraged to keep evidence as proof of sexual harassment to help with their case.
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