Tactics and Flaws of the Transgender Ideology + Self-ID Movement

Posted on March 10, 2020 by ashleylien

Written by A. Lìen

Original article – https://ashleylien.wordpress.com/2020/03/10/say-it-now/

Growing up, I was confused. You see, I was very different from most of my girl-friends. At least, I thought I was. I was flat-chested, had really big feet & hands and a really low voice. I hated everything “girly.” I didn’t want to wear dresses or have my hair curled.

I loathed the fact that I would eventually start menstruating. I didn’t want to shave. I had strange, but nice, feelings for some of the girls I was friends with. I had already disassociated from my body because of a male cousin deciding to molest me at a very young age, but it was more than that. I hated my body. I hated the things that I ‘had’ to wear and do and endure, and this all started early on. It’s basically all I remember about my feelings toward my body and the expectations of me based on my biological sex.

Even as a young girl, I already knew what being a female meant, and I knew ‘it’ wasn’t good. At least, not within this society. Knowing what I was in for as a girl and a woman made me uncomfortable and embarrassed. It made me angry.

I remember my mom joking about how they (my parents) “thought I was going to be a boy,” but got surprised, and that just added to this growing feeling in my head that I was actually meant to be born a boy.

I didn’t realise it then, but I was experiencing body dysmorphia. It wasn’t just about my breasts, uterus and vagina, though. I obsessively loathed my nose, my stomach, my skin colour, my hair, my freckles, the size of my feet and hands, my voice and so much more. I was traumatised and already suffering from PTSD and obvious low self-esteem. I was mentally and emotionally unwell and needed mental health assistance.

If I was growing up now, I’d be transgender….

My mom would be pressured by peers, social media, media and neglectful medical “professionals” to put me on prescription drugs to alter my body chemistry and to prevent natural, imperative, biological cycles from occurring in my body. Her and I would have the red carpet rolled out for us as we frolicked to day surgery for me to permanently alter, and possibly even mutilate, my body. [1]

I wouldn’t be able to legally vote, drink alcohol, smoke, drive, have sex or travel alone (and rightfully so), but I’d have the authority to mutilate my body and permanently alter my life. Makes total sense! (sarcasm /off)

Hit the pause button….

There are reasons why children aren’t allowed to do certain things or make certain decisions for themselves. There are extremely crucial and important reasons why children have adults to look after them, guide them and make decisions for them. It isn’t an “invasion of privacy” or an “invalidation of their identity.”

It’s reasonable and logical to understand that children need to develop into a teenager, and then to an adult. It’s sensible to understand that the brain must have an appropriate amount of time to develop. It’s rational and sane to understand, no matter how confident a child is with a decision they’ve made, that time, environment, and a thousand other potential factors will have an impact on their thoughts, feelings, beliefs and desires. That is life.

As an adult I have finally starting coming to terms with my body and my biological sex. As an adult, I understand and realise that what goes on in my head can feel very real at times, but it’s still only in my head. As an adult, I’m so glad that I did not grow up amidst the madness that is transgender ideology.

What I haven’t come to terms with is the systemic oppression that the female sex class is still enduring. [2]

What I cannot come to terms with is the madness occurring on social and political levels surrounding transgender ideology.

Material reality vs. ideology….

I never imagined that I would be attacked or vilified for knowing that I am a female and that I have a female reproductive system. I never thought the day would come when “woman” would be an offensive word.

The transgender movement denies the truth, but it also denies reality. “Truth” is often subjective and one person’s truth may not be the next person’s truth. However, reality just is.

They proclaim that your ‘gender’ is “assigned” at birth. That is not true. Sex is observed and recorded. I wonder if the parents of the estimated 23 million aborted female foetuses (mainly from Asia) were confused about the sex of the foetus? I wonder if the high number of female infants being murdered (due to being valued less than boys) just needed a way to verbalise that they identified as boys, not girls? [3]

They say that women discussing issues relating to their vaginas is “transphobic” by “excluding trans women,” but men don’t have a cervix, uterus, ovaries, Fallopian tubes or a vagina. Women do, and we’ve had it up to here (*points to the sky*) with men trying to control what we do, how we do it and how we speak about, and organise around, issues that affect us.

How did we even get to this point?…

I’ll admit, I honestly thought the ‘panic’ over the trans movement was uncalled for. That is, until I saw hard fought for rights being rolled back for women. That is, until I saw women’s bathrooms disappearing while men’s remained. That is, until I was the subject of a witch hunt led by women that I called my friends for years.

Women that know I have spent years leading the charge for inclusive spaces in our local area, and not just online where it’s f’ing easy. I took on overwhelming amounts of stress, anxiety, harassment and bullying, from mostly men, to fight for safe and inclusive activist spaces, safe nightclubs and more.

These women witnessed me being pushed to the brink of my own sanity to fight for everyone’s rights. I faced-up to businesses, organisations and activists to fight for justice. I exposed the rapists lurking around our spaces and I called out the racists, sexists, homophobes, transphobes and bigots in our spaces. I have invested thousands of hours running campaigns, protests & rallies and have dedicated my time to helping so many different individuals within my community.

Yet, this pack of ravenous women had the audacity to target me, intimidate me and harass me. They had the audacity to recruit people in their hate campaign; their witch hunt. They had the audacity to say that what I think and believe about myself is not true and that it is bad and wrong. How dare they?!

These women are known as trans-rights activists (TRA’s) and they don’t believe women have the right to sex-segregated spaces or sports. [4] These are women that don’t believe women have the right to see medical professionals that are women. These are women that have the audacity to call themselves feminists.

It’s never enough….

It isn’t enough to keep track of and use preferred pronouns. It isn’t enough to refer to them by their new name. It isn’t enough that they already have the exact same rights that their counterparts have. Oh, goodness no. They want more. They want you to speak their language. They want you to think their thoughts. They want you to believe everything they believe.

Does it matter that their beliefs invalidate your existence?

Not to them, it doesn’t.

Does it matter that they deny your truth?

Not to them, it doesn’t.

Yet, that is why they swarm and attack. That is why they recruit people into their campaigns of hate and harassment. Because you won’t accept their truth. You won’t say the words they want you to say. The words they DEMAND that you say.

You won’t forget your reality and you won’t forget historical fact or the axis of oppression you are bound to by birth, and that makes you a monster.

What’s worse? They don’t stop there. They expect people to omit words and definitions from their language and believe & think exactly how they are told to. If you don’t do it, they will actively try to harm you.

1) Force: coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence.

2) Coercion: the action or practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.

3) Compulsion: the action or state of forcing or being forced to do something

These are the main tactics of the transgender movement.

They’ll start with manipulation, guilt and condescending tones. If that doesn’t make you crumble and start repeating the magic soundbites, they’ll move on to swearing, name calling, intimidation and veiled threats. The recruitment has already begun behind the scene, and you’ll soon be bombarded with comments and messages and physical confrontations, all demanding answers from you. You are now being harassed.

They don’t give thought to a lot….

Not the young girls having their clits cut off. [5] Not the girls starting their periods that desperately want privacy in the bathroom at school. Not the females around the world that don’t have access to abortion care. Not the women in sports that we had to fight to be able to participate in for decades, all to have men invade that space, too. [6] Not the army of ex-sex workers that want nothing more than to see the ‘industry’ shut down on every level and for women everywhere to be liberated. [7] They don’t give thought to the hundreds of thousands of women fleeing abuse that desperately need a safe space. No. This crowd does not give thought to a lot.

When was the last time this crowd picked up a lexicon?

I’m a woman. A woman is (*looks in lexicon*) an adult human female. *random shouting* “OH MY GOD! TERF! TERF! PUNCH THE TERF!”

A-b-s-u-r-d-i-t-y!

The words “girl“ and “woman” are not representative of imaginary things. Contrary to what some say, girls and women aren’t formless blobs. Those words exist for necessary reasons. Those words are how we verbally differentiate or specify between young and older members of the female sex class, just like “boy” and “man” for the male sex class. How and when did definitions become so trivial and offensive?

Facts still remain regardless of how persistent and aggressive this movement is. The audacity of this crowd to think they somehow have the power or authority to command to people what they are allowed to say, think and believe is beyond me, honestly, and it wreaks of authoritarianism.

The forgotten ones….

There are many groups of people that are being forgotten within ‘discussions’ (see: verbal attacks) with trans rights activists, and within the ideology as a whole. First and foremost – females. We are quite literally having our rights stripped from us around the world. We haven’t even achieved equitable rights for all girls and women, yet, our rights are being taken away. Rape shelters and domestic violence refuges are being vandalised and defunded because they refuse to accept “transwomen” into their facilities. [8] Let me rephrase that for you. Rape shelters and domestic violence refuges are being vandalised and defunded because they refuse to accept men into their facilities.

The staff at the shelters and refuges are protecting the hard fought for rights of traumatised women that are victims of rape and physical abuse, and many times, their children, too. We have the right to sex-segregated services and facilities! We need that right. How could anyone try and take that away from us? How can women be a part of this?

Another group of people that are forgotten are lesbians. A lesbian is a same-sex attracted female human being. One of the many problems with “self-identification” is this new and disturbing idea that men can be lesbians. The idea is, if a woman identifies as a man, the woman can be with another woman in a lesbian relationship (which it actually is) but ‘he’ is a ‘man.’ Yes. They believe all of this. The flip side of this is, if a man identifies as a woman, he can now be with a woman (in what is actually a heterosexual relationship) and call himself, sorry – ‘herself’ – a lesbian.

Yep…..take a minute, if you need to. It’s a lot to take in.

Now, how does this have a negative impact on lesbians? I know a lot of radical feminist lesbians that share personal testimony to how often men say things like “maybe you just haven’t had the right dick yet,” and how often they are verbally and sexually harassed, and sadly, many times they are assaulted and/or raped in order to “convert” them from loving only biological women. The idea of a woman that doesn’t need a man for anything, not even for basic sexual pleasure, is extremely threatening to men in general. Lesbians are too often met with hostility, and far worse, simply for who they love and want to have sex with, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. [9]

The people and issues being overlooked within the transgender ideology movement go on and on. Children that need access to genuine and effective mental health resources that, instead, are sexualised and/or put on a path of body mutilation.

The very people at the core of this ideological movement are being overlooked!

So many people grow up with body dysmorphia, low self-esteem, warped sense of self, dissociation and other serious and traumatic mental health issues. So many girls just do not want to deal with being female. I fully believe that we have the knowledge of our foremothers in our genes and in our bones. We know, straight out of the womb, what our life will be like. We carry that generational trauma within us. Is it any wonder that so many young girls would elect to ‘be’ a boy?

Does anyone else ever stop to wonder why so many parents are jumping on board with this? Could it be, just maybe, that it’s easier to pretend they have a daughter, rather than a feminine son that wants to wear dresses and vice versa?

Toxic male standards create pressure for boys, too, and many of them do not want to perform the assumed stereotypes that come with being a male.

Feminists have been working for decades to smash the sex-based stereotypes that create that pressure for girls and women. Gay men have been smashing gender norms for decades. Rock gods gave us “gender fluidity” in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, but society, in general, just hasn’t let go of gender expectations & stereotypes yet. So I sympathise with parents of children that are confused, lost and feeling empty, but surgeries, body altering drugs and jumping on the bandwagon of harmful ideologies are not the answers. The core issues for these children are not being properly addressed.

Furthermore, the long-term consequences and side effects of blocking puberty have not been fully explored and are not fully known or understood. [10]

Who is looking after the longterm health and well-being of individuals seeking gender affirmation?

The ‘T’ in LGBT….

Remember, there is an important difference between a transsexual person and a transgender person. The transgender movement insists you only need to feel like a man/woman/neither in order to be a man/woman/neither. Nothing more than an idea and suddenly…BOOP! You’re not what you were born as.

Transsexuals are men or women that go through physical and chemical changes (hormone replacement therapy, surgeries) in order to look and be more like the sex they are transitioning to. Yes. That’s where “trans,” or, the ‘T’, comes from; transition.

It concerns me that the transgender movement has seemingly, and in their minds, erased the existence of real human beings that have extremely specific medical and social needs. Needs that, I dare say, are not being effectively met within the constraints of our current medical systems and policies. These are men and women with unnatural amounts of hormones in their bodies and, many times, with unique post-surgery genitalia. [1]

In online transsexual spaces, transsexual women (biologically male) are almost entirely free from misconceptions or delusions about the ability to change their biological sex. They know they cannot change sex. What they can do, and are doing, is changing their secondary sex characteristics. I’ll reiterate that this creates extremely unique medical needs which are not the same as either men or women, and they deserve spaces and systems that recognise those needs and address them effectively and civilly. There are also many transsexual people that find they need compassionate mental health support in relation to their decision to permanently change their body. [11]

Transgender people are undermining everything about transsexuals, their needs and their history of oppression that led to being a part of the LGBT community. They are turning people against actual trans people.

Here’s just one example:

While I agree with this, it’s only partially true. Transsexuals are not the ones leading this attack, and that is what the ‘T’ stands for. Not transgender.

Look, feminists are not wishing harm on anyone. We are not smashing windows or punching and harassing trans people. Feminists just want to protect, and advocate for, the rights of girls and women.

That is what feminism is for.

Females – that is who feminism is for.

References –

[1] Post-surgery trans genitalia:

Phalloplasty (graphic) – https://images.app.goo.gl/EEdqKTvH7ptd9kFm8

Penile inversion vaginoplasty (graphic) – https://images.app.goo.gl/BwmSrgnbdHct52RNA

[2] UN study finds 90% of people are bias against women:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51751915

[3] Sex-selective abortions (female foetuses) and female infanticide:

https://www.npr.org/2016/02/01/465124337/how-chinas-one-child-policy-led-to-forced-abortions-30-million-bachelors

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/abortion/medical/infanticide_1.shtml#top

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2199874-sex-selective-abortions-may-have-stopped-the-birth-of-23-million-girls/

[4] Trans rights activists against women’s rights:

Police Do Nothing as Trans Activist Mob Terrorizes Attendees, Kicks Windows, Screams, at Woman’s Place UK Meeting

What’s Current: Police investigating bomb threat against A Woman’s Place meeting

Trans Activists Protest Bi-Partisan Bill to Protect Girls From Barbaric Practice of Female Genital Mutilation

[5] Female genital mutilation:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation

[6] Men (transgender women) in women’s sport:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/120029186/2020-tokyo-olympics-committee-has-bowed-to-pressure-to-include-trans-weight-lifter-in-womens-category

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/iwd-a-waking-nightmare-for-womens-sport-what-history-teaches-us-in-the-gender-debate/?fbclid=IwAR0yQMZgQf2Qs5FSBo39eUhx3SSLPJ5ch3gZdDp_FNBICuNqz3sF0CuWvMs

[7] Former prostitutes/“sex workers” against porn/prostitution

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/30/new-zealand-sex-work-prostitution-migrants-julie-bindel

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/11/prostitution-legalised-sex-trade-pimps-women

https://quinnbites.wixsite.com/contrarianquinn/post/everybody-knows-what-a-woman-is-including-trans-activists

[8] Vancouver Rape Relief shelter defunded/Men in women’s shelters & refuges and other female-only spaces:

Rape shelter loses funding after trans rights activists complain

https://www.christianpost.com/news/vancouver-city-council-votes-stop-funding-rape-shelter-over-refusal-admit-men-who-identify-as-women.html

Funding ends for Vancouver Rape Relief service

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6894599/When-man-called-Mark-locked-threatening-kill-mother-child.html

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/staff-guidance-into-trans-patients-on-womens-wards-is-under-review-cfq2c7nrf

[9] Hostility that lesbians face:

https://www.feministcurrent.com/tag/the-cotton-ceiling/

[10] Longterm effects of puberty blockers and gender ideology:

https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-side-effects-hormone-blockers-surgery

[11] Transexual perspectives/de-transitioning:

‘Transwomen’ are not Women

https://www.piqueresproject.com/about.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51676020

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tavistock-gender-clinic-faces-court-over-puberty-blockers-for-children-0msg9w0gn

https://www.genderhq.org/trans-youth-side-effects-hormone-blockers-surgery

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct0hyy

Other relevant information –

Medical and moral neglect:

Gender Dysphoria and Autism: A Parent Speaks Out

Big money in gender affirmation:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/sex-reassignment-surgery-market

Women in sports speaking out:

Aussie Olympian takes a stand against transgender athletes at Tokyo 2020

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/call-for-rethink-on-transgender-safety-in-womens-sport/news-story/bfd63ea12ee8325031c8183b390e0401

Women being no-platformed and ‘cancelled’:

https://filia.org.uk/news/2020/2/29/womens-liberation-at-50-the-talk-that-should-have-been-by-selina-todd

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jk-rowling-installs-security-gates-at-perthshire-home-after-disputes-tpr8t9wvz

Four Corners story linked to $6 million grant for Australia’s busiest kids gender clinic:

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/four-corners-story-linked-to-6m-grant-for-australias-busiest-kids-gender-clinic/news-story/0848042e57d0d7724f0f2b2e0ef97544

https://nypost.com/2020/06/17/j-k-rowling-stands-up-for-feminism-against-trans-extremism/

The Guardian – Women Must Have the Right To Organise:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2020/mar/02/women-must-have-the-right-to-organise-we-will-not-be-silenced?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Erasure of women:

https://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/event-details/period-power

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1235623170339672065.html

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRjZaK2hDW_M45TzPvt9HEddtZ3GjULIWVZadCv6z-P6vTRw/viewform

English translation of google doc – https://www.facebook.com/1301660769891895/posts/2895621953829094/?d=n

We cannot change our biological sex:

https://threader.app/thread/1133120326844506112

In someone else’s words:

https://quinnbites.wixsite.com/contrarianquinn/post/everybody-knows-what-a-woman-is-including-trans-activists

https://www.facebook.com/migrantwomeneurope/

International Women’s Day 2020 – We Demand Change

Posted on March 8, 2020 by J.K. Williams

Read Demands for Change linked below and share it across social media with the hashtag #IWD2020. Then send Demands for Change to the listed Ministers.

Demands for Change – https://realforwomen.wordpress.com/2020/02/26/demands-for-change/

Send Demands for Change to these Ministers:

Hon. Mark McGowan MLA
WA State Premier
wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au

Hon. Simone McGurk MLA
Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services
Minister.McGurk@dpc.wa.gov.au

Hon. Senator Anne Ruston
Federal Minister for Families and Social Services
libadm@liberal.org.au
https://ministers.dss.gov.au/anne-ruston/contact

Hon. Senator Marise Payne
Federal Minister for Women
ministerforwomen@pmc.gov.au

Hon. Michelle Roberts MLA – Member for Midland
WA Minister for Police
Minister.Roberts@dpc.wa.gov.au

Hon. Julie Collins MP
Shadow Minister for Women
julie.collins.mp@aph.gov.au

Hon. Bronnie Taylor MLC
Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women
https://www.nsw.gov.au/your-government/ministers/minister-for-mental-health-regional-youth-and-women/

Hon. Gabrielle Williams MP
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Minister for Women and Minister for Youth
gabrielle.williams@parliament.vic.gov.au

Hon. Yvette Berry
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence,
Minister for Women
berry@act.gov.au

Hon Michelle Lensink MLC
Minister for Human Services
dhsministerforhumanservices@sa.gov.au

Hon. Di Farmer MP
Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
childsafety@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Hon. Paul Fletcher MP
Federal Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts
paul.fletcher.mp@aph.gov.au

Also consider sending this from Reclaim the Night Perth – https://www.facebook.com/158606704346880/posts/1319079638299575/?d=n

…and the following calls to action/statements from Fair Agenda and Women’s Council for Domestic & Family Violence Services – WA:

F E M A L E

Posted on February 26, 2020 by J.K. Williams

By J.K. Williams

So sweet, loving and kind. A beautiful mind

Pretend to be a princess, handmade dresses

A heart so giving, such a joy for living

Things were great. Oh….shit, just wait.

That doesn’t feel right. Stop! STOP! I have to fight.

I can’t. Terrified. Hide it all inside.

Shame. So much shame. So fucked – myself I blame.

I don’t want any of it! No period, no bras or shaving, none of that shit.

Disassociate from my fate. Disassociate. Disassociate.

Never ending. The comments, stares, touches, the breaking and the mending.

You can’t say that

You can’t fucking say that bitch

Shut your mouth. You’re fat.

Feeling so small, worthless, sick of it all.

Everything is wrong. Just keeping plodding along.

Nothing is right. Just get through the night.

Broken nose, broken face, blood all over the place.

I didn’t do anything. Why is this happening?

Whore. Here’s some more.

Teeth smashed and the house is trashed.

Go to sleep. Wake up. Repeat.

Never taken seriously. Even if you ask politely.

Silenced, dismissed. Be different…I wish. I wish. I wish.

Punished for existing. Endless suffering.

Suck it in, doubt yourself, never win.

Constant pain. Feel the damage to your brain.

Lightheaded. Full of absolute dread.

Reality is deeply traumatic. Shut up. Stop being so dramatic.

Harassed, raped, beaten, killed. Watch the blood spill.

Lied to, misdiagnosed, gaslighted. Wish to be dead.

Don’t want to leave….need a reprieve

Heart shattered

Body battered

Mind splitting

Spirit weakening

Still here, jaw clenched in fear.

Our existence is not respected. Resistance should be expected.

Warrior

Survivor

You’ll never fucking stop her

F E M A L E
By J.K. Williams

Written on October 23rd, 2019

More from this author here – https://jkwilliamsoriginalwork.wordpress.com/

Demands for Change

Posted on February 26, 2020 by J.K. Williams

By J.K. Williams

25/02/2020

Full, original source here – https://jkwilliamsoriginalwork.wordpress.com/2020/02/24/just-admit-you-dont-care-if-we-die/

This list of demands is a direct message to our Federal and State governments, all media agencies and reporters in Australia, all medical professionals, all State and Federal Police Officers and Detectives, all Australian Magistrates and all Family Court staff and every single adult male in Australia.

Our Demands

1-

Language and Reporting:

– This deadly problem shouldn’t be referred to as “domestic violence” anymore. We can’t immediately change the definition and legal categorisation, but we must change how we talk about it and refer to it. Femicide/male violence against women (MVAW)/terrorism of women and children – are all more accurate terms.

– Along with this, the media must be held accountable regarding their duty of care to the public when reporting on matters of MVAW. Publications must be held to the mandatory standards and guidelines of this country.

• Based on the Australian Press Council’s ‘Statements of Principles’, Australian publications are failing to adhere to at least two key principles:*

Ensure that factual material in news reports and elsewhere is accurate and not misleading, and is distinguishable from other material such as opinion.
Avoid causing or contributing materially to substantial offence, distress or prejudice, or a substantial risk to health or safety, unless doing so is sufficiently in the public interest.

• According to the APC’s Advisory Guideline on Family and Domestic Violence Reporting, they are failing to meet numerous guidelines that must be adhered to:*

“Safety

The safety and well-being of those affected by family violence must be the primary consideration. Publications should not publish information that could cause or contribute to the risk of harm, offence or distress. Survivors of family violence often comment that their pain and suffering was exacerbated by media coverage. In some circumstances, it may not be safe, appropriate or legal to use real names or other identifying information.”

“Responsibility

Reporting of family violence should try not to blame a person affected by the violence or suggest that the person somehow enabled the violence or could have avoided it. Publications should also avoid placing undue emphasis on the characteristics or surroundings of the victim, or implying that such things contributed to the family violence, unless doing so is essential to the narrative and sufficiently in the public interest. Use of the active voice in relation to the perpetrator will help avoid placing undue emphasis on the person affected by family violence. For example: “Police charged a 38-year-old Melbourne man with the murder of a 36-year-old woman”, as opposed to, e.g. “A 36- year-old woman was murdered and a 38-year-old Melbourne man has been charged”.”

“Context and content

The context and complexities of family violence should also be key considerations, such as when an alleged perpetrator may have a mental illness. Publications should note any such factors when it is warranted in a particular case and in the public interest. Care also should be taken to avoid casual stigmatisation, such as by stating or implying that the violence was “caused” by a person’s mental illness or culture.”

“Words matter. Publications should be mindful of the language they use and try to avoid terms that tend to trivialise, demean or inadvertently excuse family violence, such as “a domestic”, “a domestic dispute” or “a troubled marriage”. Where it is lawful to do so, the relationships of the people involved should be described as accurately and precisely as possible.”

“In addition to reporting particular incidents, journalists can play a critical role in deepening readers’ understanding about family violence by referring to resources such as official statistics, peer- reviewed research, and experts, such as domestic violence counsellors and survivors.”

“Publications should also be aware of the potential impact of story layout, headlines and surrounding material (such as advertisements) that may be insensitive or jarring in the circumstances.”

– We demand better from the Australian media.

– We expect the government and police/judicial system to back us up on that.

2-

– Mandatory incarceration for violent adult males. Whether it’s a king hit in the city or beating their female partner or their kids, they must be locked up for a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 30, with/without charges being laid. This is when there is physical evidence of violence being perpetrated. (Witnesses, bruising/bleeding, cctv footage, ongoing police involvement, previous Report(s) to Police, Restraining Order(s) or other Court Order(s) etc.)

This gives the men time to calm down and gives the women (and kids) time to figure out an exit plan, and for most victims of MVAW, this will give them time to de-condition themselves, for lack of a better term, and discover/realise that they don’t want to stay in that relationship.

With this process, there must be initiatives to introduce effective and proven strategies in to our jails and prisons to immediately begin educating and rehabilitating perpetrators of violence to lower the probability of them reoffending. **

Ideally, we would have new and specific clinical facilities to house and rehabilitate these violent offenders. There is reason to believe that rehab programs set in the environment of a correctional facility are not as effective as they need to be. Regardless of where these violent offenders are housed during their required stint in some form of temporary removal from their community, the focus must be on effective rehabilitation to lower the risk of reoffending.

3-

– More government funding for men’s and women’s crisis counselling (with the aim of making it entirely free of charge to patients).

– More than 10 bulk billed visits per year to see a mental health professional are needed. We demand at least 24 bulk billed appointments per calendar year for youth and adults on Mental Health Care Plans.

4-

– More government funding for women’s refuges, with the aim of there being more facilities and each facility being more efficiently staffed and more well-rounded with the services and support they can give.

5-

– New and specific funding for women’s and children’s programs and facilities that can mimic the Women’s Police Stations, and relevant programs & policies, that are having great success aiding in lowering rates of violence against women and children in Argentina.*

6-

(this is for everyone)

– Normalise interference, intervention and involvement in families and households that have a problem with violence or control. Normalise checking in on them and normalise awareness of their situation amongst the community. Normalise direct interference and immediate interruption and intervention of controlling and violent men. Normalise public conversations about the violence you witness in your community and let’s normalise supportive rehabilitation of violent males, whether they are a child, teen or adult.

7-

– We want our court systems; our magistrates, bailiffs and clerks, to favour women and children in all matters of “family violence.” A core value of any justice system should be to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. More focus needs to be on the facts and statistics of MVAW and “family violence,” and assessments for determining authenticity of the threat of violence for an individual victim need to be based on those facts and statistics. ** This should translate in to efficient and accurate assessments for women and children, in lieu of evidence, so they can receive protection and assistance. **

8-

– New and specific funding for specially tailored recreational AND sports programs, facilities and events for all males and females aged between 12 and 17.

9-

– New and specific funding for specially tailored mental health programs and educational-based programs and courses for “at risk” males aged between 12 and 17. These should be available at no cost to families with “at risk” male teenagers in the home.

At risk = (but is not limited to)

– struggling in school (socially and/or academically)

– engaging in verbal harassment or abuse at school or at home

– engaging in violent behaviour of any kind

– police involvement at any level

– if Restraining Orders or other Court Orders are in effect or have previously been in affect

– if there is any history of controlling behaviour, verbal, physical or sexual abuse for either parent, whether biological (and not living in the home) and/or step-parents/guardians living in the home with the male youth.

10-

– New and specific funding for specially tailored mental health programs and educational-based programs and courses for “at risk” females aged between 12 and 17. These should be available at no cost to families with female teenagers in the home that are “at risk” of becoming a victim to male violence.

At risk = (but is not limited to)

– struggling in school (socially and/or academically)

– withdrawing from friends, school, social activities, sports etc.

– engaging in self-destructive/harmful behaviour of any kind

– police involvement at any level

– if Restraining Orders or other Court Orders are in effect or have previously been in affect

– if there is any history of controlling behaviour, verbal, physical or sexual abuse for either parent, whether biological (and living/not living in the home) and/or step-parents/guardians living in the home with the female youth.

Our demands are reasonable and achievable.

References and resources –

* APC Advisory Guidelines: https://www.presscouncil.org.au/advisory-guidelines/

* APC Advisory Guideline on Family and Domestic Violence Reporting: https://www.presscouncil.org.au/uploads/52321/ufiles/Guidelines/Advisory_Guideline_on_Family_and_Domestic_Violence_Reporting.pdf

** Strategies for the education and rehabilitation of male perpetrators of violence. Examples:

– https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/401889/barbershop-movement-urges-abusive-men-to-tackle-traumatic-pasts

– Change the Story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia – https://www.ourwatch.org.au/getmedia/0aa0109b-6b03-43f2-85fe-a9f5ec92ae4e/Change-the-story-framework-prevent-violence-women-children-AA-new.pdf.aspx

– Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men: https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Why_Does_He_Do_That.html?id=azvHexd1g1YC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

– Coercive Control, Laura Richards:

So, what exactly is coercive control?

Deep Diving Coercive Control

https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures

* Women’s Police Stations in Argentina: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/127088/

Recent headlines and comments regarding the tragic murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children, and rates of male violence in Australia-

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/is-it-an-instance-of-a-husband-being-driven-too-far-anger-over-comment-from-police-in-brisbane/news-story/84c497606511b13dee815e2d354960d5

https://7news.com.au/politics/pauline-hanson-says-these-things-happen-in-the-wake-of-hannah-clarke-and-her-childrens-murder-c-713429

The Media Is Once Again Failing A Female Victim Of Domestic Violence

Other relevant information and resources –

If you do care, take action now: https://fair-agenda.good.do/asaferfuture/email/

https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/11/New-laws-to-tackle-family-and-domestic-violence-in-WA.aspx

https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/television/media/updating-australias-media-laws

https://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Guidelines%2

Prison-based correctional rehabilitation: An overview of intensive interventions for moderate to high-risk offenders [in Australia]: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi412

VIOLENT OFFENDER TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS: WHAT WE KNOW AND WHERE TO FROM HERE: https://www.div12.org/violent-offender-treatment-effectiveness-what-we-know-and-where-to-from-here/

Thank you to the radical feminists that helped me with some of the references and resources.

If you need help, please contact one of the resources below, and/or reach out to trusted family and/or friends.

WOMEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE

The Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline is a state wide 24 hour service. This service provides support and counselling for women experiencing family and domestic violence. This includes phone counselling, information and advice, referral to local advocacy and support services, liaison with police if necessary and support in escaping situations of family and domestic violence. The service can refer women to safe accommodation if required. A telephone based interpreting service is available if required.

Telephone (08) 9223 1188

Free call 1800 007 339

In an emergency – if someone is in immediate danger – call the police on 000 now.

Here is a link to a thorough list of a range of numbers, services, hotlines and websites.

https://www.breakingthesilence.com.au/albany/womens-domestic-violence-hotllines/

Just Admit You Don’t Care If We Die

Posted on February 25, 2020 by J.K. Williams

Written by J.K. Williams

Seriously, Australia! Could our politicians, reporters, magistrates, police officers and the adult male members of the public all take a stand, and in unison, repeat after me – “I DO NOT CARE ABOUT DEAD WOMEN AND CHILDREN!”

What? Does that offend you? Do you immediately scoff and think “Well, that’s awfully judgemental. I’m sure plenty of them care about women and children (and men!!!!) and don’t want them to die!”

But, do they really care? Do you really care?

Don’t we just have to look at the recent headlines about the horrific murder of Hannah Clarke and her three children, the recent comments from Queensland Detective Inspector Mark Thompson or to the increasing annual rates of dead women, children and men killed by violent males to see the obvious lack of concern? *

If politicians, police officers, media agencies, magistrates and all men genuinely cared, women and children wouldn’t be dying from male violence as often as we are. Heck, I dare say we wouldn’t be dying from male violence at all. If those people truly cared, our communities and social structures would be very different. They’d look, feel and work opposite to how almost everything works now.

Male violence against women (MVAW) isn’t always about assault, rape or murder….

The ways in which girls and women are objectified, dismissed, neglected, harassed, silenced and abused seem to be endless. Girls and women have always been objectified in books, magazines, advertisements, tv shows and movies, and we have been overlooked and erased from our very own archived history. Black and Indigenous girls and women have suffered and have been erased even more so than white women.

Our body parts are commodified. Archaic beliefs are held about our natural bodily functions, and unless you are a female, the full extent of the brutal truth about how girls and women are viewed, spoken about and treated has been hidden from you. This steady erosion of our humanness has created a world where, for the most part, we are treated like objects and not like living human beings. (Go figure!?)

The problem is, it’s all quite natural to us now.

Right here, right now….

I assure you that there are hundreds of thousands of women and children in Western Australia (and hundreds of thousands more across Australia and in other countries) suffering in silence in their homes due to abuse from the adult male in the home, and many times, from older male youth members of the family.

I promise you that hundreds of thousands of women in Western Australia are being neglected, misdiagnosed, lied to and assaulted by the male medical professionals they are in the care of. They’re being silenced by bosses, husbands and strangers.

I guarantee you that hundreds of thousands of girls in WA are being sexually molested, assaulted and raped by their fathers, brothers, cousins, Uncles and the males in their churches, daycares and schools. They’re being objectified and humiliated by their peers.

There are tens of thousands of WA girls and women being objectified, sexualised, raped and trafficked through different forms of “sex work” and pornography.

This is happening all around you. This is happening on the street where you live. This is happening on the street where you work and the street where you worship. This is happening in the restaurants and bars you hang out in. This is happening every day, whether or not it’s being reported to police. Women are quietly congregating all around you to talk, vent, scream and cry, and to console one another and support each other through shared, but individual, traumas.

This is your community. This is your culture. This is your state. This is your country.

You can get angry about it and puff your chest and dismiss all of this as hogwash or horse shit, but it won’t change our reality.

If the people ‘in power’ genuinely cared about all of the women and children being controlled, neglected, assaulted, abused, raped, trafficked and killed, everything we know about how our society works would be different.

Advertisements would be different.

Funding for programs would be different.

Laws would be different.

Judicial processes would be different.

How we interact with one another and how we function on a daily basis as a community would be entirely different.

Our homes and neighbourhoods would be different.

Our educational processes and systems would be different.

“Entertainment” would be different.

Girls and women would be protected, exalted and cherished.

Women would be empowered, not oppressed, and hold power within the homestead and within business and politics. *

True equality and equity could actually exist….

The feminine is supreme….

I do not mean lipstick and dresses, or solely the ability to bare children. The “feminine” I speak of, the “feminine” I know and recognise in other women is nurturing, empathetic, compassionate, fair, powerful, wise, firm, rational and just. The feminine is supreme. Radical feminism recognises this. Radical feminists know what is lacking and what is needed in our communities, schools, workplaces and in our homes. Basically, women know what girls and women need/don’t need.

We know what the problem is….

Set aside what I said about radical feminism. You don’t have to agree with me on that point right now. Regardless of your views on feminism, there are thousands of studies, papers and forums about the ‘issue’ of MVAW, and there are Women’s Health Packages and specific policies and laws meant to prevent and/or address this “issue.” There are also ads, programs and campaigns etc. So it’s a fair call to say that we shouldn’t still be dealing with this problem, right?

Yet, women and girls continue to objectified, silenced, harassed, sexualised, neglected, assaulted, raped and killed. Every time another woman, child or man is hurt or dies due to male violence, people always ask what else can be done to end this horrific problem. We keep having the same conversations and we still use the same old & ineffective policies and tactics. Our politicians continue to serve us word salads instead of radical, transformative and effective laws, policies and protections. Word salads instead of action.

So, what makes this publication different to some others?

Well, I have spent some time researching, thinking and writing. I’ve also accumulated over 30 years of first-hand experience with sexism and misogyny along with over 10 years of first-hand experience with male violence in different places, times and scenarios influenced by a range of circumstances and factors.

And….I’ve put a list of demands together. I’ve based this list of demands on valuable, credible information and references as well as my own experiences and conversations, and the collective, historical experiences of other members of the sex class I belong to. I’ve included excellent resources, too.

Our Demands….

#1- (LANGUAGE AND REPORTING)

• Based on the Australian Press Council’s ‘Statements of Principles’, Australian publications are failing to adhere to at least two key principles:*

1. Ensure that factual material in news reports and elsewhere is accurate and not misleading, and is distinguishable from other material such as opinion.

6. Avoid causing or contributing materially to substantial offence, distress or prejudice, or a substantial risk to health or safety, unless doing so is sufficiently in the public interest.

• According to the APC’s Advisory Guideline on Family and Domestic Violence Reporting, they are failing to meet numerous guidelines that must be adhered to:*

“Safety

“Responsibility

“Context and content

“Publications should also be aware of the potential impact of story layout, headlines and surrounding material (such as advertisements) that may be insensitive or jarring in the circumstances.”

– We demand better from the Australian media.

– We expect the government and police/judicial system to back us up on that.

#2-

#3-

– More government funding for men’s and women’s crisis counselling (with the aim of making it entirely free of charge to patients).

#4-

#5-

– New and specific funding for women’s and children’s programs and facilities that can mimic the Women’s Police Stations, and relevant programs& policies, that are having great success aiding in lowering rates of violence against women and children in Argentina.*

#6- (this is for everyone)

#7-

#8-

– New and specific funding for specially tailored recreational AND sports programs, facilities and events for all males and females aged between 12 and 17.

#9-

At risk = (but is not limited to)

– struggling in school (socially and/or academically)

– engaging in verbal harassment or abuse at school or at home

– engaging in violent behaviour of any kind

– police involvement at any level

– if Restraining Orders or other Court Orders are in effect or have previously been in affect

#10-

At risk = (but is not limited to)

– struggling in school (socially and/or academically)

– withdrawing from friends, school, social activities, sports etc.

– engaging in self-destructive/harmful behaviour of any kind

– police involvement at any level

– if Restraining Orders or other Court Orders are in effect or have previously been in affect

Our demands are reasonable and achievable.

Now, if you’re still reading – great! There is a lot to ‘digest’ so I will wrap this up, but before I do….

I am inclined to acknowledge the role that industrialisation/capitalism plays in all of this. I could write for hours about the reasons why capitalism is a part of a lot of problems, but I want readers to really reflect on what I’ve put together here. I don’t want to overwhelm you. So, for now, I’ll just say that, in my opinion, the most obvious way that capitalism fuels stress ➡️ poor mental health ➡️ aggression ➡️ violence (a cycle of violence) is through the absolute and oppressive necessity to work, in order to live. That correlation may catch some readers off-guard, and that’s ok.

Working for an income is the only way we know to live, to survive. I find that heartbreakingly sad and infuriating. This earth was meant to be enjoyed, cherished and appreciated, but we have very little time for that. We have so little time for ourselves. The overwhelming majority of us have jobs and that removes us from so much and creates so much stress, pressure and uncertainty. Not to mention that we are becoming increasingly aware of how destructive our existence on this earth has been, which, personally, adds to my anger and poor mental health regarding the inability to live as I wish that I, and my family, could live. The way I wish we all could live.

Do you ever sit back and imagine what life could be like if we didn’t have such a dependence on the cycle of money in our society? Do you ever imagine a world without corporate greed and destruction? One without rampant inequalities and preventable horrors? It might be really difficult to imagine, because that’s how far we have moved away from that kind of existence and from that kind of connection with our world, our surroundings and with each other. This underlying current that runs through each of us as individuals, and through our society as a whole, may often be the fuel for already existing micro-aggressions.

In closing….

I know. It’s complex. It seems so massive and, to some, impossible to change all of the engrained beliefs, traditions, behaviours and policies in our society and within our homes, schools and courts etc., but we must. Politicians, reporters & journalists, Magistrates & Police Officers and the men in our communities must pay attention. Listen (and read). We are literally spelling it out for you. Starting with changing the way we view, speak about and treat the majority of the world’s population (which are girls and women) is not only a necessity, it’s a good start at healing our entire society as a whole. It can be done. It will be done.

Written by J.K. Williams

February 24, 2020

~More from this author here~

References and resources –

*Recent headlines and comments regarding the tragic murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children, and rates of male violence in Australia:

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/news/is-it-an-instance-of-a-husband-being-driven-too-far-anger-over-comment-from-police-in-brisbane/news-story/84c497606511b13dee815e2d354960d5

https://7news.com.au/politics/pauline-hanson-says-these-things-happen-in-the-wake-of-hannah-clarke-and-her-childrens-murder-c-713429

https://junkee.com/medai-domestic-violence-hannah-baxter/242982

https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures

* Women would hold power within the homestead and within business and politics: Believe it or not, there are examples of tribes, communities and cultures that function just like that. They cherish and exalt female members of society. The women hold the power of decision making amongst their tribe/community. (there are also examples of what happens when women are severely oppressed)

History of feminist-based civil disobedience and direct action (starting at page 109)

Gulabi Gang: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/02/gulabi-gang-indias-women-warrriors-201422610320612382.html

https://www.vox.com/2018/11/5/18037688/womens-day-gender-equality-poverty-human-rights

Equality for Women = Prosperity for All: https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Equality_for_Women_Prosperity_for_All.html?id=zmtuDwAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

Akashinga: [Empowering Female Fighters] – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-28/akashinga-the-female-fighters-protecting-wildlife-in-zimbabwe/10418542

* APC Advisory Guidelines: https://www.presscouncil.org.au/advisory-guidelines/

* APC Advisory Guideline on Family and Domestic Violence Reporting: https://www.presscouncil.org.au/uploads/52321/ufiles/Guidelines/Advisory_Guideline_on_Family_and_Domestic_Violence_Reporting.pdf

** Strategies for the education and rehabilitation of male perpetrators of violence. Examples:

– https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/401889/barbershop-movement-urges-abusive-men-to-tackle-traumatic-pasts

– Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men: https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Why_Does_He_Do_That.html?id=azvHexd1g1YC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

– Coercive Control, Laura Richards:

https://www.laurarichards.co.uk/coercive-control/

https://www.laurarichards.co.uk/deep-diving-coercive-control/

* Women’s Police Stations in Argentina: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/127088/

Other relevant information and resources –

If you do care, take action now: https://fair-agenda.good.do/asaferfuture/email/

https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/11/New-laws-to-tackle-family-and-domestic-violence-in-WA.aspx

https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/television/media/updating-australias-media-laws

https://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Guidelines%2

Prison-based correctional rehabilitation: An overview of intensive interventions for moderate to high-risk offenders [in Australia]: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi412

VIOLENT OFFENDER TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS: WHAT WE KNOW AND WHERE TO FROM HERE: https://www.div12.org/violent-offender-treatment-effectiveness-what-we-know-and-where-to-from-here/

Reclaim the Night/Take Back the Night – https://domesticviolenceservice.org.au/a-history-of-reclaim-the-night/

Thank you to the radical feminists that helped me with some of the references and resources.

If you need help, please contact one of the resources below, and/or reach out to trusted family and/or friends.

WOMEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE

Telephone (08) 9223 1188

Free call 1800 007 339

In an emergency – if someone is in immediate danger – call the police on 000 now.

Here is a link to a thorough list of a range of numbers, services, hotlines and websites.

https://www.breakingthesilence.com.au/albany/womens-domestic-violence-hotllines/

Project Respect doors closing unless something miraculous happens

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Lily Munroe

Project Respect is a Melbourne based support service for women trafficked for sexual exploitation and women in the sex industry. On March 16, Project Respect released this statement with “a heavy heart” via email and a social media post, informing their community and supporters they will be closing their doors in a month unless “there is a miraculous response to this letter.”

“Project Respect has survived by hard work, good will and financial support by many organisations and individuals (for 17 years) however, without funding which is sustainable, we will have to close on the 15th April 2016.”

In a 2015 interview with Emma Alberici on Lateline, Kate Connett, who before becoming an outreach worker for Project Respect , was a sex worker on the streets to support her heroin habit from age 17 to 23, speaks of how vital these services are for women and why they are so desperately needed,

“I think nearly every single woman I have worked with at Project Respect has gone into the sex industry because of financial hardship. All women are there for the money, they’re not there for the sex, they’re not there because they enjoy having sex with men, they are there to get the money… Homelessness is a huge issue. We find many women that are homeless. We find a lot of women that sleep in brothels which is illegal, so I guess it’s kind of hidden homelessness in women.”

(Every month Kate visits legal brothels, offering support to women.) … and says it is “quite typical that in all Asian brothels one woman will speak for all the women and just kind of take over, and it’s very hard to kind of get in and speak to individually to women in Asian brothels. Outreach can be really difficult, actually, because sometimes you are met with really volatile people.

“We meet women constantly who have been either raped or beaten. Currently working with a woman at the moment who is pregnant due to a client raping her. I don’t think legalisation works. I don’t think decriminalisation works either. Again, it hasn’t stopped the incidence of violence.”

“The Nordic model which looks at criminalising the buyers which are predominantly men and making it legal for people to sell sex which is predominantly women, I think so far that’s the best option that I’ve seen come out. What girl, what young girl goes, “I want to be a prostitute when I’m older”? What young girl ever has that aspiration? What mother ever wants their child to become a prostitute when they are older? It’s not a dream job for anybody.” (Transcript and Video here)

The work of organisations like Project Respect is vital to the Nordic Model of prostitution. Vital to supporting women in the sex industry with the availability of exit programs.

Project Respect works in three ways:

* One, we assist women one-on-one and help them access essential services – such as healthcare and legal representation. We support women in making police reports, gaining child custody, even applying for jobs in a new industry. While many community organisations become targeted, offering just one service, Project Respect remains broad. Led entirely by the needs of women, we place no limits on the length or type of support offered. At the centre of our support work is regular outreach, where we visit brothels in Victoria. We do this so women know we are available to them – without judgement – should they need us.

* We also connect women together, supporting them to support one another, in their shared experiences. Intense stigma around the sex industry means it can be isolating. Through community lunches and weekends away we nurture a safe, non-judgemental and supportive network. For many women, Project Respect is simply and powerfully about belonging. It their place to be. Outside the mainstream, in these rare spaces, women are understood, welcomed, and finally treated with respect.

* Lastly, we advocate for women’s rights against violence, trafficking and exploitation. To improve life for women in the sex industry, we must improve the status of women overall. That’s why we work directly with all levels of government, lobbying for broad policy change. We argue for better conditions for women while they are in the sex industry. We argue against the trafficking of women. We help expose violence against women, and push for solutions to eradicate it. In all of this work, we ensure women’s voices are heard. We offer women a platform to write, speak and meet directly with decision makers. We know that their voices and leadership will create the positive change we seek.

At Project Respect, we believe that all women have the right to feel safe and respected. We are fundamentally for and about women – supporting their entire life and future potential. To achieve a world free from sexual exploitation we are committed to doing what others can’t.

project respect

Ways to help:

Donate – “Just like you, we aren’t ready to give up without a fight! If you feel the same way about Project Respect, then please donate to us via our GoFundMe campaign.

Share – “Please spread the campaign as far and wide as you can, and Help Save Project Respect!” – Project Respect

See also:

* The Government must fund services like Project Respect for women trafficked for sexual exploitation and women inside the sex industry in Australia.

* Expunging prostitution convictions essential for those exiting the sex trade – Simone Watson, Director NORmac

#ThankaFeminist Australia 2015

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Lily Munroe

thankafeminist

*BRISSC celebrated 40 years of ongoing work and support for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and incest along with Women’s House in Brisbane in 2015, with their work extending into the community. We would also like to thank BRISSC for:

Running safe, women-only events including Reclaim Activism 2015; Community responses to end sexual violence, and hosting workshops and safe creative spaces for female survivors
Hosting events for other women‘s and Indigenous groups at BRISSC
And their continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW, and liberate women, including the Wicked Pickets campaign, Reclaim The Night Brisbane, SOS womensservices and Warriors of the Aboriginal resistance to name just a few.

*Caroline Norma, lecturer in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University. Many thanks for:

Her submission on behalf of Collective Shout to the Inquiry Into The Regulation Of Brothels, by the NSW government.
Writing about this inquiry: It’s time to clean up prostitution in NSW
Writing in defense of women’s human rights not to be prostituted, regarding AI’s 2015 ‘sex work’ policy: A Right to Prostitute Others? Amnesty International and the Privileging of the Male Orgasm
Critiquing the recent witch hunt of Germaine Greer: Transgenderism: The Latest Anti-Feminist Wedge of the Left
Critiquing the agenda of male run media: Dirty Business: Why is the Porn Industry Getting a Platform on your ABC?
Publishing The Japanese Comfort Women and Sexual Slavery during the China and Pacific Wars 2015

*Celeste Liddle, “Arrernte, feminist, hard left, trade unionist, with a taste for protopunk”, a big thank you for:

Highlighting the over-representation of Indigenous women murdered in Australia this year at Counting dead Aboriginal women 2015,
Highlighting the institutional racism that lead to the death in custody of Ms Dhu: What the final hours of Ms Dhu’s life tell us about our broken justice system
Articles and speeches dissecting male violence, racism and culture, including:
- Her keynote speech from the Putting Gender on the Agenda conference in Alice Springs, October 2015 – an extraordinary first gathering of women; majority Aboriginal; to discuss violence against women in a culturally-appropriate and safe space, free from the scapegoating of the media and govt. This conference was a collaboration between Tangentyere Council, Our Watch and the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter.
- And follow up piece, Empowering Aboriginal women is the key to eliminating gendered violence,
- Fighting domestic violence shouldn’t mean revoking Aboriginal rights and She is Someone, plus many more
This roundup of “wonderful Aboriginal women smashing the mould” in 2015 (published Jan 1st 2016)
And her continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW and liberate women, as well as her butt-kicking attendance at anti-racism rallies.

*Collective Shout, grassroots campaigns movement mobilising and equipping individuals and groups to target corporations, advertisers, marketers and media which objectify women and sexualise girls to sell products and services. Many thanks for:

These achievements listed here: 2015 Wins and Highlights
Making this submission with Dr Caroline Norma in relation to the Inquiry into the Regulation of Brothels, received on 19/08/2015 by the Regulation of Brothels Committee.
Working and writing in defense of women’s human rights not to be prostituted, regarding AI’s 2015 ‘sex work’ policy:
- Statement to Amnesty International by prostitution survivors and those who have been harmed in the sex trade
- Amnesty branches vote down sex industry pro-prostitution agenda
Social media campaigning and community on Facebook and Twitter
And their continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW, and liberate women.

*Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence celebrated 25 years of service in 2015, a big thank you also this year for:

Providing a social media community for support, information and awareness via their Facebook page
And their continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW, and liberate women, including commenting on public opinion in our society versus the realities.

*Janet Fraser, National Convenor of the Australian Homebirth Network, Joyous Birth, committed to community birth education, birth activism, supporting women and families in healing from birth trauma, blogger and feminist activist, big thanks for inspiring #ThankaFeminist 2015 and many blessings for:

Her social media campaigning, writing and feminist analysis
Her home birthing advocacy and Anti-obstetrics violence campaigning, including being a speaker at the Mother of all Mothers of Rallies in Canberra in June 2015
Speaker and attendee of grassroots protests for women’s liberation, including the Sydney leg of the global women-led protests against AI’s ‘sex work’ policy, October 2015.
Her continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW, and liberate women, including being feminist queen of the sharpie pen.

*Laura McNally, a psychologist, researcher, author and PhD candidate, chair of the Australian branch of Endangered Bodies and provides social commentary on issues related to gender inequality, many thanks for:

Critiquing the Safe Schools initiative in this opinion piece : Gender Neutrality or Enforcement? ‘Safe Schools’ isn’t as Progressive as it Seems
Writing in defense of women’s human rights not to be prostituted, regarding AI’s 2015 ‘sex work’ policy:
- The wall of silence on sexual exploitation
- The Pro-Pimp Dogma of the ‘Feminist Left’: A Case Study in Hypocrisy
Taking part in this ABC podcast: The link between pornography and domestic violence
Critiquing the agenda of male run media: Inconvenient Facts: Why Would the ABC Airbrush Porn’s Complicity in Sexual Violence? and Pornography, Violence and Sexual Entitlement: An Unspeakable Truth plus more.
Critiquing the focus of Liberal Feminism and the fallout for women:
- Mean Girls: Why Do Australian Feminists Care So Little About the Most Vulnerable?
- Lessons from Brazil: Getting naked doesn’t help women, plus more articles published here on Feminist Current
Supporting and attending grassroots protests for women’s liberation, including the Sydney leg of the global women-led protests against AI’s ‘sex work’ policy, October 2015.
Supporting other feminist groups and actions to end MVAW, and liberate women.

*Liz Waterhouse, founder of listeningtolesbians, member and contributor of Women Shout Out Australia and Reclaim The Night Perth. A big thank you for:

Publishing roundups of Lesbians In the News from around the world, and running listeningtolesbians
Writing about the misogyny directed at lesbians from the LGBTI community:
Organising against male violence with Reclaim the Night Perth, and continually supporting other feminist groups and actions to end MVAW, and liberate women.

*Mairi Voice, writing and sharing articles and interesting news with radical feminist analysis, a big thank you for:

Writing and advocacy for the Nordic model of prostitution, including: Why the Nordic Model is Safest for Women, addressing a number of issues raised in the ‘prostitution debate’.
Critiquing the downfalls of liberal feminism in Australia: Liberal Feminism and the Prostitution Debate, drawing from the reading of ‘Freedom Fallacy: The Limits of Liberal Feminism edited by Miranda Kiraly and Meagan Tyler (2015).
A supportive, informative Social media community and continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW, and liberate women.

*Meagan Tyler, Research Fellow, RMIT University. Member of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia (CATWA). Many thanks for:

Co-editing Freedom Fallacy: The Limits of Liberal Feminism, published 2015, a compilation of several feminist writers. And publishing this speech from the launch party: On being a feminist killjoy
Writing in defense of women’s human rights not to be prostituted, regarding AI’s 2015 ‘sex work’ policy: Does decriminalising pimping further women’s rights?
Critiquing the choice argument of Liberal Feminism: No, feminism is not about choice
Writing in remembrance of the women murdered by johns and pimps amid the #FacesOfProstitution hashtag, April, and supporting the global women-led protests against AI’s ‘sex work’ policy, October 2015.
Her continued support of other feminist groups and actions to end MVAW, and liberate women

*Paula Orbea, founder of Questions for Us and the Wicked Campers campaign, educator, blogger, feminist activist and co-founder of Boycott Wicked Campers , A big thank you for:

Running workshops for high school students, parents and teachers to help navigate this culture
Her social media campaigning and community on Facebook and twitter,
Social commentary and critiquing of male violence, sexism and misogyny via her blog:
- Facebook; the frontline of misogyny, plus more here
Speaking at and attending grassroots protests for women’s liberation, including Wicked Pickets rally, Brisbane, Rally Against Male Violence Against Women, Brisbane, and the Sydney leg of the global women-led protests against AI’s ‘sex work’ policy.
Her continued support of other feminist groups and actions to end MVAW, and liberate women

*Radfem Groundhog Day, “Rather than re-invent the wheel, this passage by Mary Daly (from a talk at UCLA in 1987), pretty much says it all…” Many thanks for:

Critiquing the agenda of male run media in a male ruled world:
- The R-word, free and easy in the media when males are victims
Critiquing male violence within a male justice system in our male ruled culture:
Her continued support of other feminist groups and actions to end MVAW, and liberate women

*Reclaim the Night Perth, For a world without male-pattern violence and control over women and children, a big thank you for:

Their #mysteryismisogyny campaign, calling for the responsible reporting of fatal male violence against women.
- See also: Mystery Is Misogyny
- And Murder, Mystery and Misogyny in Oz
Holding Perth’s Reclaim the Night annual, international march to protest against gendered violence,
- Including Rape is a sanctioned crime
- And listing and reading out the names of the men who murdered women this year in Australia: Reclaiming the Night, Naming Perpetrators
Providing a supportive Social media community and continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW and liberate women.

*Simone Watson, director of NORmac; survivor led advocates for the Nordic model Australia, and feminist activist, many thanks for:

Her work along with other Australian Amnesty International members, in putting a No Confidence Motion in the Amnesty International Australia Board over their actions on Amnesty’s proposed new sex law policy.
Writing and co-writing several pieces for the Tasmania Times and her blog informing readers of AI’s ‘sex work’ proposal and policy and their biased consultation process
- Amnesty International … the sex trade’s new best friend
- Amnesty International condemned over fast-tracking of sex laws policy
Exposing Scarlet Alliances denial of the extent of human trafficking for sexual slavery and focus on keeping women inside the sex industry: The Scarlet Alliance/Sex Worker Collective’s Misogyny. Why They Should Not Be funded.
Taking part in this live debate regarding AI’s ‘sex work’ policy with an unbalanced panel with biased hosts, deconstructed by Meghan Murphy here: The Stream discusses Amnesty International’s new prostitution policy. And this interview published by ressourcesprostitution: Legalized prostitution in Australia: behind the scenes…
Writing in defense of women’s human rights not to be prostituted, regarding AI’s 2015 ‘sex work’ policy: ‘Sex Work’- The Dignity Of Men
Her work as Director of NORmac, including raising awareness and gaining support for implementing the Nordic model of prostitution for women and girls: Expunging prostitution convictions essential for those exiting the sex trade
Supporting and taking part in grassroots protests for women’s liberation, including the Perth leg of the global women-led protests against AI’s ‘sex work’ policy, October 2015.
Her continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW, and liberate women via her blog and writing, including: Wicked Campers out in the cold says Lonely Planet

*Wicked Pickets, A community action to extend anti vilification law to include ‘sex’ as a ground for complaint. Race religion sexuality gender identity are already covered. Many thanks for:

Campaigning to outlaw the vilification of women and girls through Qld’s Anti Discrimination Act, including:
- Writing to every Qld MP and meeting with a few
Holding information stalls with petitions, speaking at events and organising grassroots protests, April and July 2015
Their Social media campaigning and community, and continued support of other feminist actions to end MVAW, and liberate women

thankafeminist

Brisbane Rally against Male Violence Against Women July 2015

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Lily Munroe

Glosswitch wrote a piece in January called ‘Choosing between misogyny and feminism: A practical guide, where she says;

“Here are some things which will not happen if you speak out on behalf of women as a class: you will not get loads of people listening to your carefully worded, nuanced thoughts and saying “hmm, interesting, let me think about this some more”; you will not get people who disagree with you saying “sure, I think that’s one angle, but perhaps we could discuss it a little more?”; you will not get hordes of women eager to express their support and gratitude in public; you will not find people making connections between the problems you’ve highlighted and the surface-level examples of sexism they’ve noticed elsewhere.

If you expected any of these things to happen, then really you shouldn’t have spoken out in the first place. This is because such things would only happen if the class-based discrimination you are describing didn’t actually exist. If you have failed to consider this rather obvious point, assuming instead that since we’re all “basically in support of equality” it would therefore be fine for you to broadcast your important and valuable thoughts with impunity, then you still don’t get what “being oppressed as a class” actually means.

People don’t want to hear about how women think and feel. They don’t want to picture women as people whom others might actually have to negotiate with. They want “equality” insofar as they want the erasure of all measurable signs of women’s oppression (because let’s face it, these get a bit embarrassing). They do not, however, want this to come at the expense of being allowed to see women as whatever they want them to be at any given moment. We just don’t have space to accommodate the humanity of women as well as that of men.” Posted on her blog.

Our current paradigm of a masculinized culture and rigid gender roles that are imposed on us by sex, are so deeply ingrained along with male violence and male sexual entitlement, that even the media often fail to name male violence when reporting fatal male violence against a woman. We hear ‘domestic incident’ or ‘domestic dispute’ a lot, minimizing this male violence, the same male violence that if perpetrated against another man on the street wouldn’t be reported so lightly.

Responsible reporting of male violence against women by the police and media helps to show the pattern. 47 women have allegedly been murdered by known or suspected male violence in the first 7 months of this year in Australia. 1 woman every 4 and 1/2 days. 2/3 of these women were allegedly murdered by their current or former partner, we need to end the myth that domestic violence is a “gender neutral” phenomenon, This is male pattern violence, it needs to be called what it is so the pattern is clear and we know where to start for implementing solutions. Words have power.

We also have the right to name what has been done to us, at the very least, and not have to pretend, as an Australian writer noted, that these rapes, abuses and murders must have been committed by elves, for fear of saying male violence.

WE hear Not All Men, A lot, it’s a silencing tool, we know not all men. We also know that men kill other men at a higher rate than they kill women, we know. We know 90% of all murderers are male, whether they are killing women, children, or other men. This current paradigm of social “norms”, this masculinized culture, is toxic, and it’s affecting everyone. But when a vulnerable class of humans, half the population, women as a class, are repeated victims of fatal male pattern violence, this is femicide.

As Women’s Aid UK state;

“Gender is fundamental and the relationship between gender roles and violent behaviour is obvious in the data. Unless we accept that this is a fact, and that it’s a fact we no longer want to tolerate, we will get nowhere.”

We are females in a world where the default human is male, and male privilege, male sexual entitlement to our bodies and male violence in general is the norm, just turn on the news daily, just talk to a woman. There’s not really anything I can say that hasn’t already been said by many great women, hence my quoting some of them, and I don’t have more statistics and numbers that we don’t already know.

Soraya Chemaly noted;

“More than 40 years ago, anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sanday, professor of anthropology an extensive cross-cultural study of rape involving more than 150 human societies around the word. She found that 47% of societies she studied had no rape, 36% had some incidence of rape, and 17%, of which we are one, were definitively rape prone. What marked cultures where rape was missing were that women had authority in the community that was not related to reproduction — they were political or religious leaders and made valued economic contributions to society; feminine qualities were valued by communities; the relation- ships between men and women was not defined as hierarchical; boys were taught to respect girls and women (something altogether different from learning to protect them); these societies were stable and peaceful, making reliance on brute male physical dominance less likely; divinities were not uniquely male; and, lastly, these cultures had great respect for their environments and did not destructively exploit them.’

It’s not inevitable, it’s not just the way things are.

We need to Name the problem, that is, male violence. We need institutional education for police and front line services, proper enforcement of DVO’s and the absolute connection of women with the appropriate support services when they need them. We need funding for these support services for women. No more slaps on the wrists for perpetrators of male violence, along with proper rehabilitation services to change these men’s attitudes at the root. And we need to get rid of gender stereotypes and ideals of femininity and masculinity as innate, they aren’t. We need to be aware of the language being used in a default male culture. And we need to challenge the representation of women, everywhere! Ask, ‘how is that woman being represented compared to that man?’ We also need funding for a new form of sexual education for children in schools to help them navigate through a culture that constantly sexualizes, therefore dehumanizes, women while enabling male sexual entitlement and male privilege.

Aswas Photography

Glosswitch also addressed this recently, writing;

“I am a mother of sons and the thought of them growing up within a culture of rampant male sexual entitlement terrifies me. Right now they are six and seven – still innocent, still able to see their female peers as fellow humans – but as adolescence approaches, I fear that a deluge of misogyny will engulf them as they encounter the adult world and so-called “normal” attitudes to sex. I am very much in favour of them being granted access to as much accurate, open-minded sex education as possible. Nonetheless, I doubt such teaching will ever be effective as long as we are in denial about the real problem: the widespread, culturally sanctioned dehumanisation of women as the price for male sexual gratification.

There is no point in explaining consent to boys, as though it is some peculiarly complex social exchange. It isn’t. What confuses them is the fact that our pornified, misogynist culture treats female bodies as soulless objects. They witness this everywhere: on TV, in the news, online, on the streets, in the words of their peers and elders. They can sit in a classroom and be informed about the rights and wrongs of it. They can be en- couraged to think, in abstract terms, about the Woman as Person. But that is not how they encounter her in the media, nor in the minds of fellow men. Deep down, they know that their “right” to access hardcore pornography and purchase female flesh is inviolable. The Woman as Person narrative is subordinate to the one telling them that the ultimate human right is a “real” man’s right to fuck.” Published in the Newstatesman July 2015

By Kirsten Lovejoy for Brisbane Central

Today we also need to acknowledge the harms of the sex industry. We need to adopt the Nordic model of prostitution in this country and recognize that the sex industry is built on male sexual entitlement, male privilege and male violence, built on the very foundations of gender inequality. As Sheila Jeffreys stated;

“in Norway, Iceland and in Sweden, where brothel prostitution is banned in a violence against women sense, because it’s recognised to be for the degradation of women and affects the status of all women. Iceland interestingly has this year not only banned brothel prostitution and penalised the male clients, because all of these countries penalise the men who can potentially end up in prison as a result. But in Iceland they have banned strip clubs too on the same grounds that it’s about vio- lence against women and degrades women and degrades the equality of women. I think that in Australia this is hard to understand, it’s a very masculinist culture, and I think that prostitution and the sex industry generally and the privileges men have to abuse women in this way is so accepted that people are outraged to think that they’re actually might be other values, but believe me there are, and in fact Australia is quite low, very low in the index of oeCD nations on gender equality, and it’s because there’s a very masculinised culture.” a transcript from an interview on ABC radio Australia.

And we need to let women speak, and really hear what women are saying, Our voices do matter, and our inclusion is fundamental for women’s liberation. We need an equal part of the platform, an equal part in decision making, from business to government. And not just the voices of women who have come from a place of privilege in this hierarchy who have had to conform to the boys club, from the rest of us.

It’s exhausting, and lonely, and it does feel hopeless a lot. But just like the women before us, from the suffragettes, through to all of us who are working towards women’s liberation today, we won’t be silenced, we won’t be shut down, we will keep taking a stand, even in the weariness of ‘are we still really protesting this crap’. And we will place the onus on men in general, men in power and the government, They know how they benefit from this culture. There’s no more playing innocent or holding up your hands and saying not me and going home to watch the latest Hollywood degradation and sexual objectification and vilification of women. As Betty Taylor said yesterday at the Wicked Pickets rally, it’s time to stick your necks out.

Aswas Photography

It’s been ten years since Andrea Dworkin died, and her work is as vital as ever. On addressing a men’s conference and asking them to work against rape, she said;

“I don’t believe rape is inevitable or natural. If I did, I would have no reason to be here. If I did, my political practice would be different than it is. Have you ever wondered why we [women] are not just in armed combat against you? It’s not because theres a shortage of kitchen knives in this country. It is because we believe in your humanity, against all the evidence.”

Robert Jenson wrote that;

“Dworkin wanted to help men claim our humanity, not just for our sake but because she wanted to stop men’s violence against women… she challenged men to take that responsibility:

Dworkins continued in the same speech, saying;

“[Women] do not want to do the work of helping you to believe in your humanity. We cannot do it anymore. We have always tried. We have been repaid with systematic exploitation and systematic abuse. You are going to have to do this yourselves from now on and you know it.”

There are no safe spaces for women from male violence and sexual entitlement in this country; not at home, not at work, not in parks, not walking our dog along a street path. There are no safe spaces for women even when we are not alone, If men want to attack, rape or kill women – being chaperoned doesn’t protect us. There are no safe spaces for women anywhere when media is everywhere, as Julie Bindel states;

“Women walk around seeing images that tell them they are lesser than men on a regular basis. What is a safe-space for women? Our own bedroom with the door locked?”

Men it is up to you. All of you. All of your everyday actions and words. All of your everyday entertainment.

Andrea Dworkin also asked this of men.

“What’s involved in doing something about all of this? The men’s movement seems to stay stuck on two points. The first is that men don’t really feel very good about themselves. How could you? The second is that men come to me or to other feminists and say: “What you’re saying about men isn’t true. It isn’t true of me. I don’t feel that way. I’m opposed to all of this.” And I say: don’t tell me. Tell the pornographers. Tell the pimps. Tell the warmakers. Tell the rape apologists and the rape celebrationists and the pro-rape ideologues. Tell the novelists who think that rape is wonderful. Tell Larry Flynt. Tell Hugh Hefner. There’s no point in telling me. I’m only a woman. There’s nothing I can do about it. These men presume to speak for you.They are in the public arena saying that they represent you. If they don’t, then you had better let them know.

Then there is the private world of misogyny: what you know about each other; what you say in private life; the exploitation that you see in the private sphere; the relationships called love, based on exploitation. It’s not enough to find some traveling feminist on the road and go up to her and say: “Gee, I hate it.” Say it to your friends who are doing it. And there are streets out there on which you can say these things loud and dear, so as to affect the actual institutions that maintain these abuses. You don’t like pornography? I wish I could believe it’s true. I will believe it when I see you on the streets. I will believe it when I see an organized political opposition. I will believe it when pimps go out of business because there are no more male consumers. You want to organize men. You don’t have to search for issues. The issues are part of the fabric of your everyday lives.”

So I guess the question right now is this, who do you want to be as a man in this world? Where do you want to stand? What do you want to stand for? And who do you want to stand with? – The everyday men of our culture who justify the exploitation of women as “just the way things are” and “just a bit of fun”, or “mother nature”. Are you going to stand with the men who say “hey not me” while partaking in a culture that exploits and degrades women. Are you that man?

Where do you stand? Who are you in regards to the mass exploitation and degradation, rape, assault and murder of women? what does your masculinity look like? What kind of a man do you want to be for the women in your life and the women, the female human beings of our world?

I know the men I would want to stand with if I were a man in this world, I would proudly and publicly be standing with the Robert Jensons, Jimmy Carters and Tom Meahers.

Many thanks to the Brisbane organizers and speakers:

Australia Against Male Violence Against Women Brisbane

Reclaim the Night Brisbane

Fight Like A Girl Brisbane

REAL for women – Lily Munroe

Questions For Us – Paula Orbea

Queensland Greens – Kirsten Lovejoy

Prostitution Survivor – Kat Pinder

Aswas Photography

There are things we can do to help STOP THE VIOLENCE.

Posted on May 6, 2015 by katedrury

TRIGGER WARNING ~ Violence
from yesterday’s news (5/5/15)

“A man allegedly carved his nickname into a woman’s forearm with a knife while keeping her as his sex slave for a month, an ACT court has heard.

The 25-year-old man, who cannot be identified, pleaded not guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to charges of rape, kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault and sexual servitude.

Police alleged the two people began a relationship last December.”

I shared that article on my Facebook wall last night. A friend suggested that people tend to scroll past these sorts of stories when I post them because it is just too much to bear.

I understand.

She went on to say that people do feel affected by what is happening but that they are frustrated, overwhelmed because they don’t know what they can do to make it stop, what they can do to bring about change.

I understand.

But there are plenty of things that we can do.

We can start by challenging social norms and representations of women that are limiting, that sexualise them, that reduce them to the status of an object; an object of desire for consumption.

And we can do it Every. Single. Day. Because every single day we are confronted, bombarded! with an insidious cultural narrative that assures us that ‘She’ exists for the pleasure of others. ‘She’ exists to be gazed upon, to be appreciated for her beauty, her sexual desirability (but not for her own sexual desires, slut!) ‘She’ exists to be judged, to be shamed if she doesn’t conform to the narrow, stereotypical, accepted beauty standard of the day. In turn ‘She’ aspires to be desired, beautiful, possessed by others, always available, feminine, compliant, ready.

‘She’ is public property.

In challenging every day instances of blatant sexism and discrimination based upon gender WE push for a broader understanding of who WE are. We declare our shared humanity, our values and our care for one another. We can and surely ought to demand women be recognised as fully fledged people, subjects in their own right. Worthy of the status of Equal. Worthy of full consideration.

The sexual objectification of women reinforces Gender Inequality every day.

Women do not exist as mere accessories, as commodities for what? a patriarchal, capitalist ideology that screws us all! Women deserve to be acknowledged and accepted because of their differences, not in spite of them. Isn’t it time we demand to see more diverse (non sexual) representations of women in the media?

HE ‘allegedly’ CARVED HIS NICKNAME INTO HER ARM WITH A KNIFE!

Yesterday I was updating our Man Assaults Woman file that exposes the daily instances of male violence inflicted upon women (and children) so far this year. It only lists the assaults that are reported to police (around 10% of all assaults) and of course it only contains those incidents the media decide to publish on any particular day. So not a complete picture at all. But shocking all the same! Please take a look.

#CountingDeadWomen Australia, has worked in raising awareness to the fact that women are being killed by men in this country at an alarming rate, 33 so far this year. Perhaps the time is ripe for us to consciously open our eyes to the enormity of the problem of male violence against women in this country. These shocking stories of violence and abuse could and should motivate us to act.

So many Australian women are being treated as objects, possessions. So long as we brush it off while partaking in it, so long as we remain silent, so long as we continue to look the other way, so long as we choose to buy into it, not a lot is going to change. We cannot simply rely on our Government to bring about the cultural changes we need. We can certainly let them know of our concerns.

But each one of us can start taking stands for positive change.

There is a lot of talk within feminist circles regarding ‘personal choice’ and ‘personal empowerment’ that does little for society as a whole. We can, however, make choices and take actions that empower the liberation of all women! Personally, I think it’s time we started making a habit of it. When we challenge cultural representations of women (in the media) that are restrictive, that equate a woman’s worth, her capital with her desirability, we help to create the grounds whereby Gender Equality becomes a possibility.

In this country there are women living in TERROR, in fear for their lives, for their children’s lives, and this is happening every single day, right now.

Take ACTION

– If you see an advertisement that you find offensive you can lodge a complaint here.

– If see something that you find offensive in a newspaper, magazine or on a newspaper website you can lodge a complaint here

– If you see something on free to air tv that you find offensive, you can lodge a complaint here.

– You can write a letter to your local paper, your local politician and so on. It really only takes a few minutes to do any of these things.

– You do have a voice and there are many outlets that you can utilise in order to be heard. Speak out. Do something. Don’t be paralysed by feelings of helplessness. Act for change.

– Also speak up among your friends, family and peers, call out everyday words and acts of sexism.

Cheers.

While men decide what they stand for – We women must become warriors

***

Do you need help or want to report male violence? please contact:

1800 Respect 1800 737 732, 24 hour sexual assault and domestic violence support, or
Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120, 7:30am to midnight daily, or

If you are feeling unsafe right NOW, call 000

Girls don’t cry wolf – Madison Douglas Music

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Lily Munroe

Madison Douglas Music – Facebook and twitter

“Society breeds a mentality that girls lose their worth when they lose their virginities, yet hypocrites preach abstinence is key leaving sex ed to be taught by MTV Continue reading →

REAL for women

Reflecting Equality in Australian Legislation for women

Category Archives: Male violence against women

Tactics and Flaws of the Transgender Ideology + Self-ID Movement

International Women’s Day 2020 – We Demand Change

F E M A L E

Demands for Change

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WOMEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE

In an emergency – if someone is in immediate danger – call the police on 000 now.

Just Admit You Don’t Care If We Die

In an emergency – if someone is in immediate danger – call the police on 000 now.

Project Respect doors closing unless something miraculous happens

Donate – “Just like you, we aren’t ready to give up without a fight! If you feel the same way about Project Respect, then please donate to us via our GoFundMe campaign.

Share – “Please spread the campaign as far and wide as you can, and Help Save Project Respect!” – Project Respect

#ThankaFeminist Australia 2015

Brisbane Rally against Male Violence Against Women July 2015

There are things we can do to help STOP THE VIOLENCE.

Girls don’t cry wolf – Madison Douglas Music

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WOMEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE

In an emergency – if someone is in immediate danger – call the police on 000 now.

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In an emergency – if someone is in immediate danger – call the police on 000 now.

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Donate – “Just like you, we aren’t ready to give up without a fight! If you feel the same way about Project Respect, then please donate to us via our GoFundMe campaign.

Share – “Please spread the campaign as far and wide as you can, and Help Save Project Respect!” – Project Respect

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