Natalie Hutchins Member for Sydenham
For many of us, the coronavirus lockdown was a challenging experience. As we respond to life in a ‘COVID normal’, we have emerged resilient, adaptive and changed.
This year’s International Women’s day theme is “Choose to Challenge”.
The choice towards advocating for equality, celebrating the achievements of fellow women, supporting one another and, as we saw with Brittany Higgins, speaking out against unacceptable victim-blaming at work.
All my working life I’ve fought for equality for women in the workplace. It is extremely disheartening that this behaviour of blaming the victim and of not keeping women safe is happening at the highest levels of government.
By choosing to challenge and calling out inequality we can achieve inclusivity and safety within our communities, workplaces and government – the highest decision-making body in our country.
Many women face the extraordinary challenge of sexual assault and discriminations in our community and in our workplaces.
Often women may be hesitant to report or share their lived experiences, the reluctance of not knowing if you will be listened to or, as prevailed with Brittany Higgins’ complaint, a fear of a possible loss of her dream career.
Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence but one that has no place in being normalised.
Real change and reform are needed to dismantle the power imbalance that allows for women to be vulnerable in workplaces.
Earlier this month, Australian of the Year Grace Tame, expressed that she is proud to have inspired survivors to come forward through a “domino effect of change” when she powerfully expressed the importance for every voice to matter.
The significance of choosing to challenge and demand accountability creates a conversation for other victims and those silenced to feel a sense of empowerment, knowing they can come forward without repercussions to personal and professional life.
While gendered violence is not unique to government, workplaces, or even the Federal Parliament, it is a setting through which the “culture of silence” must urgently be addressed.
Being through complaint handling, the employment process itself and by providing a support
system that provides adequate, compassionate and effective means towards a duty of care.
Like Higgins and Tame, who chose to challenge, the rhetoric surrounding workplace sexual assault is shifting from simple awareness to a call for accountability.
For others who have been failed by the system, coming forward is not easy and potential fear of ramifications is
very real.
However, real progress comes with change and one much needed to address the
profound impact of how gendered violence is addressed.
This International Women’s Day I choose to challenge and champion justice for women’s –we need to demand accountability and encourage empowerment, those who have been silenced who were not provided with a choice, the structures that facilitated have no place inour society.
If this is your reality and you have been impacted by sexual assault or family violence, please seek help. Call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit 1800respect.org.au
