Name: Lily Breedon
Community/State: Gympie , Queensland
School: James Nash State High School
Age/Grade: 17 Years, Year 12
“Life is a roadtrip with twists and turns. How can we support one another to navigate the road to gender equality?”
We begin the roadtrip of life as children, and it is at the beginning of our journey that we are most impressionable. The social attitudes we grow up with shape the people we will one day become. In order to support one another, and navigate the road to gender equality effectively, we must ensure that the youth of today are provided with examples of equality.
When girls are told, ‘You throw like a girl,’ they begin to question whether it is ‘girly’ to play sports. This imparts upon girls the damaging idea that in order to be considered feminine, there are only certain activities in which they can take part. Statistics from Ausports show that from the ages of nine to fourteen, the percentage of girls participating in a club sport decreases from 57% to 51%, whilst the percentage for boys drops from 70% to 68% (Ausport, 2016). By changing our language, we will allow girls to thrive, and partake in activities that they enjoy.
When boys are told to ‘man up’, they are taught that they need to hide their emotions. Boys being taught to suppress their emotions contributes to the staggering numbers of men suffering from mental illnesses as adults. According to statistics from Beyond Blue, 75% of suicides in Australia are men, and only a quarter of men suffering from anxiety or depression will ask for help (Beyond Blue, 2016) (Beyond Blue, 2008). By teaching boys to express their emotions, and encouraging them to ask for help, we will bring the world closer to gender equality.
When a boy pulls a girls’ hair, or pushes her over, and an adult says, ‘He only did it because he likes you,’ that girl is taught that signs of violence and bullying equate to affection. Conversely, if the adult says, ‘Boys will be boys,’ boys are taught that they don’t have to be held accountable for their actions. They are taught that their gender allows them to get away with things that they have been told are wrong. By teaching boys that violence, towards someone of any gender, is wrong, and teaching girls that violence and bullying are not signs of affection, we will create a more equal, and safe environment in which children can grow.
By changing the social attitudes we demonstrate for children, we will create a supportive and equal environment, and enjoy the journey of life together.