Name: Bridget O’Dwyer
Grade: Year 10
Age: 16 Years
School: Goulburn Valley Grammar School
Hometown and State: Shepparton, Victoria
LIFTING US UP – How can women and girls empower each other and their communities in times of uncertainty and change?
Women make up 51% of the population in Australia yet only 32% of federal seats in parliament (2016 election), 17.1% are CEOs and 14.1% are Board chairs. Likewise, 34% of Boards and governing bodies have no female directors compared to 0.9% with no male directors.
These are not great statistics to demonstrate respect for women at the highest level.
At a systems level we need to change the structures that don’t support equal input from women. Change the childcare rebates, offer and promote paternity leave, change superannuation structures so women don’t miss out when they have children, and include maternity leave in long service leave. This will take away some of the barriers that prevent women from actively contributing to society more than just working, caring for families, and participating in activities associated with their children.
At a personal level, we need to believe in ourselves from a young age. This is the most critical step – before you can empower other women you need to feel confident in yourself. This requires more positive self-talk and robust conversations with our peers, families, and the wider community. This is not just a women’s issue, but it is how men talk to and about girls too.
We need to have honest conversations without sexism; see failure as a healthy part of growing up to learn about who you are; realizing everyone is on their own journey and at a different stage in life. Therefore, you should not judge or compare yourself to their situation.
Women are different to men. They think, feel, and perceive things differently. This is why we need to include a wide variety of people on teams and making decisions. It’s important to value the voices of everyone – those who are skilled professionals and those with lived experience. We need to honor our individuality and differences.
Men in leadership positions and all women need to advocate for the inclusion of women and girls; providing opportunities to contribute and take up leadership roles. We have to harness the different ways women look at problems, opportunities, and risks.
We have to celebrate women – for what they contribute to conversations, the outcomes they can deliver, the community they build, the opportunities they expose – instead of the way they dress or their looks.
As women we need to take risks, be curious, and be the diversity in conversations our communities need to thrive.