The time is now.
This International Women’s Day it’s not enough to just post a quote or a cute picture of yourself with your strong female friends in ‘support’ of women – we’re done with the platitudes. It’s time for action and it’s time for real change.
It’s going to be uncomfortable, likely it will make you feel uneasy. It means there will be things you have to change about your behaviours and what you do, even if you don’t want to. You’ll have to have conversations that you often avoid…
Sounds fun, right?
Here’s how we start:
Words are weapons
Adjust your language – what you say matters. Stop using female-related words as synonyms for weakness and male-related words for strength.
I understand you may find it funny and it may not offend you personally BUT what it actually does is continually perpetuate the myth that women are weak and men are strong. You’re creative – I’m sure you can come up with some other phrases that don’t degrade women.
Examples of sexist/homophobic/racist phrases that MUST stop:
“You run like a girl”
“You’re such a girl” – to someone who is emotional (allowed), upset (also allowed) or doing a perfectly normal activity in a particular way (also allowed and not hurting anyone)
“That’s gay”
“You’re pretty for [insert race]”
“Stop being a pussy”
“Man up”
“Grow some balls”
“[insert race] are all [offensive adjective]”
“They all look the same”
Also when you say or hear: “I’m not sexist/homophobic/racist, BUT…” keep in mind that the end of that sentence is nearly ALWAYS sexist/homophobic/racist. Notice it and call it out – whether it’s someone else or yourself.
Don’t believe me it has an impact? Imagine that your name was used as a synonym for weak. Every time someone hear someone was being weak, they said “don’t be a [name].” IMAGINE how you would feel if you were constantly bombarded with the message that your name is synonymous for weakness. Would that not hurt? And worse, would you not start to believe it?
Language matters. Words matter – they’re weapons. Use them wisely.
Know the battle-plan
Learn – read, listen, watch. There is an outrageous amount of feminist, racial, diverse content at your manicured fingertips. We live in the information society, claiming ignorance is no longer a plausible defence. You can find out. (Have you heard of Google?)
Use your gifts for the cause
Different people are good at different things.
I understand that heated debates are my gift (and my curse) – but not everyone can
Use what you’re good at to be part of making change. And if you feel like you don’t have any ‘gift’ (very likely not true) lead by example.
Get on the frontline
Challenge people. Ask hard questions. Make people pause and think. We have to stop being ‘afraid of offending someone’ or making excuses for age, upbringing, culture, beliefs etc. We’re all going to make mistakes but the biggest of all would be to do nothing.
If you see/hear/think something is sexist, challenge it. The International Women’s Day 2021 theme is #ChooseChallenge. Why? Because so many social norms are part of this white patriarchal society we still abide in.
Don’t think it’s a white patriarchy? Look at our current federal political bench – it looks eerily similar to the demographic it was in 1770.
If this blog made you uncomfortable, good! It means you’ve recognised that some of your own behaviour needs to shift – that’s the first step. (And WE all have behaviour that needs to change, including little rant-y old me on her soap box.)
Welcome to the revolution! You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem.
Now get in loser, we’re going to cause some change.
