International Women’s Day
A major focus in the Secondary school recently has been International Women’s Day (IWD). Students from Year 11 and 12 presented speeches and reflections at assembly last week that focused on the importance of this day, inspirational women throughout history and in their lives, and highlighted that together we can forge women’s equality and collectively we can all ‘#BreakTheBias’.
Below are excerpts from some of the powerful student speeches:
I call on the men and boys in the audience. Choose to stand in solidarity with your mother, your sister and your grandmother. Listen to stories of inequality and begin to take action to make a change. But not only that. Be the change. Be the change that helps make our world a more equal place for everyone. - Evelyn (12B)
Stereotypes are an inherent, natural part of society which cannot be easily overcome. But the problem arises when they become rigid and ultimately, destructive in our way of thought. When they cloud decisions and prematurely judge an individual too harshly. This applies very firmly today.
We are terribly lucky in Australia, where, for the most part, women are equal or close to equal to men. However, there are countries where women are indoctrinated into subservience, where they are denied an education and robbed of their human rights. It is these issues that must be addressed, which at first seem to be beyond our control; but International Women’s Day is about recognising that there are small steps we can all take. Maybe we show a bit of appreciation to the incredible, inspiring women in our lives or spread awareness of what today acknowledges. IWD is about understanding that we need advocacy, an inclusive mindset and tangible actions to work towards parity, remembering that we can all do our part to empower and equalise women. - Tamanno (12D)
On Tuesday, 8 March let us honour the remarkable contribution of women in our society, reflect on and celebrate the strides made towards women empowerment globally. Let us acknowledge all the women who have helped build and secure an equitable society. But alongside celebrating all our accomplishments we must acknowledge how far we still have to go!
I stand here in front of you all to acknowledge my privilege as a girl who has access to an excellent educational system. I am able to go to school every day, learn, grow, and prosper as an individual in a safe environment that promotes and encourages individual success. I thank God for allowing me to go to school and have the support of such incredible teachers who encourage me in my endeavours, who highlight my voice, and who are ready to educate the next generation and ensure our future – this in itself promotes equality, this is helping to break down barriers, to break the bias.
The women in my life; from mothers to mentors from aunties to authority, from sisters to all the successful women whom I look up to, they have all shaped me to become the woman I am today. They have taught me resilience, taught me to speak the truth, to provide light and emphasize the voices of all of those left in the darkness… Through them I have learned so much. I have learned about love, joy, power and tenacity. I have learned how to prosper and most importantly I have learned not to give up, to never stop fighting for what's right. And so, I'm asking you all to join me. Let's break the bias. Together, we have the power to take it further and initiate more progress in support of women's rights; socially, economically, culturally, and politically. It truly does start with us! all of us! It starts with you! - Rijupriya (11A)