The system of patriarchy — which maintains rigid gender roles and expectations — hurts us all. Another world is possible.
The patriarchal society we live in is just as harmful to men and boys as it is for women and girls and people who identify as gender diverse or nonbinary.
Some of us are told not to cry. Some of us are told to take responsibility for others’ emotions. Some of us are taught that it’s our job to take on the majority of household tasks. Some of us are taught that it’s our role to be the breadwinner for our family.
The patriarchy creates these rigid gender roles.
In a world without patriarchy, we would have open, honest communication about our feelings, we would share work and raising families equally and base our society on respect, love and hope.
We would have choice over what happens to our bodies and how they’re represented. We would have governments, corporations and power structures that proportionately represent our communities. We’d have a justice system that focuses on healing, behaviour-change and reparation rather than punishment. Fundamentally, we would have equality.
Another world is possible.
Today, we smash the patriarchy. Want to join us?
Every year, between November 25 — the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women — and December 10 — International Human Rights Day — there are 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.
This year we’ve created a series of posters for you to print out at work, home or your local library, and to put up in your kitchen, community hall, meeting room at work — wherever you like. Help create a world where women, nonbinary and gender-diverse people are safe, respected, empowered and able to make genuine choices in their lives.
Violence towards women, nonbinary and gender-diverse people is a community problem. Everyone in the community, from schools to sporting clubs, can play a role in changing the structures, norms and practices that lead to gender-based violence.
Some of these actions will be individual and some will be collective: gender-based violence is a structural issue that we all need to work together to address.