How young men will help put an end to domestic violence
The following post was originally published by RendezView 15/10/15. Like most Australians, every time I hear news reports about yet another woman who has died at the hands of her…
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Is this the best ad campaign EVER aimed at little girls?
The following post was originally published by Kidspot. Yep. I’m calling it. This is the greatest marketing campaign aimed at little girls ever. Much-loved talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has…
A ban on Wonder Woman lunchboxes? Oh come on!
The following article was originally published on News Corp’s popular online opinion site, RendezView. Holy Boycotts, Batman! Just when you thought it was safe to send your little one off…
Sex-obsessed. Boy-crazy. Annoying. Not so fast — teen girls are much better than that.
This post originally appeared on News Corp’s popular online opinion site RendezView. “Lies, scams and deceit — just your average teen girl.” “Lost innocence: Why girls are having rough sex…
I don’t believe self-defence training is “victim blaming”. And I’m a feminist.
I’m a proud feminist. And I’m the CEO of Australia’s largest provider of in-school workshops for teen girls that help develop self-worth and resilience. And I promote self-defence classes to…
This is what teen girls need and deserve. THIS.
I recently posted the following on my Facebook page. It quickly attracted over a hundred shares so I thought it worth sharing with you here too. Sometimes I see things…
Beyond Victimhood
On Sunday I woke to the news in the Telegraph that teenage girls were “riddled with fear and anxiety” and, overdosing on paracetamol. Was this behaviour really impacting on an…
Feminism, girls and the economy, the art of being alone: my week in the media.
I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to, and write, some really interesting pieces for various media outlets this week. I want to share the highlights with you here. The always-wise…
What is it with witches?
The following post was co-written with my colleague Nina Funnell. It was originally published by US website Feministing. Pointed hats, black cats, broomsticks, cauldrons: Halloween is a night for celebrating…
In praise of feminist fathers
The following guest post is by my friend and colleague Nina Funnell. It was first published by Mamamia. Nina is a Sydney based journalist, author and speaker. Her writing has…
Can we turn up the volume, but turn down the noise?
This week I wish to share spoken word poet Madiha Bhatti’s thoughtful piece on women in the music industry, an extract from which also appears below. Isn’t it powerful? Mu(Sick):…
“Pink is for girlie girls” – more things we should never say to girls.
Last week I shared three of the five things I, and the other noted Feminists I asked to contribute, believe we need to stop saying to girls now. You can…
“That skirt is sending out the wrong message” and 5 other things we should never say to girls ( Part 1).
I often find myself frustrated by much of the dialogue that surrounds teen girls as it can in fact be very damaging. Sadly, those that use these assumptions and stereotypes…
Girls’ Attitudes to harassment
Back in 2008 I shared the excellent GirlGuiding UK report on Teenage Mental Health: Guiding The Way. This week I want to share some of the findings of this organisation’s…
Dateless but not Desperate
The following post was originally published by The Hoopla, February 11. As an educator who works with young women, during this the lead up to Valentine’s Day my Facebook News…
An open letter to Beyoncé (from a bewildered fan)
This week’s blog is by Enlighten’s Senior Presenter, and Program Director for Western Australia, Nikki Davis. You may read more about Nikki at our “Meet The Team” page. Dear Beyoncé…
Advice to teen girls around safety.
Because there has been so much (often furious and ultimately, therefore, alienating and unhelpful ) discussion on Mia Freedman’s recent post on girls and personal safety , I hesitated to…
I’m a Feminist – Loud and Proud
I recently returned to United World College (UWC) Singapore, at both the Dover and East Campuses, to follow up on the work I did there in April, and to meet…
No More Blurring The Lines – I’m Talking To You Mr Bruno Mars
Back in 2008 I blogged about my concern music no longer loved women: Song lyrics have always been filled with sexual innuendo and pushed societies boundaries but this in-your-face mainstream…
So Much To Tell You
The last few weeks have been something of whirlwind. I have been presenting to hundreds of teen girls in Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney – and am off to Melbourne and Singapore…
Leaky Ladies and Their Worrisome Wombs
This week’s post is an extract from Nina Funnell’s chapter in the recent feminist anthology, Destroying The Joint – Why Women have To Change The World (edited by Jane Caro).…
Comments about tennis star Marion Bertoli and a Roxy surfing ad featuring Stephanie Gilmore judge female athletes by their looks
This week I am pleased to share an excellent guest post by the wonderful Dr Karen Brooks; this was originally published by the Courier Mail. Dr Karen Brooks is an…
Videos that move
This week I want to share three of the videos I’ve watched recently that have deeply moved me. The first is a TED Talk by Jackson Katz, Ph.D. The YouTube…