Growing up in a society focused on sexualisation can leave young people feeling pressured, depressed and uncertain.
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Advocate for women and girls, Melinda Tankard Reist, hopes to break that cycle and took time on Monday to connect with more than 400 students from local high schools.
Organised by Launceston Christian School, the talks separated boys and girls so each cohort could experience a comfortable environment.
“I find there are better outcomes if I get to talk to them separately. I find that the boys and girls speak to me more openly if they are segregated by sex. Sometimes girls will not share as personally or as intimately if the boys are present,” Ms Tankard Reist said.
During the talk, Ms Tankard Reist worked with about 250 girls to unpack 150 images including advertisements right through to the slogans on clothing which give women messages about how their body ‘should’ look.
“I also discuss the global research about the impact on girls health and well-being from these toxic stereotype images and unpack a number of mental health issues with them. Then we look at how we can resist it to change it,” she said.
The girls then shared messages with Ms Tankard Reist to pass onto the boys about the way they would like them to treat them, which she said were the same everywhere.
“(They) want to stop being pressured for sex, making jokes about their bodies, they want them to know that no means no. They’re sick of rape jokes and being manipulated into things they don’t want to do,” Ms Tankard Reist said.
“A significant part of my work is empowering girls to stand up for themselves, not to give in and do things they don’t want to do and to demand better behaviour from boys.”
Ms Tankard spoke to the boys about how culture shapes them and encourages them to be ‘men of honour’.
“I give examples when I’m speaking of young boys who have done the right thing and I encourage the boys to be be like those who have done the right thing,” she said.
Ms Tankard Reist said the opportunity to speak at the school came from a teacher hearing her talk at a conference in Melbourne.
“I’m very happy when schools acknowledge there is a problem and they are proactive about doing something about it. They’re not hiding it and covering it up or trying to protect their reputation, they’re saying ‘we’ve got some issues, what can we do about it?’,” she said.
“I commend Launceston Christian School for hosting these events over the last couple of days.”
Riverside High School, Leighland Christian School and Newstead Christian School also attended the talks.
On Sunday, Ms Tankard Reist held a community talk. She will travel to Hobart on Monday afternoon for the launch of film she is involved in, and will also hold a book launch, along with hosting talks with southern schools.
For more information on Ms Tankard Reist, visit her website melindatankardreist.com, or to be involved, visit collectiveshout.org.
“We need more people involved if we are going to turn this around,” Ms Tankard Reist said.