Issue 86.10 (Elle Dit)

ISSUE 86.10

29 SEPTEMBER

ADL

UNI

auu.org.au/campuscup

We are always accepting submissions to publish online.

We’d love to hear your ideas! Email us at onditmag@gmail.com

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ON DIT CONTENTS Editorial Meet Our Guest Editors State of Union SRC President What’s On Vox Pop Left, Right, & Centre Econ Dit

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ARTICLES An Open Letter to St Mark's College Let's Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable: An Opinion Piece on Hannah Gadsby's "Nanette" Hey, Hey, You, You, I Don't Want You Going After My Boyfriend "That End Goes in Your Guitar, Love" Artist Feature: Cindy Nguyen Woman Nature Missplaced Fear It's Hard Out There for a Bitch Can I Buy You a Drink?

The Handmaid's Terror The Good Men Women's Rights and Islam: Truly Incompatible Safe Access to Abortion – An Issue of Human Rights Book Review: Eggshell Skull An Ode to the Friend Zone ARTWORK "Looking At You" by Felicity Erné

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EDITORS Aiden Bedford Ethan Penglase GUEST EDITORS Caitlin Ellen-Moore Hilary D'Angelo Imogen Hindson Samantha Bedford DESIGNERS Anzelle de Kock Jennafer Milne

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COVER ART "Modern Lisa"

By Cindy Nguyen

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CENTREFOLD

By Stella Lycos

On Dit is produced on the land of the Kaurna people. We acknowledge them as the traditional owners and custodians of the Adelaide Plains. Their land was stolen, never ceded.

It always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

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EDITORIAL

Welcome to Elle Dit 2018!

It has been 12 months since the last women’s edition of On Dit, and what a year it has been. Many major publications, including CNN, declared 2018 to be the next Year of the Woman. With Jacinda Ardern returning to office after 6 weeks paid maternity leave on her NZ$471,049 salary, self-proclaimed feminist Meghan Markle marrying into the British aristocracy, and the next person set to become the youngest self-made U.S. billionaire in history being a woman, it sure seems to be.

But where does that leave the rest of us?

Though many of us hoped that sweeping reforms such as the success of Ireland’s abortion referendum would set an efficacious precedent for feminist praxis, recent insights into the structural entrenchment of gender bias have extinguished that initial optimism. Many of us have been lulled into a false sense of security by the, at best, superficial mainstream support for feminist causes, until instances of tragedy such as the untimely death of Eurydice Dixon not moments from her home bring the immediate necessity of progressive cultural change to the forefront. In light of massive revelations regarding the rape culture which still pervades many institutions of learning, an edition dedicated to the unique plight of women could not be more salient. The apathy and even complicity of

those supposed to ensure our safety and well-being has encouraged a wave of sadness, which quickly turned to justified outrage.

Kylie Jenner, born into wealth and fame, has made her fortune off the very industry that has destroyed the self-image of every single woman on the planet, while her followers, immune to the widespread suffering of women, crowdfund her ascendance to billionaire status. Female social elites "play the game" in what looks like an internal takedown of the patriarchal system, yet the oppressive structure of patriarchal capitalism remains intact and more potent than ever. We are expected to carry their successes on our shoulders by buying into their narrative of liberation through consumption, clap in admiration, and wait our turn. Though contemporary feminist activism looks new, exciting, and most enticingly, easy – this modern permutation of the women’s movement is ultimately regressive.

As women from very different lives and backgrounds, we recognise that we are united by the common threat of male supremacy in all its forms. We hope that this platform can be used to its full potential – to amplify the voices of the otherwise unheard.

Your editors, Caitlin, Hilary, Imogen, and Samantha.

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Meet Our Guest Editors Imogen Hindson

Hilary D'Angelo Hello everyone! As one of this year’s sub-editors, I am so excited to have also been able to guestedit the annual women’s edition of our wonderful student magazine. In the past, reading the personal gendered experiences of our very own students in Elle Dit has been hugely emotional, with some submissions even bringing a tear to my eye. But, I think it’s important to remember that feminism is for everyone and the issues touched on in this issue aren’t just directed at women. Ultimately, feminism is about dismantling expectations of emotional stoicism in men. It’s about getting rid of the phrase "man up". It’s about addressing deeply rooted and perhaps subconscious gender biases. It’s about confronting the internalised misogyny that seems to be reinforced in pop culture (note the piece about Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift!). If there’s something I’ve felt more than anything in helping put together this issue, it’s solidarity. Elle Dit gives a voice to women, and remember – we’re in this together.

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As a young female student on campus, one of my biggest goals is that women’s voices are heard. The reason why I wanted to get involved in editing Elle Dit, is because I thought it was one of the best ways I could make sure a variety of voices that directly impact women on campus are vocalised. Many of the submissions this year have resonated with me, particularly the pieces about women in Adelaide music, and our pop culture articles. I think we can all agree that the anonymous letter to St Mark’s college is a tear jerker. But the one thing I was thinking throughout the editing process, was that this feeling of needing to change is a well recognised feeling amongst our student body. I felt in unity and solidarity with my fellow women, in a world that so often wants us to turn against each other. I am so proud to be a part of this process, to highlight some of the issues that are facing young women today, so that all students can recognise how important it is to support, and be equal with, wom*n. Thank you On Dit for letting me be a part of this, and thank you, for reading.

Caitlin Ellen-Moore Hello! My name is Caitlin, I’m 22 and you’ve probably seen me kicking about the University for the last four years in the Media, Politics and Arts departments.

In my last year at university I’ve finally thrown myself into the world of student media; giving you articles like the sex toy guide (you’re welcome) and skeptical theories on Elon Musk (I’m not sorry). I’m also one of the Caitlin’s you tune into on Student Radio every Wednesday night.

Samantha Bedford I’m Sam, a 20 year old second year Arts and Sciences student, with a passion for literature and political philosophy, and maybe biomedical science when I check my HECs debt balance. In my two years at the University of Adelaide, I have experienced the hurdles of being a woman in STEM while striving to succeed in a deeply fascinating field which most women have been denied the privilege to participate in. I have also contributed in previous issues of On Dit, to lean in on the current political climate and put my arts classes to good use. Let’s face it - I always have been a stronger humanities student, with an aptitude for prose rather than PCR, and the coursework for any semi-useful Arts subject just won’t cut it. Faced with the reality that my dream of living in a secluded villa in rural southern Italy where I can finally be alone with a vintage typewriter and an endless supply of zeppole will never come to fruition, being an editor for the largest mag on campus might just be the next best thing. I hope the team and I can do such a prolific publication proud!

In my years on this Earth, I’ve explored and grown into the woman I am today. I’ve been shaped by women from all over the world; from different races, religions, identities and backgrounds. They have shaped me into a somewhat aspiring writer with loud opinions and the passion to leave the world a better place than it is now. Hopefully, this Elle Dit will be the same. A place for loud opinions; shaped, written and read by diverse women.

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STATE OF THE UNION Words by Tasmin Anspach Board Director

As you read this, the Adelaide University Union is fighting for female voices to be heard. We can all do better in this fight and tell the University that they MUST do better for equality on campus.

This time last year Elle Dit interviewed me as SRC Women’s Officer. We discussed my experience as the first transgender woman to hold the position, feminism, consent education, and the recent Change the Course report. I expressed my concern that the questions had been watered down to create more palatable results. To my disappointment, instead of focusing on what I said, social media focused on how I said it. I swore. When you are angry, or hurt, or disgusted do you ever swear? This has been one of the many times that I have been attacked for using my voice as a woman. Women have a right to be angry and loud. We have a right to speak out when we are unsafe, and change is coming far too slowly.

I am proud to be a female voice in student representation, but there aren’t many of us. People may claim this lack of representation is simply an example of merit-based selection, but women have to show the same merit as men in order to be accepted to University. Women make up 49% of the total student body, yet there are only two of us out of 10 seats on the AUU Board. There are only three women on the University Council. The rest of the council are all men. When the Alumni voters went to elect their representative, they only had men to choose from. I believe that the AUU and University need to work together to fix this representation if we are serious about diversity.

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There are examples of this unfair policy everywhere.

A young woman recently came to me distressed about the Application for Replacement Examination form. She was shocked to find menstrual irregularities are not considered to be a significant impairment. Whilst having or not having a period and a uterus does not define womanhood, society’s handling of menstruation impacts most women.

This woman has endometriosis, a chronic illness, with various presentations that impact 1 in 10 women. This illness, and many other conditions, could easily be labelled away under menstrual irregularities. While this may not sound like much to you, menstrual irregularities is another example of policy written without taking the female perspective into account.

This problem is REAL and having REAL impacts on people's lives, and it requires a REAL response from the University. The Adelaide University Union is trying to get it from them!

Will you help us?

If you have been sexually assaulted or harassed, I implore you to reach out to the Education and Welfare Officers at Student Care when you’re ready.

They are professional and highly trained staff and offer a confidential and non-judgmental service to all Adelaide University students. They are experts in University culture, systems and policy along with interacting with external agencies. Ring 8313 5430, email studentcare@adelaide.edu.au or drop in at the Lady Symon Building to book an appointment.

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SRC WOMEN'S OFFICER Words by Tahlia Penn Women’s Officer

One of the first questions that I am continually asked when I tell people that I am the SRC’s Women’s Officer is "Well, is there a Men’s Officer?", and my answer is always "no."

The University of Adelaide has a rich history of supporting women. This University was established in 1874, and at the time only men were permitted to enrol. However, in 1881 the University of Adelaide became the second university in the English-speaking world to allow women to study at university. Edith Dornwell was the first female graduate at the University of Adelaide in 1885 with a Bachelor of Science. Our University was deemed to be progressive with women’s rights – South Australia in general was progressive, as it became the first state in Australia to endorse women’s right to vote and stand for parliament in 1894. So when people ask me why there is no Men’s Officer, the reason is that men have never been denied their rights and freedoms because of their gender. This is why I believe that the Women’s Officer position on the SRC is an important part of furthering women’s rights on campus.

Earlier this year I was involved in the SRC-60 Minutes joint report, exposing the toxic culture at St Mark’s College. I had the privilege, one filled with great sadness, of speaking on behalf of Aria Kirwan at the SRC’s protest which followed after the report went live. I would like to convey that she was incredibly grateful for the SRC and students’ advocacy for sexual assault survivors, and urged us to keep fighting for her and for those who do not feel safe in speaking out. I can confirm that the SRC will not be backing down on the issue and will continue to stand with survivors.

In the remaining time I have left this year as your Women’s Officer, I plan to continually speak out about sexual assault on campus and in residential Colleges so that it does not get swept under the rug like so many issues do.

My door is always open for all women on campus. Please do not hesitate to contact me at srcwomens@auu.org.au or stop by the SRC Office for a chat!

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LAW MISERABLES - ADELAIDE LAW REVUE 12th-15th September @ 19:30pm The Little Theatre, University of Adelaide Cloisters The cast and crew of the 2018 Adelaide Law Revue are proud to present "Law Misérables" – the only sketch comedy show produced by any law school in Adelaide! With the bad taste of Harvey Weinstein’s morning breath and the satirical wit of three live exported cows, come along for a night of mostly mayhem, constant cringe, scattered sniggers and more.* Written, directed and choreographed entirely by University of Adelaide Law Students, at $15 a ticket, this is a show you won’t want to miss. *Words taken from Facebook Event – we promise not to jump to conclusions like this without having seen the show!

FRI-YAY UNION MEMBER LUNCH 14th September @ 12pm Level 4 Union House, Adelaide University Union Free for members (and just $5 for everyone else), the Union’s fortnightly lunch event is on again!

Make the most of your membership and attend the Union’s 9th free lunch of the year.

Different dietary options are always available.

AUMA MEDIA BALL 15th September @ 20:00pm The Griffins Hotel The Adelaide University Media Association is back for another year of Media Ball, with a new special theme for the year – Back To The Future! Put your best shoes and fanciest dresses on (ideally 80’s themed), and have a boogie. For $65 a ticket and an open bar, it seems like the bargain of the century.

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AUSTRALIA IN THE INDO-PACIFIC CENTURY – WITH SENATOR PENNY WONG 24th September @ 18:00pm Napier G04 Lecture Hall, University of Adelaide Join Young Australians in International Affairs to hear Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Wong, deliver a keynote speech on Australia’s foreign policy priorities in the Indo-Pacific Century.

This will be followed by a Q&A session, where you will get the opportunity to ask the Senator any questions regarding Australia’s foreign policy outlook in the new global order.The event is free, but registration is essential – follow the Eventbrite link on the Facebook Event.

AUES COCKTAIL NIGHT: AUES IN PARADISE 26th October @ 19pm The Havelock Hotel Do you need a few rays of sunshine after a gloomy

ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY UNION: ROSEWORTHY BINGO NIGHT

winter? Do you want to meet the love of your life in paradise? Are you wanting to recreate an episode of Love Island? Head on down to the Engineering Society’s cocktail night. According to the AUES, “this exclusive round trip includes the full drink, food and love package (love subject to availability) and costs a measly $60, but this is a small price to pay for finding your soulmate, or plugging your Bali Jewellery label”.

28th October @ 4pm Council Room, Roseworthy Campus Do you like free pizza, winning prizes and cheap drinks? Head on down to the Roseworthy campus for a social night of bingo, board games and good laughs.

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Vox Pop Where we ask students the important questions.

Ash

Georgia

Teaching/Arts

Law/International Development

1. My mum is truly the toughest cookie I've ever met.

1. My karate instructor. She had a violent childhood and faced significant adversity during her years of training as one of the only females at her dojo. She has come out of these experiences as a resilient, assertive, capable, compassionate woman who passes on her skills to young people at our karate club.

2. Ensuring every woman's rights are advocated for, including trans women and women of colour.

3. I think that could be a fantastic idea but should probably be an online course to ensure accessibility.

2. Tackling domestic violence.

4. Not huge on her music or as a person either really but I can’t stand the way the media has labelled her as a serial dater just because she writes songs about relationships – it’s blatant sexism.

3. Yes, such a module is very important.

I don't think people fully understand consent.

5. GIRLS!!!!!

5. Egalitarian boys and girls!

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4. Catchy songs!

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1. Who is a powerful woman in your life you admire, and why?

2. What should be the primary objective for the women’s movement at the moment?

3. Should there be a compulsory consent training module for new students and faculty members?

4. What are your thoughts on Taylor Swift?

5. Who run the world?

Olivia

Adila

Gender Studies/Anthropology

Science (Space Sciences & Astrophysics)

1. My sister, who has recently become a mum and also runs her own business.

2. I can bring it down to a few points?

Equal pay, equal opportunities with regard to higher status jobs, and ending discrimination, rape culture, and slutshaming!

3. 100% 4. She’s like a white supremacist, isn’t she?

So yeah… probably a no from me.

5. Girls.

1. My competition teacher advisor in Malaysia – a very determined and strong lady who taught me that you have to keep going and remain strong.

2. I think all women should have equal access to education. It shouldn’t be intimidating for women to pursue what they want to just because there aren’t many women in that area.

3. Yeah, I think there should be.

4. I actually like a lot of her songs. There has been a lot of attention on her, but really she’s just like any other human.

5. Girls!!

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LEFT, RIGHT, & CENTRE LEFT

CENTRE

ADELAIDE COMMUNIST CLUB

ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY LABOR CLUB

SAMANTHA BEDFORD

1.

I believe that any avenue which may bring about justice for victims of such invasive, demeaning, and blatantly misogynistic language is justified. His comments may seem minor — women commonly experience this kind of innuendo in the workplace; an attempt to force women out of the public sphere.

An example should be made of Leyonhjelm so that a definitive line can be drawn on what is appropriate, professional conduct.

Though I do not support the use of terms like “slut-shaming,” I believe that Hanson-Young recognises the magnitude of his comments in their reinforcing of our patriarchal political system.

2.

Female supporters of Trump – typically white women, have bought into the promises of safety, security, and prosperity employed by ethnonationalist politicians, who categorise foreigners and minorities as a threat to traditional values. I think the phrasing of this question begs me to be sympathetic towards these women, as gullible people who are simply 12

SOFIA ARLOTTA

too stupid to see that they’re complicit in their own demise.

Whether or not they recognise that white men still see them as subhuman despite their support for their racist paedophile president, they are fully culpable of the harm they cause. Not only are they acting against their own interests, they are acting against the common interests of social egalitarianism in support of fascism.

3.

Women are not only discouraged from entering politics because of its masculine culture, we also face structural hurdles. While quotas have been instituted in an attempt to increase female involvement, to see political equality in terms of numbers is shortsighted. I don’t see the likes of Angela Merkel or Theresa May holding public office to be in the interest of women simply because we share the same chromosomal makeup, when many of their policies are an affront to human dignity.

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It is important for any victim to deal with their case in a legal matter in a situation like this, especially when in the public eye, like Hanson-Young. It sends the message that comments that demean women and treat them as sexual beings will not be tolerated in society. This message can flow on to empower people to come forward about closely connected issues like sexual harassment.

2.

From his male dominated administration to his anti-abortion policy it is clear that Trump has no interest in women and their rights. This sends a toxic message to society that treating women as lesser than men is acceptable. Women who support Trump reinforce that message and therefore act against their own interests by promoting him and his values.

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1. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has launched defamation action against Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm in light of his comments regarding her sex life.

Do you think that pursuing a legal avenue is the appropriate response?

2. Are female supporters of Donald Trump actively acting against their own interests?

3. Do you believe there’s a general lack of women in politics? Why do you think this is?

RIGHT

SARAH TELLIS ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY LIBERAL CLUB 3.

There is an obvious lack of women in parliament with the current Australian Parliament only being 32% female. Politics has also had a bit of a "boys club" culture that society communicated for years, which makes it hard for women to enter into. Also, looking at the media’s overly critical and invasive treatment of politicians like Julia Gillard and Hillary Clinton would deter many women from wanting to get involved in politics.

1.

Bringing someone's sex life into Parliamentary debate is completely inappropriate, let alone declaring it in a public forum. The Liberal Democrats should be ashamed to have a man who thinks that it’s ok to "slut shame" women.

Despite my feelings about Senator Leyonhjelm’s comments I believe the legal avenue is not the appropriate response and it only gives him more media air time than he deserves.

2.

It still amazes me that a man who thinks it’s ok to suggest that presidential debate moderator Meghan Kelly was on her period, just because she questioned him about misogynistic comments, became president. Not to mention his recent comments in which he called Omarosa Manigault Newman a "dog".

His relentless attacks on his critics, especially female critics, give the Republican party and anyone from the right of politics a

bad name. Whilst I believe female supporters of Trump have the right to support whoever they like, if I were a female member of the Republicans I would see supporting his presidency as being against the interests of the future of the Republican party, and would consider resigning from the party because I consider him such an embarrassment to politics.

3.

When you look at the ratio of women in Parliament it would be easy to think there is a general lack of women in politics. In my personal experience, there are many women across politics, however not necessarily as members of parliament.

I have encountered many women, particularly within youth political movements, who are fighting to make a difference in this state and country who gained positions of power due to their incredible drive and skills.

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The Gender Revolution Economics Needs Words by Georgia Wiley

After two years of studying Development Studies I sold my soul and moral superiority to transfer into Economics. My first-year econ courses were largely dominated by commerce students, resentful that BES is compulsory (rational people). As my degree went on, the majority of the commerce kids filtered out leaving only those of us devoted enough to write "at equilibrium" ad nauseam. As my cohort shrunk I made two discoveries about economics that I really should have known going in: 1. Economics is 90% maths 2. There are a lot of men Economics is ostensibly a male dominated field, 80% of Europe’s senior economists and 85% of American Economics professors are male. Of the 79 individuals awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics just one has been female. The situation at the University of Adelaide is no exception, currently less than 30% of Undergraduate Economics students are female. This year there are no domestic female honours students.

The teaching staff mirrors this imbalance, the School of Economics has 24 staff at the rank of lecturer or higher, 4 of them are female.

These statistics are disappointing but not surprising.

What is most troubling is the trend – while female enrolment in STEM has continued to rise (albeit slowly), female participation in economics remains 14

stagnant. Are we to believe that women simply aren’t interested in economics?

The reasons why women are choosing not to enter economics are complex and personal. However, we cannot ignore the systematic factors that dissuade women. Economics is not always a friendly place for women to exist in. For her thesis, Berkley undergrad Alice Wu studied the language used to describe men and women on a popular and anonymous online grad jobs forum Economics Job Market Rumours. This site is dominated by PhD students and reads as if 4chan took over whirlpool. The language used by posters when discussing men and women diverged significantly. The words with the strongest predictive power for discussing women included "hot," "gorgeous," "tits," "lesbian," "bang," and "horny." With the exception of "homo" and "homosexual," the words most predictive of discussing men were "philosopher," "keen," "motivated," and "textbook." Online forums have always been a cesspit of toxicity especially towards women, but Wu’s research shows the discrimination women in economics face at its most extreme. The anonymity of forums allows posters to comment unmarred by social convention and largely exempt from repercussions.

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Outside of the troll-laden world of online forums, women in economics face more nuanced discrimination and unconscious bias. As a PhD candidate at Harvard, Heather Sarsons investigated the effects of co-authorship in economics. She found that co-authoring a paper increased a male candidate’s prospects of tenure by 8%, compared to just 2% for women. Sarsons concluded that women were 17% less likely to achieve tenure than men with similar publication records. Outside of academia things fare similarly, with men significantly outnumbering women in the leadership of treasuries, central banks, and consulting firms alike.

Mari May and Mary McGarvey of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and David Kucera of the International Labour Organisation, found that male economists are more skeptical of environmental protection and tend to prefer market-based solutions over government intervention. May and others undertook a similar study of American economists and found male economists were more likely to believe increasing the minimum wage would cause unemployment, more comfortable with drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and less likely to support connecting American openness to trade to higher labour standards abroad.

As an undergrad this lack of female representation can be depressing, but representation is not important for representations sake. The gender imbalance in economics has dramatic consequences for the field itself.

A lack of diversity in economics means that we have a smaller, more homogenous group of economists, making decisions based on a reduced pool of experiences and knowledge. To find the best possible solutions for more than 50% of the

Economists may study the world, but they also help set the rules of the game. Economics and economists shape public policy, influence trade between nations, government spending, taxation and regulation. As much as economists aspire to be bastions of rationality, research consistently shows that personal background and identity shape their beliefs, research, opinions, and decisions.

Our gender informs our experience, it seeps in to what we choose to research, the way we construct problems and ultimately craft solutions. It makes sense that women are more likely to research gender inequality because they are the ones directly affected. Even further, research shows that male and female economists diverge in belief. A survey of economists from 18 European countries by Ann

population, we need female economists. Diverse teams make better decisions and bring a wider range of views and knowledge to discussion, challenging everyone to find better answers. If the field is dominated by a largely homogenous group, the diversity of legitimate views will be drowned. A lack of diversity in any field limits its scope of debate and its intellectual rigour and development.

Economics is more than taxes – it is about looking at the world around us, and asking why things are the way they are and how can we make it better.

If we let the field be defined by the interests of one group, we will never be able to make better decisions on the most pressing issues that face our world – inequality, climate change, or the rising price of m & m’s.

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Content Warning: sexual assault.

An open letter to St Mark’s College, It’s been a while, three years in fact, since I walked amongst your grounds. Three years since my mother dropped me off inside your gates, a goodbye filled with hugs and tears but also the comforting thought that you would look after me – you promised that.

Five months ago I got a message from a friend: “Dude did you get the email from Marks?” It was followed by a link to a news article. My body started shaking and I felt cold, freezing cold to my bones – it was summer. I opened the article and my stomach was filled with an overwhelming mix of emotions – did I feel relieved that someone had finally spoken out? Or did I feel angry? Gut-wrenching, shaking hands angry. This is a feeling that comes back to me every time I read your name or think about that time three years ago, in fact as I sit here kilometres away from your gates writing this letter, I am met with that feeling once more.

I would take this time to tell you how your hazing affected me. I would take this time to tell you about how anxious it made me feel. I could tell you about the night I woke up in a toilet cubicle unaware of how long I’d been passed out for but gathering it must have been a while, judging by the kicking and yelling at the door. I could tell you about the boy you left on Social Committee after he sent me 35 messages and 10 calls in a night coercing me into sex, I can tell you I said no more than once. I could tell you about the night I was put in a headlock while a boy forced himself onto me and how your Social Committee and students stood and laughed and egged him on… but I won’t, because I don’t have the time or the space and you already know these things don’t you?

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So what has happened since that day, three years ago, hugging my mother goodbye at your gates, resting assured that I would have the best year of my life? Let me fill you in.

In March I opened that article and after I read it I shared it on my Facebook wall. I got so many comments and messages from collegians that I spent the following hours blocking, unfollowing and deleting them all.

Then I opened your email… It was an email filled to the brim with excuses and justifications. No apology.

You wrote that you were seeking advice from lawyers; in the same email you offered support for students to make "a formal report in confidence".

I don’t feel comfortable to make a report to you, or the police – quite frankly I’m scared. I’m scared because every time victims have tried to speak up you have squashed us with threats and excuses and your students have harassed us and you still take no accountability. You deleted my comments from social media posts, only to follow up with an email inviting me for coffee.

Some students at uni organised a small demonstration against college hazing – your students met them in a sea of red and yellow. I’d call that intimidation.

I spoke with a journalist, Nina Funnel, who offered me support and counselling and I finally felt a bit of relief. I was participating in a silent, anonymous #MeToo campaign with victims and collegians from my year, all the way back to the 1980s. She also told me she had heard the name of one of my assaulters

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multiple times. Let that sink in. A journalist in another state had heard his name multiple times from multiple people. That makes me question how you could ever possibly not know how dangerous his behaviour was. You must have known?

Later I received a message from someone I went to college with asking me if I’d filled out the survey you had emailed collegians. She said “Please tell me I wasn’t the only one to tick the box saying I had seen sexual assault at college?” She wasn’t, but you never sent me that email to tick that box.

So a lot has happened. I have lost friends, I have lost sleep at night replaying events that happened that year. So much has happened that I have had to filter out a lot to make this open letter palatable and able to fit in the space of this student magazine.

You might be reading this and thinking all of the usual bullshit, “You could have said no.”

“You didn’t have to participate.”

“Why did you never speak up while you were living with us?”

I’ll tell you why I didn’t say no, why I participated and why I didn’t speak up while I was there.

Three years ago my mother dropped me off inside your gates, a goodbye filled with hugs and tears but also the comforting thoughts that you would look after me – you promised that. I left my small town and was thrown into the chaos that is navigating a new city, making my first friends and going to university for the first time. I had no idea what to expect. That’s something you’ve used as an excuse

before – that people know about the hazing before we come. I can tell you I didn’t. I kept my mouth shut, I tried to blend in, go to pub nights, the usual college experience and all you left me with was anxiety and hurt. I remember the first week I was with you, you planted an older boy as a "fresher" and shaved his hair off when he retaliated. You did that to trick us, to manipulate us into going along with it all. How was I supposed to speak up after that? I remember the nights when we would all boo when someone refused to be "ponded" (thrown in the pond). I remember the people you labelled as "ghosts" because they didn’t participate in events.

You run a cult not a college.

I was scared to speak then, and I’m still scared now.

That’s why I decided to write you this letter as a form of closure for me, and maybe a wake up call for you. You need to do better. Money and prestige won’t keep you alive forever, you need something more. You need accountability. I’m sad that I don’t get to look back on my first year of university with a smile and think of happy memories. You robbed me of that, and every day that you refuse to genuinely reach out to us, every day you don’t apologise, and everyday you ignore victims’ stories hurts us more and more.

You didn’t look after me.

You broke your promise.

Yours not-faithfully, Anonymous.

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– On Dit –

Lets get comfortable with being uncomfortable: An opinion piece on Hannah Gadsby’s “Nanette” Words by Anna Wilkinson

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– On Dit – I am angry.

I am angry that one of my favourite comedians has decided to quit comedy. Although she has recently publically announced she will continue, I am angry that she had to feel as though quitting was her only option. I am angry that someone I admire has had to face such hardships society has placed on her simply because she is a gay woman. But most of all, I am angry with myself.

Hannah, and for so many of us, our story cannot be modified. Our stories should not be reduced to jokes in order to tell them. Especially when they are stories of hardship, and abuse, and of things that make us uncomfortable. When Hannah said she wanted to “quit comedy”, she meant that she was sick of undermining her story. Although we can find humour in everything, some things should make us feel uncomfortable.

This is because for a long time, about ten years, I have been following Hannah Gadsby’s comedic career. I have seen her shows on YouTube, sat in her audiences at the Adelaide Fringe, and religiously watched the TV show Please Like Me to catch a glimpse of her. From her New Gay Comic 101 and Heavy (or lack of) Lesbian Content, to critiques of Taylor Swift, I have stood by Hannah as a fierce supporter. However, I never, not once saw the pain and anguish comedy had created in Hannah’s life. For the past 10 years I have laughed alongside a wonderful woman who felt the need to poke fun at herself in the hopes others could understand her story.

We are living in a world where discomfort is feared. Social interaction is manipulated to create a certain idealised form of comfort. This is not new. Whether it be in writings of Oscar Wilde, or the deep held tradition of “saving face” to avoid cultural humiliation in the ancient Chinese Dynasties, we can see that unpleasant social interactions are something of an abnormality. Of course it is! Nobody wants to be uncomfortable, or even worse, be seen to be reacting to something that is. But when dealing with the rise of populism, the ramifications of colonisation and the divided decision on whether Nick Cummings should be the Bachelor, we need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. This is the only way we can move forward. We need to be able to tell our stories in their full so we can learn from them.

For those of you who are not familiar with Hannah Gadbsy or her Netflix special Nanette, that is perfectly okay (for now). Her show has been deemed “controversial”. I guess it is. Most comedians don't begin their show in with the hope to quit comedy. Yet for me, what Hannah said was not controversial. Perhaps, this is because for the first time in her public life she was speaking her truth. She was telling stories, not jokes. In Nanette, Hannah explains that a joke is told to create tension, then release it in the form of laughter. There are two parts in a joke, the build up and the punchline. Stories, on the other hand, have a beginning, middle, and end. In a story, unlike a joke, we do not need to leave out the truth. We do not need to edit ourselves to make sure the tension can be broken. Because for

This is the part where I tell you to watch Nanette.

Inhale Nanette. Commit Nanette to memory.

Please. Hannah Gadsby’s story is one of beauty.

She is angry and by golly she has the right to be.

She interweaves the censored and uncensored story of her coming out, of being physically assaulted, and of how she dealt with identifying with being gay, but also the “metaphor of party” that is often coupled with it. As I said before, Nanette is not controversial because it is simply a story we can understand without the punchlines. It makes us uncomfortable, but we need to get used to it.

I want to thank you Hannah, for bringing chuckles into my heart when it needed a good tickle. I want to thank you more for telling your story. It is full of cracks and sores, and love, and pain. It is valid and told in its entirety. Watch Nanette, and relish in feeling uncomfortable.

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– On Dit –

HEY, HEY, YOU, YOU, I DON’T WANT YOU GOING AFTER MY BOYFRIEND Written by Taylor Fernandez Artwork by Jennafer Milne

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– On Dit – Internalised misogyny exists. In fact, you’ll find it in pop music, where the idea of devaluing other females because of sexist stereotypes has manifested into a musical trope of women hating on other women. Many classic songs seem to promote the idea that it’s A-okay to disrespect another girl by unapologetically going after her partner.

Exhibit A: Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend. Lavigne’s iconic song epitomises the whole concept of girl-on-girl sexism. Instead of pining over the fact that the guy she likes is taken, Lavigne does the reverse, and unashamedly puts down his current girlfriend.

Supposedly, Avril wrote this whilst drunk, but hey, hey, you, you, I don’t like your excuse. In the video, Avril parades around in her typical "XD Rawr" fashion, complaining that this guy should choose her. The Other Woman (aka Avril in a red wig) gets thrown out of a photobooth, and later pushed into a pond. So now jealousy-induced bullying is okay?

This poor girl has not done anything to warrant the abuse: she’s simply just going on cute go-karting or golf dates with her boyfriend. Or maybe it’s justified because she’s rebelled against the number one rule of pop punks: she didn’t shop at Hot Topic?

Hating on a guy’s girlfriend also presents a sense of entitlement. This brings us to Taylor Swift, often criticised for her flawed and problematic approach to feminism. She has a plethora of songs that are the Bechdel’s test nightmare (think Bad Blood or Better Than Revenge), which put down other women.

Tay Tay is a key perpetrator in her major bop, You Belong With Me. She takes the clichéd nerdy girlnext-door stance. How endearing. She has fallen in love with a guy taken by another girl, who in the video, is played by herself. (Classic example of: can I copy your homework? Yeah, just change it up a bit so it doesn’t look obvious you copied.)

I think the major difference between the two songs is that Avril is blunt about her role as the aggressor.

I’m unsure if we’re supposed to sympathise with Avril’s romantic plight or just embrace this "what the hell" attitude. She makes no hesitation – or apology, it seems – to ruin the relationship of another girl. Taylor Swift, on the other hand, plays the victim in the scenario. She’s geeky and awkward and NEWS FLASH: She’s Not Like Other Girls. I

think the nerd population is supposed to relate to this – maybe. And as a result, we assume she is entitled to dating this guy. (Who really should not be considered "property" of anyone!) But her song is just as much of a problematic fave as Avril’s; she’s putting down another woman just because she likes her boyfriend. Avril’s "Other Woman" is conservatively dressed, whereas the other Taylor is oversexualised through connotations of provocative clothing and cheerleading. It’s almost as if whatever this hypothetical female does or acts or wears, she will be criticised for it, because getting a boyfriend who somebody else wants is treated like a criminal offence. By emphasising these traits, these girls are being placed in that sexist dichotomy, where women are either a prude or slut. And if that is not evident of misogyny, I’m not sure what is!

But as aforementioned, these girls are playing alter egos of themselves in the videos, so the concept becomes a bit of a meme. And besides, the females are still rich, tall, pretty moguls after all, so it is slightly ironic to go hating on the "popular". Yet this whole "don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me" mentality has the ability to go further than pop music. What is the impact when this internalised misogyny transcends beyond a catchy song? Having a crush should not be considered a "competition".

When my friends learn that the girl in their crush’s profile pic is the girlfriend – and not the sister – admittedly the first comment is usually along the lines of "don’t worry, you’re much prettier than her."

What these types of songs also fail to convey is that nobody should be trying to seduce someone so strictly off-limits. If you like someone in a relationship, do what you got to do to get over it, read that WikiHow article, but do not attack their girlfriend!

It’s a bit of a stretch to call these women anti-feminist. And putting down women for putting down women is the most hypocritical thing that could be done. However, there is a big distinction between composing a song because you’re sad that a guy does not like you back, to writing about being superior to their girlfriend or partner. It’s important for young females to be more conscious of the messages they project into pop music, and the ones they receive. Let’s build other women up, and not treat them "like so whatever".

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– On Dit –

“THAT END GOES IN YOUR GUITAR, LOVE” Words by Bernadette Wright Content Warning: Sexual harassment Our live music scene is definitely alive and well. Despite venues closing, and alternative music festivals like Big Day Out and Soundwave ceasing to be in circuit, there is barely a night of the week where you can’t catch a band in the Adelaide CBD or inner suburbs. There are countless people working behind the scenes to keep this great community functioning, but similarly to the broader Australian touring and music festival circuits, there continues to be a distinct issue relating to diversity on line-ups, and the treatment of non-men within the industry.

“That end goes in your guitar, love” is my favourite quote from a sound technician, who tried to explain to me how to use an instrument lead. I wish this was an isolated incident, that he was just being nice, or maybe having a bad day. But, I can almost guarantee that no man in any Adelaide band would have to deal with a sound tech sarcastically explain how to use their equipment. This is just the tip of the

A quick look at @lineupswithoutmales on Instagram is a great way to understand the lack of gender diversity in the Australian and global music community. The smaller Adelaide scene pretty much mimics this pattern [of male dominated lineups], with most shows that get put on in the punk and alternative scene usually only featuring one or two women or non-binary people, if any at all. The “well

iceberg in terms of the shit that myself and other women in bands have to put up with on a weekly basis, and it’s seriously not good enough. I’ve been playing shows around Adelaide’s smaller venues for the past eighteen months or so; it’s an endeavour that has truly enriched my life and brought me so much joy, but at the same time it can be a full-time emotional job. The amount of emotional labour that non-male people involved in live music have to perform in order to be successful is exhausting, especially in the heavier music community that can be even more dominated by men than other genres.

maybe just more girls should start bands” rhetoric is quite common, and to be quite honest is a load of trash. This rhetoric shows a complete failure to understand that the very culture that upholds men’s positions of success in the industry is what turns women away from starting bands in the first place.

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We are scared we won’t be taken seriously. We are scared we won’t have the “right gear”; this not only heightens equipment elitism and classist ideas within the industry, but in combination with being a femme presenting performer, makes it especially hard for wom*n to get started. We are scared to get up on stage and play our songs because being a woman in a spotlight means you’re susceptible to every sort of criticism there is.

– On Dit –

“Why do you look so bored on stage?”

“Why don’t you face the audience more?”

“She should hit the drums harder.”

Comments about facial expression and stage presence are especially toxic, because it enforces the idea that femme presenting performers are only there to be looked at. These attitudes all contribute to the hesitation that many wom*n have about starting bands and getting stage to perform. How about you just let us get up there, play our songs, and go home, yeah?

Conversely, there is a pretty fine line between inclusivity and blatant tokenism. Myself and my other non-male band mates have been subject to countless instances of being put on bills as a token girl-group, which for me personally has been one of the most emotionally draining parts of being a member of a band. We receive countless show offers from men in bands who clearly knew nothing about us or our music, but just knew putting us on a bill would ensure they wouldn’t be criticized for having a male-centric line-up. Being booked on merit rather than gender identity seems to be easier said than done.

Treatment of non-men (especially younger girls) in the crowd at live gigs is also something that is a huge problem. I don’t think I know a single woman who hasn’t been groped, shoved, punched or otherwise touched inappropriately in a mosh pit.

This obviously partly stems from the entitlement that men feel towards women’s bodies, but also the anonymity that mosh pits provide gives perpetrators an added sense of lack of consequence for their actions which exacerbates the prevalence of these incidents. There is only so much that security and venue staff can do to protect people, and the toxic culture of men always protecting their own means that there are few to no penalties for this behaviour either. Larger festivals like Laneway have started up initiatives such as the 1800-RESPECT hotline, in which a patron can easily call festival security for help, but at pub and club gigs there needs to be a serious change in male patron behaviour before nonmale people will feel totally safe.

To any men reading this piece: please do better. You take up more of the space in the scene than anyone else and most of you are totally silent. Use your privilege and platforms to drive real change instead of continuing to use this culture to benefit yourself and yourself only. Call out your friends, don’t play shows with abusers, listen to the women around you. If I have one piece of advice for any wom*n wanting to get involved in the smaller music scene in Adelaide, it’s to be involved and do not be afraid to speak out. Don’t be afraid to make a name for yourself, and be fucking brave in a little world that quite often doesn’t want you to be.

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– On Dit –

@_cindesign ARTIST FEATURE CINDY NGUYEN This year, I became a graduate of a Bachelor of Media and Graphic Design major at the University of Adelaide. Like the majority of lost 21 year olds, I often encountered other interests over recent years. But whenever one was pursued, art and design always kept coming back to me and I always seemed to make it relevant to everything else I did (probably explains why I lasted less than 2 weeks in a lab med degree ahaha). I have always felt so empowered to be able to create pieces that have the power to capture the eyes of others and make them relate to my content. My love for this field has resonated onto those who over the years have given me the opportunity to design diverse pieces for events and businesses through freelance, internships and currently for a local band based in Adelaide.

I have always had a passion for floristry and arranging flowers, and from this delivered my passion of incorporating floral elements into my illustrations. After briefly studying floristry, it has strengthened my sense of design and working with colours. I use flowers as a form of symbolism to create messages in my art, and using them in this way is super easy and effective for everyone to empathise with in their own way.

Having the opportunity to feature in Elle Dit, an issue all about women, really made my art style thrive in the sense that it is the perfect way of conveying the strength and empowering movement of today’s women in a powerful, yet delicate way. The cover piece of my art feature is strongly inspired by one of my favourite illustrators, Anke Weckmann, who is a London based artist I found featured in an issue of Frankie. Weckmann’s distinctive use of facial features well suited my quirky take on the cover piece and the message it conveys. My cover piece, titled "Modern Lisa", is an updated rendition on the "Mona Lisa" to represent the diversity and evolution of today’s women. To all you strong, gorgeous gals out there, I hope you enjoy my illustrations and find your own meaning in them xx 24

– On Dit –

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– On Dit –

WOMAN NATURE Written by Katerina Grypma Artwork by Nozhat

I realised I was a part of nature years before I realised I was a woman. Climbing and bleeding, discovering and collecting the insects and animals all over my backyard as a kid, I felt more in harmony with the living world around me than ever.

But recently reading up on ecofeminism, I was prompted to explore how fused my identities as an environmentalist and as a now adult woman and feminist are. Ecofeminism is a philosophical theory combining feminist and ecological concerns – but what can it offer environmental conservation? How can it be used in practice?

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Firstly, ecofeminism can enhance the success of management arrangements, decision-making procedures and other policy implementations with environmental conservation as their goal. Two concepts at the heart of ecofeminism are:

1 2

That social and environmental issues are interconnected, and

That the injustices experienced worldwide by women and the environment both originate at least in part from the patriarchal nature of current societies.

– On Dit –

Adoption of ecofeminist thinking creates a moral imperative to address discriminatory measures within the current socio-economic paradigm in order for human diversity – in terms of gender, environmental ethics and preferred lifestyle – to be better expressed, and environmental degradation better mitigated. Critically, this transformation must involve the shifting of dominant assumptions and attitudes before any productive institutional or policy applications can take place.

Including women and considering their needs in the development of environmental management plans – as encouraged by ecofeminism – can help address specific issues which may arise in the carrying out of those plans. A case study from the United Kingdom provides an insightful example of how this might work: it uncovered different ways in which men and women experience waste.

Researchers found that women are more likely to be committed to recycling, and more likely to be concerned about the health risks associated with waste incineration.

So, it appears that instigating policies which ease the burden of gender roles imposed by contemporary societies (which might prevent women from, for instance, being more involved in civic duties) would enable them to significantly and positively contribute to waste management.

As waste management is a male-dominated profession, it was concluded that further gender equality should be achieved in the sector, which may occur through public participation procedures, consultations and internal training policies involving women. Outside of the UK, such equality-promoting environmental policies would benefit from recognising that in some regions, women’s work is closely related to environmental management. An example of this is the work of women farmers in Vietnam. Ecofeminism stresses that this wisdom should be taken advantage of in ways that benefit local communities and the environment.

Another important aspect of ecofeminism is its potential to empower and build solidarity between the environment and marginalised groups, so that they may find the strength to go forth and lobby for change. Empowerment and humanity’s connection to nature is emphasised in cultural ecofeminism – a school of thought that embraces the association of women with the environment. Cultural ecofeminism developed as an alternative to radical ecofeminism, which sees the female-nature relationship as a social construct, fabricated to degrade women. Cultural ecofeminism may aid environmental conservation by promoting the connection between the human and non-human in a way that is spiritually or conceptually liberating. It follows that the more humans feel a strong emotional attachment to nature, the more they are willing to advocate for its long-term preservation. One article involving cultural ecofeminist undertones asserts that feminism can be used to merge ecology with the aesthetic. This theory asserts that the potential for an aesthetic experience is a crucial component of the ecofeminist praxis proposed within the article, as such experiences foster respect for biodiversity and ecological stability. The fusion of ecology and the aesthetic is argued to have the potential to produce a critical political practice which can translate into a politically feasible activism for the 21st century. This is an inspiring idea, the power of which can readily be observed in day-to-day life: people treasure travelling to stunning landscapes and sharing stories of travel, and feel a need to share the same places with loved ones in the future. The idea of an "experience whose loss we cannot endure" is a powerful one many ordinary people can comprehend.

For further reading I’d recommend Womankind magazine’s "Gyrfalcon" edition as an introduction to ecofeminism, as well as the articles referred to in this piece.

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– On Dit –

Misplaced Fear Words by Darcy Mounkley

Dr. Melfi’s Husband: Well, you’re gonna have to have someone escort you to your car at night.

Dr. Melfi: What’s that supposed to mean?

MH: That’s what the rape counsellor woman told me. Deserted parking garages are where a huge percentage of these attacks happen.

M: You think this is my fault. You blame me for what happened, don’t you?

MH: How many times did I tell you to call the security guard when you left work late?

M: It wasn’t late.

The above dialogue is an excerpt from the script for The Sopranos episode Employee of the Month, which depicts the truly confronting rape of Dr. Melfi and its aftermath. Recently the issue of women’s safety, and sense of safety, in public spaces has come to the forefront in the media following the

from the perpetrator of the abuse, and absolved of any responsibility, by putting the onus of securing women’s safety in public spaces back onto the women. On the other hand, the fear of existing in a public space as a woman often causes women to adopt false assumptions about the safety of places

highly publicised incident of rape and murder of a young comedian, Eurydice Dixon, in the city streets of Melbourne. What was focused on in the media accounts of Eurydice’s murder was not entirely on the problem of gendered violence, but, in fact, equally on Eurydice’s use of public space. The implication in this criticism, whether intended or not, was that Dixon was in some way responsible for her fate.

that are normally deemed secure for women, such as the home.

Gill Valentine, in her 1989 essay on "The Geography of Women’s Fear", recognised this trend in reporting, and reactions to, gendered violence in public spaces. This public blame of victims who were assaulted in public spaces, she says, “…encourages all women to transfer their threat appraisal from men to certain public spaces where they might encounter attackers.” Men are at once distanced 36

These issues of gendered violence are constantly brought up in The Sopranos, a show that repeatedly depicts its female characters idealising the Home as a concept of security and comfort, while contrasting this imagery with the realities of their home life as violent, manipulative, abusive and lonely.

When Tracee, a dancer at a strip club discovers she’s pregnant, she dreams of an idealistic future with a husband who loves her. That husband, in reality, becomes gangster Ralphie, an abusive and controlling man who ultimately beats her to death in a rage at finding out about her pregnancy.

The rape of Dr. Melfi, and the reaction of her husband entirely reflects Valentine’s theories of instilled geographical fear as a way to shift blame.

– On Dit –

You must all have heard these comments before; “what was she doing out so late?”, “I would never go out alone like that”, “what was she thinking, being in a place like that?” Outrage amongst the women of Australia in the Eurydice Dixon case was generated by the thoughtless comments of a senior police officer, Supt David Clayton, who said that people needed to “take responsibility for your safety”.

Women are constantly warned and trained to navigating streets safely; carrying keys between their fingers in one hand and their phone clutched in the other, actively avoiding streets they perceive as "unsafe", or spending money they don’t have on Uber trips to places close enough to walk to.

Cis-het men simply don’t experience public space in the same way; they outnumber women, and the aggressive behaviour they exhibit towards women, especially at night, makes women uncomfortable to exist in many public spaces. As Valentine writes, women’s dependence on some men to protect us from all “…results in a restricted use of public space by women, especially at night, allowing men to

appropriate it and hence making women feel unsafe to go out, reinforcing their comparative confinement in the home.”

The realities of gendered violence need to be confronted.

How can a space be deemed a public space if it is only comfortably accessible by half the population?

Women should be able to assume the same level of safety that men do as they move through public spaces. Our society encourages and fosters the idea that we women are safe only by the grace of other men, and that the public is a male space that women need to navigate with care, and never alone if they can help it. To all men who believe it’s ok that women feel unsafe to walk home at night, or enter a bar alone: this isn’t Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and you aren’t Willy Wonka, taking me on a tour through your treacherous, fucked up playground where if I take one wrong step I’ll turn into a blueberry. The answer is to fight the norms of a society that propagates male dominance and gendered violence, not restrict women even more.

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– On Dit –

IT'S HARD OUT HERE FOR A BITCH Words by Jennifer Nguyen Artwork by Jennafer Milne

The right to “free speech” should allow citizens to converse constructively, sharing ideas to build society.

However, there has been nothing of the sort in recent times; where just about every unhinged, male in the media has loudly whinged about their dwindling powers in their nation-wide newspaper column or radio show. Free speech now means that no longer is it shameful to publicly align oneself to neo-Nazi politics. Heck, in Parliament, Senator Fraser Anning might even echo your sentiments! Nor is it considered worrying that men can publicly threaten women, without real retribution.

In Australia, the precarious obsession with “freedom of speech” has peaked at a point of no return.

Recently, several journalists and commentators

pretence of free speech. Both Parliament and the

sensationally denounced their employer, SkyNews, for its broadcast of an interview with Blair Cottrell. A male colleague told me that free speech is an equal two-way process; the freedom of the broadcaster to do the interview and the freedom of journalists to disagree with the interview*.

media are powerful institutions that wield great influence.

After a bit of public condemnation, SkyNews political editor, David Speers, eventually admitted that it was probably wrong to give an open racist and convicted criminal neo-Nazi a platform to speak.

The broadcaster removed the interview from their channels, but links of the video still remain via the Bolt Supporter’s Facebook group.

In what can only be described as an egregious abuse of power, the national dialogue is to pass off offensive content and harmful views under the 38

The media should not privilege ill-informed fraudulence. And the legal system should not let down the people it protects. But these structures continue to each and every day. In the post-truth world, the implications of this are dangerous and directly affect the lives of female professionals.

After it was denounced by SkyNews anchor Laura Jayes, she received a direct tweet from Cottrell who threatened to rape her.

Online rape threats and harassment are common occurrences, both the tip of an iceberg that’s deeply rooted in something much more sinister. It’s the same school of thought that allows men to enforce

– On Dit – their identity to strengthen their position and wield power over women. We’ve seen it manifest on the Internet, a place for the fraternal ego and masculine aggression to thrive, and put in place by the patriarchy, a power structure that infringes on the safety and freedom of everyday women.

Tweets, like the one sent by Cottrell to Laura Jayes, don’t receive much retribution. There isn’t much towards the men who publicly and violently threaten a woman. They continue on with their lives as per usual. And, if lucky, someone on Twitter will call them a dickhead and Buzzfeed will make it into a meme. But for the women? They are often voiceless, and the aftermath is not worthy of a clickbait listicle.

Many of today’s female journalists and media personalities are on the receiving end of online threats and violence on a daily basis. Online threats and harassment ultimately forces us, women, to change our behaviour. I’m surely not the first person to have had to alter their usage of social media in an attempt to mitigate the occurrence and effects of online harassment. You start to become more selective of what you post online, more careful about who gets to access your profile, and more vigilant about your daily whereabouts.

I should probably consider myself lucky that I haven’t been subject to much, but for a few tipping points: When I edited On Dit, I wrote a review of Adele’s concert. It was well received, except for this one particular person online, who made sure to use his voice to make that clear. He commented on the thread calling me a “bitch” then proceeded to send me private messages in my “other” inbox threatening to kill me for ignoring his comment.

Then comments about my race and gender were summoned when I ignored him.

I recall my time on Student Radio where men would regularly ring up the program and make extremely inappropriate sexual comments towards our female student hosts. We called campus security. Nothing was made of it.

and reschedule our female presenters on earlier time slots. Even in a position of power, I too was powerless against the tirade of the patriarchal regime. And this was just “media” at university level.

I found that the only way men would back off is when my male friends would intervene and say something.

Men only listen to other men. It is why a “bro” will quickly rush to the defence of Tom Tilley when you criticise his interview with Sticky Fingers, and then call you a dumb bitch. It is why male students will protest an anti-rape rally in college colours to delegitimise the traumatic experiences of female victims. It is why it’s a defence strategy that women have used on nights out to fend off unwanted advances from men. It is simply terrifying that a made-up male character has more authority over a woman’s wellbeing than her own words.

“Patriarchy also defines the identity of men. It is as much the enforced script of proper masculinity — how to be a real man — as it is that of proper femininity." These are the words of urban planner and geographer, Ananya Roy, who attempts to explain how the patriarchy gives males a lifetime pass to say and do as they please because power structures enable them to.

Free speech is only truly afforded to those who already hold powerful positions in our society.

The patriarchy is a toxic cesspit. When combined with the powers of the media and Parliament, it can be physically and emotionally taxing on women.

While we can vote out MPs who underperform, people need to constantly change their behaviour for the media. It is the misuse of power, in such a significant position, that should be of concern to the public, especially when that damage is irreversible.

There’s only so many people you can block online. * hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha – author’s rational response.

I would carry out the rest of my term writing politically sensitive content under pseudonym or “On Dit editors”. For Student Radio, we had to try 39

– On Dit –

Can I Buy You a Drink?

Words by Gabby D'Aloia

Can I buy you a drink?

He sits next to you in the sticky booth.

His words slur.

His eyes droop.

Beads of sweat stick to his forehead.

No, thank you.

You smile.

Try to be nice.

Oh, c’mon.

Just one drink?

Delete the question mark. He wasn’t asking.

He hasn’t told you his name.

He doesn’t care to know yours.

Silence.

You wait for him to leave.

You focus on the blaring music.

You here on your own?

Your eyes stare at your fumbling hands in your lap.

You look around for your friends.

They went to the bathroom.

I’m with my friends.

You should’ve gone with them.

But maybe he’ll get the hint.

Ah, I see.

You think about how you can get out of the booth.

But he’s trapped you to the wall.

You would have to climb over him.

Or he could move.

But you don’t see that happening.

So, how about that drink?

I said no.

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– On Dit –

What else are you going to do while you’re waiting for them?

He doesn’t hear you.

He doesn’t want to.

I’m not thirsty.

You clear your throat.

You shuffle uncomfortably on your bum.

I’ll make you thirsty.

You try not to roll your eyes.

Swallow the bile forming in your mouth.

I’m not interested.

You’re just playing hard to get, sweetie.

Sweetie.

Your stomach churns.

You keep your eyes down.

He keeps his on you.

I have a boyfriend.

It’s a lie.

But maybe it’ll work.

Well, forget about him for the night.

I said, no.

You take a breath.

Stay calm.

Where is your boyfriend?

He shouldn’t let a pretty girl like you out on your own.

Silence.

Gulp.

Ah, you were lying.

So, no boyfriend.

Silence.

You shuffle further away from him.

But you sink into the wall.

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– On Dit –

A girlfriend, then?

Yes. I have a girlfriend.

His sly grin grows.

Your eyes scan the room.

Anywhere but on him.

Hmm, I like that.

Maybe I can watch.

Just leave me alone!

You snap.

No one is watching you.

Why is no one watching?

Maybe I can join in, then.

I said, leave me alone!

You stand your ground.

But he’s standing his, too.

C’mon, don’t be like that.

His hand creeps onto your arm.

Like a caterpillar.

The hairs rise.

Please.

Just move so I can get out.

You finally look at him.

Desperation in your eyes.

Help. Please.

Please.

You like to beg, huh?

Silence.

How about you come back to mine and beg a lil’ more?

The walls close in on you.

Something presses down on your chest.

Squeezing your heart.

Tightening around your throat.

I said NO! The room stops.

Silence.

Everyone stares at you.

Not at him.

You’re the weird one.

He smiles charmingly.

They return to their drinks and conversations.

Fuck, woman! Calm down.

He whispers harshly.

His breath over your face.

You try not to flinch.

Too scared to move.

Calm down. He’s right.

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– On Dit –

You take a breath.

In through the nose.

You think about what you did wrong.

Your dress is too short.

Top cut too low.

Revealing too much of yourself.

Your innocence.

Too much makeup on your face.

Release through the mouth.

Were you staring at him earlier?

Did you mislead him?

How about that drink?

No. You were sitting in a booth.

On your own.

Minding your own business.

You will have a drink with me.

He leans in closer.

Breath in your ear.

It smells of beer and cigarettes.

Hypnotising.

Your heart punches your chest.

Just play along.

Maybe then he’ll leave you alone.

Okay.

A whisper.

A shivering whisper.

What could you have done differently?

It’s what everyone will think.

Drink up, Darling.

Gulp.

He slides the drink toward you.

What did you do wrong?

They will ask.

Nothing.

What did he do wrong?

They won’t ask.

Everything.

You drink.

That’s it. Drink up.

Atta Girl.

Gulp.

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– On Dit – Words by Ashleigh Trenwith

THE HANMAID’S TERROR The Handmaid’s Tale is a 2017 series, based on the 1985 novel of the same name. It is set in a dystopian future where fertility has dropped and women who are still fertile, called “Handmaids”, are captured and forced to give up their previous lives and identities, used as methods to have children for designated “masters” and their wives.

While the series has been acclaimed for raising awareness about gender issues, it has also been accused of glorifying the terrorisation of women for the sake of entertaining an audience. To analyse this, I’ll be focusing on the first episode of the series: “Offred”.

One scene that stuck out to me is when one of the Handmaids, Janine, is forced to tell the story of when she was gang raped to the group.

Aunt Lydia, one of the leaders of the Handmaid, sets this as a punishment for answering back to her. She tells Janine that the rape was her fault for “leading them on” and forces the other Handmaids to shame her, chanting things like “it was your fault.”

This is a scene that I found to be an excellent representation of rape culture in today’s society.

Even though rape culture and feminism has come a long way compared to say, 50 years ago, there are still instances where a woman will be raped and 44

she’s asked things like “what were you wearing?” and “did you lead him on?”. One Twitter user even writes that a picture of her in a bikini was used as “evidence” by her abuser’s lawyer in a courtroom.

Victim blaming is still very much a problem when it comes to rape and sexual assault. The Handmaid’s scene highlights the ridiculousness and aggressiveness of people shaming victims.

Although greatly dramatised, it made the audience feel sympathy for her.

Furthermore, although only briefly mentioned, abortion was also brought up in this episode. A man was executed, his body displayed because he ran an abortion clinic, and it was referred to as “killing babies.” I think this was a good analogy of the debate that has recently been going on about abortion and whether or not it should remain legalised, specifically in the United States. Again, the anti-abortion advocates were portrayed as really harsh and made the viewer feel sympathy towards the executed man and the Handmaids. It’s obvious what side the writers want the viewers to take.

However, despite these analogies to our present day society and raise awareness about real gender issues, there were some scenes that I found worrying.

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In order for the handmaids to conceive children for their “masters” and their infertile wives, the Handmaids are constantly subjected to ritualised rapes where the masters’ wife sits and forcefully holds the handmaid’s arms back so that they can’t escape or fight back while the master rapes the handmaid. There was one scene specifically in this episode where we saw main handmaid, Offred, being subjected to one of these “ritual rapes”.

While Offred’s lack of emotion during this rape could be seen to show her numbness and sense of

There was also another scene that took place during a flashback with Offred and another Handmaid, Moira, before they were captured.

The scene showed the two in college and Offred said that she was doing an argument on campus sexual assault to which Moira jokingly responded with “for or against?”. Moira is portrayed to be quite sexually promiscuous in this scene. Showing women joking about sexual assault like this can definitely be seen to glorify sexual assault: many a time when a woman is raped and doesn’t fight

hopelessness to the situation, a feeling that is very common in abuse victims, there is the important factor of the rape scene being quite graphic.

back, one of the most common accusations is that she must’ve “secretly wanted it.” A scene like this with women joking about sexual assault could very well feed into this accusation and downplay the seriousness of how traumatic sexual assault actually is. Also, the fact that Moira, the girl who makes the joke is implied to be quite sexually promiscuous, can feed into the stigma that if a woman is sexually promiscuous, she is “asking for it” when it comes to being sexually assaulted.

While some may see the graphic rape scene as a way to raise awareness towards rape, this could also be incredibly triggering to viewers who have actually experienced rape and do more harm than good.

Television shows are meant to be predominantly for entertainment purposes. Showing a graphic rape scene could possibly send the message to some people that graphic rape can be seen as something to be used to entertain audiences with and to satisfy the voyeuristic tendencies of some people who may be watching.

Overall, The Handmaid’s Tale does raise awareness to a lot of issues and stigmas facing gender issues such as rape culture and abortion, however, there are definitely some scenes in the show that do, to an extent, glorify sexual assault and rape for the sake of entertaining an audience.

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– On Dit –

THE GOOD MEN Words by Gemma Thorne Content Warning: Rape, sexual assault

When I was raped I was a good rape victim Or so I’m told.

For when his hands reached in and took parts of me he also took my memory.

What I have left is a sentence.

7 words.

And those 7 words weren’t true.

They were lies I was telling him and myself to get through, Said as I put on jeans I had trusted I could safely take off.

Now I’m on a kitchen floor and I’m calling my mother and I couldn’t tell you the words I told her.

And I don’t know why the ink of this story is smudging so many dark holes because there wasn’t a drop of alcohol within it.

I would have had an easier role to play if there was.

I don’t know how the other men in the house found out what he did to me Or if they just found me screaming.

Or when I called my best friend and how long it took for him to drive to the square patch of tile I lay on.

A patch of tile I can still feel.

As a safe man lay next to me I remember tears that weren’t my own Falling onto broken skin.

Here was a strong man breaking from the horror of what another man did A strong hairy hand held mine as I sat in a police station A different hairy bare leg next to mine as I fell in and out of detectives’ eyes 46

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As I shook and shaked at the horror that they wanted my underwear Wanted to prod me with utensils As if I was an alien with secrets they could discover As if the most traumatic part of rape wasn’t unwanted violation It was a man who looked at me as I screamed IHAVEHADENOUGHGRIEFTHISISNOTMYGRIEFIHAVEHADENOUGH PAINICANTHANDLEMOREPAIN And it was women who didn’t understand And I’m sorry it’s my fault, for I chose a really charismatic rapist man.

A mother who questions if it was safe to go to the police A grandmother who asked ‘Do you now know how to not get yourself into those situations.’

It was women who stopped answering my calls and texts They whispered when I flinched at the mention of his name It was women who sewed blankets of secrets and stories to stuff under the doors so no light could seep through And stuff in my mouth so it would stay shut An embroidery so beautiful you couldn’t see the ugly fabric it was sown on.

It was a man who looked at me and said I will never forgive him It was a woman who explained she too had been raped and that was why it was okay to keep being friends with him and not me And not all men But yes all women So why did the women forgive him and not me And why did those 7 words There will be repercussions for your actions Never come true?

When I was such a good rape victim That did everything I was told to do.

So women let’s knit together our stories and stop beating ourselves up in the form of other women because men already fucking are.

Let’s stop shaming mirror images of ourselves because we are so guilty about what he did to us.

Men, good men, never looked to blame me because they could never associate rape with guilt Women did because that’s all our society tells us to do I was not allowed to be a victim Because then we all were.

And maybe the reality of it being out of our control is scarier than thinking next time there is something I will change. I can do.

Good men know there isn’t Good men know there are some things they wouldn’t do All women know a man that has All women normalise this behaviour to what is obscure to a good man 47

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Women’s Rights and Islam: Truly Incompatible?

Words by Eman Elhelw

1. Muslim women are _______ to wear veils such as the hijab/burka a. forced b. not allowed c. free to choose 2. The reason why Muslim women weren’t allowed to drive in Saudi was: a. It is prohibited in the Quran b. For economic reasons c. Regressive cultural interpretations of religious texts 3. Forced marriages: a. Are an Islamic practice b. Are encouraged in the Quran c. Are a cultural practice 4. In Islam: a. Female Genital Mutilation is compulsory b. Female Genital Mutilation is an Islamically supported practice c. Female Genital Mutilation is explicitly prohibited

If you answered: MOSTLY A’s

MOSTLY B’s

MOSTLY C’s

You most likely subscribe to the ‘Islam is all that is wrong with the world’ philosophies of Pauline Hanson and Cory Bernardi.

You’re not to be blamed for your perception of Islam; negative discourse surrounding the religion is given way too much air time on TV, radio, and in our papers. Just remember to diversify your sources in the future!

You’re a little clueless when it comes to Islam, but you don’t let your ignorance translate into bigotry and fear! Good on you but you could probably do with brushing up on Islamic teachings!

Mirror mirror, on the wall, who is the least bigoted of them all? Congratulations, you have a sound understanding of basic Islamic principles and you understand the nuanced ways in which culture can influence how the religion is practiced! Keep doing you, boo.

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Fact Check: Women in Islam Edition At its core, Islam is grounded in the notion of human liberation from the worldly life. When the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad it was seen as a progressive tool. It combatted classism, racism, and sexism within 7th century Arabia. However, since the golden era of Islam, Muslims have often struggled to actualise the progressive concepts contained within it into society. A large cause of this is the influence of regressive cultural practices in the way that Islam is practiced.

Today, most hold the view that Islam is a repressive religion that aims to produce subservient women. We hear horror stories of honour killings and fights to liberate women from the "oppression" of the hijab. Often these stories are held up as the only interactions between Islam and Women’s Rights. As an AustralianEgyptian-Muslim woman, I disagree: Women’s Rights and Islam are not mutually exclusive concepts.

1.

Misconception #1: Muslim women are forced to wear veils such as the hijab/burka

In the Quran, modesty is encouraged for both men and women. For women, this modesty is defined by some as: – modest and conservative dressing with no haircovering, – the hair-covering veil (the hijab), – or a face covering veil (the niqab or burka) The hijab and burka are often perceived as tools of oppression that are forced on women by the patriarchs in their lives. However, most women wear it with conviction and as a form of worship.

While there are countries in the Middle East that force women by law to wear the hijab, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, there are ample examples of Muslim practicing countries in which it is a matter of personal choice.

Omar Suleiman, a religious leader from the United States says, "as an imam, more cases come to me of parents who are trying to convince their daughters that it is not safe to wear hijabs than parents who force hijabs on their daughters." Similarly, when I went through my own phase of wanting to wear the hijab, the first in my first generation migrant family to do so, my parents actually discouraged me for the same reasons.

2.

Misconception #2: Islam prevents Muslim women from driving

Ah, another niche problem that is dumped on all Muslim shoulders. While the only two countries in the world where women are prohibited from driving, Afghanistan and (until recently) Saudi Arabia, are Muslim nations – this is in no way a Muslim problem.

Of the 50 Muslim majority countries, now only one country has restrictions on women’s right to drive.

This is another prime example of a fringe Islamic practice that is taken to represent the entire religion.

Islam is not a religion that encourages the idea of the subordination of women, with strong examples of empowered women such as the Prophet’s wife Khadija who was a self-employed business woman in 7th Century Arabia. There is nothing within pure Islamic teachings about women being prohibited from driving and these laws are largely still in place due to the cultural influences.

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3.

Misconception #3: Islam supports forced marriages

Another cultural practice pinned on Muslims – yes, you might be catching onto a trend here.

In Islam a forced marriage, in which neither the groom nor bride consent but are forced to marry by third parties, is deemed a huge sin. The prevalence of forced marriages exists largely within communities in which it is practiced by Muslims and nonMuslims alike.

4.

Misconception #4: Female Genital Mutilation is an Islamically supported practice

This is a horrible practice that has existed within and adjacent to Muslim countries. UNICEF found in 2016 that 27 African countries, and several Middle Eastern countries, practiced Female Genital Mutilation. In these countries it is practiced by Muslims as well as Christian and Jewish minorities.

Until recently this pre-Islamic cultural practice has largely been attributed to Islam due to the lack of authoritative ruling on its prohibition. In 2007, the highest religious authority in the Islamic World, the Grand Mufti of Al-Azhar Mosque Ali Gomaa came out and denounced the practice, saying it is most definitely prohibited in Islam with a majority of Muslim countries following suite and criminalising the practice.

Concluding thoughts The relationship between women’s rights and Islam is one complicated by cultural influences, political instability, and religious factions. My experiences as a first generation Muslim woman in Australia are not the same as my own female cousin’s experiences in Egypt. To understand women’s rights in Islam in isolation, to ignore cultural and social factors, is unfair to both women and the religion. It is important to understand the nuances that exist within our misconceptions, and correct them, or else our society risks being guilty of the oppression we claim to fight.

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Content Warning: Abortion, sexual assault, rape.

Safe Access to Abortion – an Issue of Human Rights?

Words by Elana Bartholomeusz

Ni Una Menos, Women’s Rights, and the Right to Abortion in Argentina Reading the news online over the past few weeks, there was a particular event in world politics that hit me close to home, despite occurring on the other side of the Pacific. It was yet another stark reminder that women’s rights are still being fought for, day in, day out.

Only a few short months after the landslide success of the Repeal the Eighth pro-choice campaign and referendum to allow abortion in Ireland in May, the prospect of dramatically modernising Latin American abortion laws recently emerged in Argentina’s national congress and on the global stage. Thousands of Argentinean women and men rallied under the feminist rights movement of Ni Una Menos this August, protesting with signs, banners, and solidarity. However in the state’s parliament, the pro-choice measures did not succeed.

what happened? On the 8

of August, Argentina’s senate debated a proposed bill legalising abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, ultimately voting it down 31 to 38 after fifteen hours of debate. This bill was the seventh of its kind put forward by the National Campaign for the Right to Legal, Safe and Free Abortion (NCRLSFA). It was the first to be taken up by Congress for parliamentary discussion, after thirteen years of activism by the campaign whereby six suggested bills had been previously presented and ignored. On March 2nd , President Mauricio Macri opened Congress with a declaration of "neutrality."

Despite voicing his anti-abortion stance, he vowed th

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not to veto a legalisation result, encouraging lawmakers to vote with their conscience and not along strict party lines. Prior to the senate’s rejection, Argentina’s lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, had narrowly approved the proposed bill on June 14th . In this lead-up to the senate vote and on voting day itself, hundreds of thousands of people, mostly women, rallied and stood vigil for hours outside showing support for legalising abortion with cries of Ni Una Menos.

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about Ni Una Menos A grassroots feminist activists’ movement formed in Argentina, Ni Una Menos has initiated numerous women’s demonstrations across Latin America to become a transnational alliance throughout the region. The collective stands up for women’s rights issues including high rates of femicide, genderbased violence, and abortion rights. Ni Una Menos translates to "not one [woman] less" – that is, not one more woman should die as a result of genderbased discrimination and violence.

Ni Una Menos held that criminalising abortion should be considered on the same level as broader violence against women in society, such as rape, abduction, sexual, and psychological abuse.

The activists together under this banner rose to prominence in 2015 after leading demonstrations against femicide in the wake of the brutal murder of Chiara Paez, standing with thousands in solidarity against the fact that at the time, one woman was being killed in Argentina every 30 hours.

The tragic victim, fourteen-year-old Chiara Paez, was a few weeks pregnant when she went missing. After days of searching, her body was discovered buried in the garden of her sixteen-year-old boyfriend.

Helped by his own mother, he brutally beat and murdered Paez, whom he forced to take medication to cause an abortion.

the status of abortion in Argentina Abortion is almost entirely illegal in Argentina; their criminal code classifies termination as a crime against life punishable by imprisonment. Article 86 of the code lists two situations where abortion is not punishable when practiced by a physician with the woman’s consent: firstly, where it endangers the woman’s life or health, or if the pregnancy was a result of rape. Argentina’s Supreme Court only affirmed this final provision allowing abortion to extend to all cases of rape in 2012. Previously, some courts understood it as a legal exception only available to victims of rape who were intellectually disabled. Furthermore, the legal allowance for abortion where a woman’s life is threatened is rarely acted upon; doctors often refuse to perform an abortion due to the legal grey zone and risk of imprisonment. One case at the core of the Ni Una Menos campaigns was Ana María Acevedo’s death in 2007. Acevedo, a mother of three, had just been diagnosed with cancer of the jaw when doctors found she was two weeks pregnant, and all chemotherapy was cancelled until her pregnancy was deemed viable. After several weeks, her daughter was delivered by caesarean only to pass away hours after, with Acevedo herself also passing away due to cancer two weeks later, aged only twenty.

Women protesting with Ni Una Menos generally wear the green pañuelo, or bandana, which originated in 2005 as a symbol of the aforementioned NCRLSFA. It is now understood as a symbol of peaceful resistance to gender-based violence. The slogan of the NCRLSFA, notably the drafter of the bill, sums up the general overall objectives of the movement: giving women sex education to decide, contraceptives not to abort, legal abortion to not die.

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Abortion is banned in most of Latin America, with only Cuba, Guyana, Uruguay, and parts of Mexico fully legalising the procedure.

The National Ministry of Health has estimated that 500,000 illegal abortions are carried out annually in Argentina, as well as 45,000-60,000 hospitalisations as a result of clandestine abortions every year.

The report also holds Latin America and the Caribbean to have the highest annual rate of abortion of any world region (44 per 1,000 women of reproductive age), and the highest unintended pregnancy rate of 96 per 1,000 women of reproductive age.

In 2016 and 2015, at least 98 women in Argentina died due to botched abortions.

Approximately 55% of Argentineans support legalising abortion, according to a 2018 nationwide survey conducted by the National University of General San Martín.

A Guttmacher Institute study shows slightly higher, yet overall similar incidence of abortions in restrictive countries (where abortion is banned, or allowed only to save the woman’s life) at 37 per 1,000 women, compared with countries with no such restrictions (the abortion rate is 34 per 1,000 women). This suggests that legal restrictions don’t eliminate the act of abortion, but only ensure that abortions are carried out in unsafe, unchecked circumstances.

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connection between Ni Una Menos, access to abortion, and human rights Sandra Hoyos, an NCRLSFA organiser, points out the combination of intersecting demands, including abortion rights, in the overall women’s struggle for rights in the country. The right to accessible abortion is one of many connected facets of the cycle of gendered violence, and femicide, the killing of women.

overall the topic of abortion brings about

This is supported by the findings of UN Human Rights Committee, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, who all consider the right to accessible abortion a human right. When states impose very restrictive access to abortion it leads to violations of various fundamental human rights, particularly as outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Several of these include the right to be free from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (Art 7), the right to privacy (Art 17), the right to liberty or personal autonomy (Art 9), the right to freedom of conscience, thought

moral questions, at times with divisive answers. It is not something to be taken lightly, and for many women who choose to terminate a pregnancy, it is not a thoughtless decision. And although I write from a strongly pro-choice position, I acknowledge that there are many who do not share this view.

This analysis is less focused on debating the moral questions, however tempting or compelling that may be. The case in Argentina more concerns the pressing issue of states imposing extreme restrictions on women’s access to abortion, which, amongst many things, both constitutes and leads to

and religion (Art 18), and importantly, the right to non-discrimination and equality (Art 3). Looking at Argentina’s current restrictive legal practice on women’s human rights and abortion, it could certainly be said that these rights are being infringed upon.

violations of multiple human rights at international law. This has been the rallying cry of the pro-choice protesters. Whether morally in support or against widespread access to abortion, it is hard to ignore that more than 3,000 women have died in Argentina over the past 25 years as a result of botched, covert, criminalised abortions, where half a million of these procedures are estimated to occur each year. Here it appears to be a choice not between pro- or antitermination, but between safe and unsafe abortion.

Further, Argentina signed the ICCPR in 1968 and ratified it 1986, and under International Customary Law, namely Articles 26 and 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, states are legally required to comply with all treaties signed.

They are also prohibited from using provisions of domestic law to excuse treaty obligations. With this in mind, keeping with international law could provide grounds to amend Argentinean abortion law towards empowering women with equal human rights.

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Book Review:

EGGSHELL SKULL – BRI LEE Allen & Unwin Syndey, 2018 Words by Brittany Pfeiffer

Content Warning: This review discusses sexual assault.

A powerful and compelling memoir about standing up to the justice system, Bri Lee’s Eggshell Skull could not have been published at a more relevant time. In the age of #MeToo and the recent death of Eurdyice Dixon, this memoir not only shines light on the complexity of the Australian justice system that has failed women for too long, but the overall sexism and assault women still experience in Australia daily.

"Eggshell Skull" refers to the legal principal where the defendant must "take their victim as they find them". If a single punch kills someone because they have a thin skull, the victim’s weakness cannot diminish the seriousness of the act.

The memoir follows the journey of Lee’s experiences through the legal system as a Judge’s Associate and then later as a complainant.

Travelling through metropolitan and rural Queensland, many of the cases Lee accompanies her Judge with concern charges of sexual assault.

In many of these cases, the victim is underage.

It is disheartening to learn that statistically juries prefer "big-eyed child victims", and thus women who no longer fit into this stereotype have a slim chance of their defendant being convicted with a guilty verdict. In one circumstance Lee shares a case where the defence lawyer accused the victim of initiating sexual intercourse as she was wearing a short skirt at the time of her rape. Sadly, her defendant received a verdict of not guilty.

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As someone who has experienced sexual assault first-hand – something I share with many of the women in my life for that matter, there are many factors in this memoir with which we can sadly identify. Lee exposes why many women choose to withdraw their complaints, or rather to never speak of their assault. She reveals that only 15 per cent of women report sexual assault by a male perpetrator to the police. This memoir angers me at the injustice faced by women daily, however Lee captures and prompts why we as women need to stick together and empower one another.

Throughout the memoir, Lee shares her own experience of sexual assault and the repercussions that came after, including facing bulimia, anxiety and self-harm. The extremities of the cases Lee listens to on a daily basis motivates her to finally make a statement to the police, some fifteen years later after her traumatic experience; hence the title, "Eggshell Skull". This is the beginning of the journey Lee takes the reader on, as she faces some of the most difficult moments of her life. From making a call to her attacker in a police office, to facing him in court, and to reliving the details of the assault over and over. Lee is brutally honest, sassy and quirky, and honestly she is the symbol

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of "girl power". There were moments reading this memoir where I felt extremely uncomfortable about the Australian legal system or just men in general for that matter, however there were equally as many moments where I felt enlightened

by Lee’s strength of persistence, her humour, or moments when she had me in tears by purely being so honest in her sufferings.

I won’t spoil the ending for you, but I urge you to visit your local bookstore and purchase this compelling read. Eggshell Skull is highly addictive – you will not be able to put it down.

Lee has a knack for detailing the legal system to the reader in her own quirky sense. While there were moments of frustration reading this book simply by the flaws of the legal system and the unapologetic actions of men, I am so compelled by the power of one woman’s strength to fight her attacker and the system simultaneously.

5/5 stars.

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An ode to the friend zone Words by Sophie Dickinson

I see you as something I hold dear, I’m just some girl you want to hold near.

Maybe one day, my no will turn to a yes, Which because other guys do it, it’s okay, you guess.

You listen, and pretend to care, You imagine me in my underwear.

I invite you to dinner, you think it’s a date, I say no- you say it was bait.

You yell, you shut me out to no avail, But your twisted words cut, and you prevail.

I say yes to keep your friendship, I let you pay for dinner, I let you touch my hip.

I want it to go back to how it was before, But now you’ve told your friends, it can’t anymore.

I breathe in deep and say what I miss, You scowl at my mouth, your words just a hiss.

You walk away and I’m alone, Who was the true victim of the friend zone?

IVES E ARCH H T M O 013) FR E DIT] (2 L L [E .3 1 ISSUE 8

K BY ARTWOR BIO I FA OLIVIA D

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