2 0 2 1 2 I S S U E
HYDE WOMEN'S EDITION
·design·art·photography·fashion·music·news·life·university·
This is a publication of Victoria University Student Union inc.
There is a TRIGGER WARNING for content on page 3 for this edition, please make sure you read it before continuing.
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hyde@vustudentunion.com
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Trigger and Content Warning This issue of the magazine has many heavy topics, and heavy content. It is advised to read with caution as many of the topics may be distressing. We respect every person that reads this issue. If you find any of these pieces distressing, there is always help. There are certain pages in this magazine that readers might find upsetting. We at Hyde magazine would also like to state that many of these views may not reflect the views of the editors, but we respect every contributor, and thank them for their contributions and for expressing themselves in a way that makes them feel safe and comfortable. There are many organisations that are able to help. We want to ensure everyone is taking care of their mental health, especially in a hard time like this pandemic. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/about-us/contact-us Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 For emergencies please contact 000
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY Victoria
University
Student
Union
and
Hyde
Student
Magazine acknowledges the Ancestors, Elders and families of
the
Boonwurrung,
Woiwurrung
(Wurundjeri)
and
Wathaurung (Wadawurrung) on our Melbourne campuses and the Gadigal and Guring-gai people of the Eaora Nation on our Sydney campus. These groups are the custodians of the University land and have been for many centuries. As we share our own knowledge practices within the University, may we pay respect to the deep knowledge embedded within the Aboriginal community and ownership of Country. We acknowledge that the land on which our campuses stand is
the
place
of
age
old
ceremonies
and
celebration,
initiation and renewal. The Kulin and Eora people's living culture had, and has, a unique role in the life of these regions.
Victoria
Reconciliation
University
Australia
to
supports build
the
better
aim
of
relationships
between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres
Strait
Australians. visitors
It
Islander is
people
important
understand
and
for
that
respect
the staff, the
benefit
of
students, significance
recognising the traditional owners of University land.
all and of
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9
33
23
63 23 what's inside
41 9
10
13
14
51 26
Womens' Rooms
27
From Farm Girl to Chancellor.... - Gaye Hamiliton
33
@witchdrew page 47 Instagram Artist
VUSU President Welcome - Hannah Nadin
36
VUSU Women's page 11 Officer Welcome - Devindya Sandumini
@lainey.molnar - Instragram Artist
39
@sasa_elebea pageArtist 54 - Instagram
41
@girlsbuildingempires - Instagram Artist & Podcast
43
@womensmagick - Instagram Artist
49
The Bleed Read - Mandi Tembo
An alert world is a challenged world -Naomi Dempsey Celebrating Survivorship - Adam Shoemaker
page 39
16
International Women's Day (IWD)
17
Creating Spaces and Making Waves page 43 - Professor Corinne Reid
21
Let Haters Hate You - Devindya Sandumini
23
Women in Law: Holly's Story - Holly Walker
17
27
68
58
84
81
51
Founder Bio: The Bleed Read - Mandi Tembo
67
A Letter To Me - Lamees Elsadig Abdulla
54
What Now - Michelle Burnie
68
Untitled - Mia Whiteside
55
The Global Pandemic & Women - Naomi Dempsey
71
Story of the Cover: Rosie the Riverter
74
History of Women in Higher Education
57
Top 30 Songs 76
3 Unknown Female Activists
58
Pain - Hannah Nadin
77
Empowerment Leading into Social Action - Nelly Samandari
What If - Anonymous
85
Moxie: Movie Review - Kate Benesovsky
Blast From The Past - Kritika Chawla
87
Be A Better Human Campaign
89
Activities
61
64
66
This is Justice - Sarah D
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A message from our Associate Provost Students Welcome to the 2021 Women’s Edition of the Hyde Magazine, where our VUSU team dedicate an entire edition to women's triumphs, challenges, and lives. Our many thanks to Hyde's incredibly hardworking team for their commitment to telling women's stories and shining a spotlight on important issues throughout the year, led by the passionate Editor-in-Chief, Catherine Abourizk. As this edition of Hyde is published, we are celebrating International Women’s Day 2021. This year the theme is #ChooseToChallenge. Whether you are a woman reading this edition, or a champion of women, this year’s theme has much to explore around the many perspectives of celebration, activism and change. You may find more meaning and connection with the theme after spending some time discovering what it means to you and how you will choose to challenge. As part of our response to the global pandemic crisis, 2021 is the year we must take a moment to pause and reflect differently on what International Women’s Day means for us now and into the future for women’s issues. The crisis has undoubtedly presented many new challenges for women; however, it has also presented opportunities that we must take advantage of quickly (Warrell, 2020) to bravely chart a new course for a more inclusive future. Every day, we all have a role to play in creating that new future together by taking action to uplift women in our homes, workplaces and communities. Thank you to VUSU for the work that Hannah Nadin and her team do to help create a more inclusive community at Victoria University. I trust you will enjoy reading this edition of Hyde and finding your #ChooseToChallenge. - Naomi Dempsey Associate Provost Students
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CELEBRATING SURVIVORSHIP Every International Women’s Day is important. However, this year’s is one of the most poignant and heartfelt in a generation. Over the past twelve months, every nation has been impacted by COVID-19--with millions of deaths directly related to the pandemic. But, in Australia, 2020 was also notorious for having been one of the worst years for domestic violence in this country. As Haley Foster (Chief Executive of Women’s Safety NSW) put it in the Guardian in late November 2020, she had been completely shocked by what she and her colleagues had been confronted with during the year: ‘so many threats to kill, so many more serious head injuries; an epidemic of sexual assaults against women. Foster’s revelation can never be explained away or justified. It has to be addressed openly, bravely and forthrightly. Victoria University stands beside all survivors of violence; all women who have endured unacceptable harassment and victimisation during the COVID-19 pandemic. At this University we decry violence against women and their children. We stand united as a place of respect, equality and diversity. We condemn aggression in all of its forms. And—on International Women’s Day 2021—we call for action to prevent any and all such intimidation and violence against women; on every campus, in every study environment; In every research laboratory and in every career. That is our commitment and our pledge. With personal best wishes, - Adam Shoemaker (Vice-Chancellor, VU)
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Welcome, VU students to another amazing edition of Hyde for 2021! The Hyde team has been working incredibly hard since the release of the ‘Welcome’ edition to publish this fantastic Women’s edition in time for International Women’s ‘Week’!
Happy Women’s Day/Week! This year the campaign theme is #choosetochallenge. ‘A challenging world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. We can choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let’s choose to challenge’ - International Women’s Day 2021. Hyde and VUSU are undoubtedly grateful to each one of you who are here to read this. We share this magazine to capture and showcase the beauty and talent of the VU community. We believe art has the potential to inspire many and all content throughout the magazine deserves to be published and seen. We at VUSU are so proud to be able to support and empower women to be the best they can be and we pride ourselves on providing endless opportunities for all students regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or race. The VU Student Union from 2016-2019 has some of the most amazing, talented, strong and skilled female Presidents, leaders and representatives that I have seen from a student union.
My successors aimed to achieve the standing of women and to inspire others to reach their goals and show their talents. I as President aim to achieve the same. I wish to build all students up to their full potential whilst supporting, advocating and representing all students. Our team at VUSU are amazing and diligent in providing the best services we can for VU students and encourage all students to thrive and succeed in whatever they put their mind to. We at VUSU throughout 2021 will continue to support women, empower each other and lend a hand when we can. Whilst there is still so much work to improve the standing of women, we are proud to be able to present the work of women from VU. We also hope that this edition will inspire women and help them show the world their talents because we know that there are still many more skilled women out there. Gender equality is not an argument about division but a call for inclusion. We have come a long way since we fought for Women’s Rights but we still have a long way to go. As always stay safe, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this amazing edition.
- HANNAH NADIN
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VUSU Women's Officer Welcome Welcome to the Women’s edition of Hyde magazine. This edition is dedicated to all female-identifying people, those who came before us, stand with us, and who will follow. I hope you are well in this uncertain time period, and I am looking forward to seeing you all on-campus in near future. This year, International Womens’ Day falls upon the 8th of March. The theme is ‘Choose to Change’, which involves celebrating our triumphs towards gender equality and acknowledging the journey towards equal opportunity. VUSU, Victoria University, Respect & Responsibility, Student Life, and Western Bulldogs Football Club are running an event on the 12th of March, celebrating women's achievements. This year as your Women’s Officer, I am planning many events to assist and support women-identifying VU students. A women’s mental health campaign - the Wonder Woman series, will focus on different issues our amazing women face daily, and how they have overcome their personal obstacles. Mothers Day is another important day for women, and this year it falls on the 9th of May. To celebrate, the VUSU Women's Department is planning an in-person high tea event with guest speakers attending. VUSU is also running several programs for students under the Welfare portfolio. We have begun offering free Zumba classes to VU
every second Tuesday, from the 9th of March. These sessions aim to assist students in de-stressing and rejuvenating during Blocks. I am very excited and honoured to be the 2021 VUSU Women’s Officer, and am available for a chat or queries through my email at womens@vustudentunion.com, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Take care everyone, and stay safe, Devindya Sandumini 2021 VUSU Women's OFficer
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International
Women’s
Day
is
celebrated on the 8th of March every
year
and
highlights
women’s achievements in social,
yaD s'nemoW lanoitanretnI
economic, cultural and political spheres
and
attention
to
also
gender
brings
parity
and
women’s rights.
International
women’s
day
has
occurred for over a century and the
first
gathering
was
held
in
1911. Purple, green and white are the
colours
which
International purple
signifies
dignity.
The
hope
and
represent
Women’s
justice
green
white
Day.
The and
symbolises
purity,
albeit
a
controversial concept.
Every year international Women’s Day
has
different
themes
and
the theme of this year (2021) is “choose
to
challenge”.
Challenge world is an alert word that reminds each od us that we are
responsible
thoughts
in
for
order
our
to
own
change
gender bias and inequality. If we want
to
see
a
changed
world
tomorrow, we have to challenge ourselves today.
Today,
we
can
all
choose
to
seek out and celebrate Women’s achievements women
to
and
achieve
support their
own
goals. Collectively we can help to create a more inclusive world.
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CREATING SPACES AND MAKING WAVES Provost (Interim) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Corinne Reid
It is my privilege to be the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Victoria University. I am surrounded by a vibrant student community and in celebrating International Women’s Day 2021 in the middle of a global pandemic, I would like to acknowledge the many young VU women getting on with business, taking a stand, claiming their space, finding their voice and making a difference in their chosen field and beyond. I would also like to acknowledge my amazing team of women in academic and professional services roles. In a tough year, they have continued to walk alongside our students and create an ecosystem that supports the emergence of tomorrow’s leaders. Especially in times of crisis, universities must both demonstrate, and nurture, leadership. Being a member of the ‘global village’ of academics brings me into contact with many remarkable, determined women working together to change the world – through free access to primary school for girls in Malawi, perinatal mental health in Aboriginal communities, ethical research systems in Nigeria and Colombia, and food security for refugees in Turkey. We share a deep understanding, both personally and professionally, that universities can be transformative in the lives of women and girls.I have learned that, especially for women and girls, universities are a passport into aspirational careers, to financial independence and a passport to ‘being in the room when decisions are made.
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As a ‘first-in-family’ student I am grateful for having had an opportunity to stretch my mind and to see over the horizon to worlds that are vastly different to the one I had known. I still stand in awe at graduation ceremonies knowing that each young woman crossing the stage is poised to change the world. I have learned universities are not just about getting degrees, universities are about deciding what matters to you. They are a rite of passage. A university experience helps us to determine the risks worth taking it is these risks that define us. Learning what will make us speak up, stand up, reach out, helps us to know where our passions lie and what our values are. University confronts us and challenges us, but it also provides a safe haven to stretch our wings, to try new things and be new things. Curiosity is perhaps the greatest legacy of my university education and has remained my faithful and trustworthy companion – it keeps me asking challenging questions and seeking powerful solutions. I have learned that some of life’s most important lessons do not happen in the classroom. At VU, being connected with, and committed to, our communities provides the balance and the purpose in what we do. My university education gave me the gift of a voice… it also impressed upon me the responsibility to use it. Cocreating and supporting opportunities for women and girls on our campuses, in our local community and in our global
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communities remains a burning priority. I have learned that life is too short and too precious to let others define you. There may be moments when people try to fit you into a box – that is a limitation of their imagination, not yours. University is a time to break out of the box, create your own signature, and let it grow and evolve as you embrace each experience that life has to offer. I have discovered that at the core of my signature is a deep commitment to people, place and planet. I also value the power of connection, courage, and of compassion. Knowing my signature anchors me. I have learned that exceptional leaders come in many forms. My strongest role models do not work in universities, they are an impressive group of women living in remote communities in the far reaches of Australia, aunties and grandmas who lead through action and through an absolute commitment to ‘passing the baton’ to emerging leaders and future custodians of the country and community. I have come to understand that excellent teachers are often quiet achievers, not in the spotlight, not seeking glory, just getting on with business-leading from alongside and letting young mentees ‘own space’. In summary, I have learned that leadership is about creating spaces and making waves. I invite you to step into space at VU – be bold, be courageous, be curious.
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LET HATERS HATE YOU There will be thousands of people, who are waiting to laugh at you and your dreams, Don’t let them to get in to your head and prove them that they are wrong by doing the right thing and being the Strong person who will achieve your dreams no matter what they did to you to destroy you... On that day, those who threw the rocks at you, bullied you, tried to destroy your reputation will realize how strong you are and will regret losing a person that they could never will have in their life again and also doing wrong to destroy you. Be unique, let haters to hate you but never let yourself and your dream go down.
-Devindya Sandumini
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Women in law : Holly's story Hello friends! My name is Holly Walker and I am originally from the Mornington Peninsula. I always knew I wanted to go to law school so that I could make a positive contribution to society, so I went straight from high school into my Bachelor of Laws at Victoria University. In my last year I transferred into the Honours programme, where I wrote an honours thesis on a topic I am sincerely passionate about. The thesis was titled, “How the conventional criminal justice system fails victims/survivors of sexual assault: the push for innovative justice solutions”. I finished my degree with Distinction. I then went on and completed my graduate diploma of legal practice and was admitted to practice as a lawyer in mid 2020 (which was probably the only good thing to come out of 2020 – boo covid). I then applied and was successful in my application to the Master of Laws degree at The University of Melbourne, focussed on International law / Human Rights Law. Throughout my degree I got very involved in the university community, which is what I think makes or breaks someone university experience. I was women’s officer, general secretary and then President of Victoria University’s Student Union over the years, whilst also juggling part time retail work and multiple legal internships. As a part of my involvement with the university I was able to contribute to and partake in some amazing initiatives such as the university’s 10point plan to eliminate violence against women, hosting International Women’s day events, having the opportunity to go to interstate conferences, partake in study abroad in Mexico! etc. Getting involves with the university really enriched my experience and I would encourage anyone to get as involved as you can! I have also now been working in the legal industry for 2 years.
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There are certainly many ups and downs that I faced at university, one of the main ones being juggling competing priorities. I often juggled full time work with full time study, whilst also trying to stay as involved as I can in extracurricular activities. Many of my fellow classmates also juggled children on top of that! It was so important for me to plan my weeks in advance and put specific time aside for study/family/socialising etc. It is also so crucial for your wellbeing to make sure you make time for your health. We all have so much on our plates, but it if you feel you are getting too stressed or if things are getting a little too overwhelming, there is no harm in reducing your study load and take some time off! Make sure to put YOU first! No assignment or task is more important than looking after you and your mental health. Also, don’t underestimate the power of friendship. Study groups and collaboration with my fellow classmates and friends got me through. Another major challenge, especially for my fellow law students, was finding relevant work experience. I will be totally honest; it is incredibly difficult to find relevant work experience. I struggled for my first two years to find any, BUT I did use that time to expand my network. This is the most critical advice I can give you. Go to that networking event, get involved with the Law Institute of Victoria, go to the information nights, ask for business cards, reach out to professionals in the area you want to work, apply for the clinical programs the Uni offers ETC! You have nothing to lose! Once you build your network, it will be easier to find that internship, or get that foot in the door. And that is all you need – a foot in the door. I also think it is incredibly important to help your fellow peers. Always try to give back in any way you can. If you’re in 2nd year, help a 1st year find their way around campus or if you’ve written a thesis, help someone else try to navigate theirs. We are all in this together at the end of the day and I wouldn’t have gotten through Law school and beyond without the support from my fellow university friends. With Love, Holly.
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The VU Women’s Room is located on Footscray park campus, on the ground level of Building E. Reopened in 2019, the room is a safe and accessible space for all women-identifying persons. Unfortunately due to COVID-19, the space is currently closed, however we endeavour to open it as soon as possible. The women’s room open to female-identifying persons, and is full of activities, information, and support. We have a book-swap bookshelf for students, where you can take and donate books, as well as a relaxing corner full of craft activities and colouring pages. We also have food and sanitary products available to students located inside the room. These are free to take anytime you may need and will be replenished regularly. LOCATED: FOOTSCRAY PARK E1230 ST ALBANS - 4N133B WERRIBEE - J BUILDING.
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FROM FARM GIRL TO CHANCELLOR, A JOURNEY OF FUN AND CHALLENGES Gaye Hamilton, Deputy Chancellor, VU. I have had a very fortunate life, although from a working class family. It is to this background that I owe many of my life skills and as such the skills that I believe have stood me in good stead to date. I grew up as one of two children (although as my sister is 7 years younger I had many early years as an only child) on a diary farm in South Gippsland. My parents were conservative, but had the view that everyone needed to contribute to the work to be done, regardless of gender. At age 4, as my parents were dairy farmers and milking each morning, I had to get myself out of bed, get dressed and walk about half a kilometre to the house down the hill where I would have breakfast and catch the bus to primary school. At age 8, we shifted farms and then I walked about 5 km to and from the local primary school, where I joined a total of 8 others for classes each day, before then going on to the local high school. These experiences plus the daily tasks of driving tractors, cooking meals, milking cows, all from a young age, were all important in shaping my later capabilities. Due to living in the country, I had to leave home at age 17 to take up a place at University – with a Studentship (to enable me to study and become a teacher) – which included the ability to live in a hostel, have some spending money and study at Uni.
As I had no idea what I wanted to do, teaching seemed as good as anything else, so off I went!! Teaching turned out to be hard, but fantastic, and taught me lots! My first big lesson was about goal setting. With classes that were quite out of control for much of my first year of teaching, modifying what I would achieve in that year needed to be severely cut back! My second was to take chances and opportunities. This included taking students out on camps and excursions which led to my being approached to join the Zoo Education Service in 1976. I went on to teach at Melbourne Zoo until 1987 when I took leave to manage the visit of the Giant Pandas to Australia – the gift to the people of Australia for the bicentenary year from the People’s Republic of China. What a great time I had through that project!! From there, I went on to be Assistant Director at Melbourne Zoo, then Director at Werribee Open Range Zoo, prior to joining Museum Victoria as Director, Scienceworks and then Director, Museum Operations (looking after all 3 museums Melbourne, Scienceworks, Immigration Museum and Royal Exhibition Building) the position I retired from in 2005. Since then, I have undertaken a range of part-time work and Board roles - both voluntary and paid. The Board roles have
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With the retirement of George at the end of 2019 and the year’s hiatus until Chancellor Bracks could start in 2021, sharing the Chancellor role with my co Deputy Chancellor, Wayne Kayler-Thompson throughout 2020 was a highlight of the career opportunities I have had.
involved such diverse areas as AFSL with the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Zoos Victoria, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Trust, the State Sports Centres Trust, and most recently, Western Chances, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and Victoria University. The opportunity to join the Council of VU in 2012 was one that I wholeheartedly embraced and felt incredibly privileged to be invited to take up. I had been involved with VU in one way or another since 1997 when I first joined the Werribee Campus Advisory Committee, and was always impressed with the values and objectives for positive student outcomes held by VU. Working on Council is extremely rewarding, with many different areas of involvement across the University, as well as some of the best people I have had the pleasure to work with, both on Council and within the VU senior leadership teams. Whilst George Pappas was Chancellor, I was given the opportunity to become a Deputy Chancellor, which was again a privilege, and become even more closely involved in the University’s governance.
There have been several defining moments in my life that have made me the person I am today: Growing upon a farm and being expected to be able to work at most things Leaving home to go to Melbourne to uni at age 17 Being appointed as Panda Project coordinator at Melbourne Zoo Working for one of the worst CEO’s ever and resigning just before he could sack me!! My determination to succeed as a leader by being myself and not taking on the “male way of working”, or using sex appeal or simpering to get my way Entering and winning the Victorian Telstra Business Woman of the Year award in 2003 in the Community and Government sector Knowing my values and working in organisations that share them Being prepared to take advice, make changes, learn and admit mistakes Being determined to have as much fun as possible each day If anyone had said to me in my earlier years that I would have such a fabulous life and career to date, I would have been quite sceptical, however, it has been and I hope will continue to be, a wonderful journey of working with and meeting, many fabulous people, and learning something new every day.
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CONTENT
WARNING
The Hyde Team would like to remind readers that this edition contains references to sensitive topics. The next few pages, in particular, have sensitive images which some readers may find difficult. If that is you please feel free to skip ahead to page Assistance is also available if necessary. Please don't hesitate to reach out to the contacts listed at the start of this edition, beside the inside cover. Happy reading!
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Artists of instagram
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@witchdrew "There is so much stigma surrounding periods and the female body. I want to use my art in any way I can to spread awareness and make endo warriors feel seen. It's beautiful to see the fast growth of this community; we are a tribe of women and afabs from all around the world fighting for this condition to be known and given the importance it deserves both in medical research and in society in general."
Synnove Nymoen (aka @Witchdrew on Insta) is an artist and designer based in Kristiansand, Norway. Her work centers around visual culture, identity, the body and the mind. After dealing with endometriosis for ten years and going through three excision surgeries, she has set it as her goal to use her art to validate the experiences of people with the condition.
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@lainey.molnar is a women empowerment illustrator, Instagram artist, and selfproclaimed feminist. She uses her illustration skills to rewrite women's stories in an eyecatching way and shares her work with 534k followers. Molnar focuses on topics that are centralised to women-identifying persons: sexual assault, rape, body positivity, and conventional societal standards. Coming from a magazine and fashion background, Lainey lays out her artwork as if it could be an editorial spread in a women's magazine. She also directly draws up on her background for inspiration.
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"Our lumps, bumps, valleys, lines, wrinkles, and pores makes us unique like hills and rivers make the Earth unique. Let’s celebrate these beautiful women (who show us every single day that there is no shame to be human, and let’s celebrate our own unique texture that a billion dollar beauty industry is trying to villainize for financial gain. These are not imperfections, these are the proof that the skin we live in doesn’t define us. If we are not given default perfection, we will actively work on loving ourselves every single day and that is a beautiful journey... even with all its ups and downs. #YouDoYou"
" Not being satisfied with your body doesn’t come from flaws, it comes from your mind. There are super insecure supermodels, trust me. But this means if we change our perception, our body will change too. Not physically, but how we see it - which is the only reality we will ever know. “Perfect” should never be the goal because there’s no such thing. No matter how thin or muscular or lean or shapely you get, you will most likely be shooting for another star already, labelling yourself a constant work in progress. Body types arent ranging from shit to hot, they’re like different music genres, just gotta figure out how to vibe with yours. "
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"My name is Sabrina Brugmann also known as Sasa Elebea. I’m an Argentinean illustrator and tattoo artist, living in Tel Aviv. My work consists of writing empowering quotes on illustrations of women and feminine objects. I look forward to sharing a positive message on my Instagram to keep people inspired and motivated. I believe that a positive way of thinking, and living a mindful life can make a huge impact on the mood. On my designs, I share that experience with all the ones that are looking for this feeling".
"I want peace. Peace like a cold sunny day and a warm coffee in the morning. Peace like the smell of toasted bread and riding a bike on a boulevard. The kind of peace that makes people dance like they don’t have control over their bodies. Peace like the present moment can only offer. The kind of peace that leaves you speechless. The sunset and the sunrise’s peace. Peace for all the hearts because we all deserve it. Peace that will not cease because it’s what is meant to be".
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"Trust your inner guide. Follow your intuition. What others are doing doesn’t have anything to do with your life".
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Girls Building Empires is an artists instagram account that links to their website providing courses to teach women about building their own successful 'empires'.
"Delete, unfollow, unfriend, block, erase, and disconnect from anyone or anything that robs you of your peace, love and happiness. Not just on social media, but in real life too. You don't need to be around people who don't see and appreciate your value".
"You gotta start romanticising your life. You gotta start believing that your morning commute is cute and fun, that every cup of coffee is the best you've ever had, that even the smallest and most mundane things are exciting and new. You have to, because that's when you start truly living. That's when you look forward to every day".
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Ximena Vasquez
@womensmagick
Healing the collective female consciousness one artwork at a time
"I get to define what femininity means to me. I created this piece in honor to all the women fighting nowadays to redefine femininity, to redefine beauty even if that means going against all standards and beliefs we’ve been taught. Thank you for existing, thank you for fighting for us With this illustration I also want to introduce you to two women that inspired me to create this design. And opened my eyes to the diversity I haven’t been representing in my art. All of the marginalised women that slowly but surely will take place in my work, as I discover them".
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"I have no fear. I trust the divine purpose within me When in doubt, look up at the stars and feel the universe hold your hand. The invisible, invincible force of love within you. That’s holding existence together in place. Weaving the perfection of reality. When in doubt, look at the stardust inside your skin. Feel the infinite layers of your soul, the nonsensical probability of our existence. Even I have to remind myself sometimes, when in doubt; I have a divine purpose. The universe has perfectly calculated every step I have taken, and will continue to guide my soul every step to come along the way. There’s no uncertainty in my perfection, no flaw in my journey. I am always where I am supposed to be, and everything will happen for a sacred reason. As impossible as it might seem, as hard as it can get, even in my darkest moments, or foggy days like today.... I owe myself this faith. I deserve to embrace uncertainty and keep walking through that fog. To trust in my divine purpose even when holding on is the only thing I can hold on to ✨ I love you. Whatever you’re going though... Trust. Your. Purpose ".
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THE BLEED READ Over half the world’s population will have a menstrual experience during their lifetime. Yet most, will experience their first period with limited knowledge about menstruation, others will experience their periods without adequate menstrual products, and others will experience menstrual complications without appropriate support or intervention. Having spent most of my professional life working in sexual and reproductive health research and, more recently, menstrual health research among young women in Zimbabwe, I am acutely aware of the mystery, shame and taboo that shrouds menstrual health across the globe. I started The Bleed Read because I wanted to create an inclusive and interactive platform to encourage and support transformational dialogue around ALL things menstrual health-related. The Bleed Read is an all-inclusive global platform about menstruation and reproductive health and rights – a resource and space for all ages, all genders, and all races. My hope is that this platform highlights how and why menstrual issues should matter to everyone. I hope the content I share, the stories WE tell as a collaborative community, and the individuals we reach all culminate in amplifying the voices of menstruators everywhere and improving the menstrual experiences of those who menstruate worldwide.
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The Bleed Read Mission: To amplify the narrative of menstruators around the world through dialogue and the sharing of experiences and information in a safe and dynamic space. The Bleed Read Vision: A safe and supportive world for menstruators everywhere. A world where menstrual health is seen as important and intrinsic to health and well-being for all.
Founder Bio THE BLEED READ
Mandi Tembo, PhD (research fellow) MSc, is a feminist and young Zimbabwean researcher passionate about sexual and reproductive health and women’s rights. Currently, she is a Fogarty Fellow and PhD research fellow at the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine with a focus on menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) and adolescent sexual health. She has published in the areas of HIV, adolescent health, STIs, and MHH. She sits on the Senior Leadership Team of the LSHTM MARCH Centre, the technical working group for MHM in Zimbabwe, the Board for the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, and co-leads the SRH Task Force within the African Coalition on Menstrual Health Management. Mandi is also the founder of The Bleed Read. With 5 years working experience in South Africa and Zimbabwe, an MSc in Global Health and Development from UCL, and a B.A (Honors) in Public Health and Women Gender Studies, Mandi has advanced skills in menstrual health, public health and policy, community outreach and engagement, SRH advocacy, and mixed methods research. Mandi is particularly interested in addressing youth and women’s health and well-being using a holistic approach that appreciates and understands the intersectionality of the many factors that inform their experiences in developing countries.
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Hello! I’m Mandi! A passionate advocate researcher in menstrual health.
and
I was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe and I am currently pursuing a PhD (with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) with a focus on menstrual health and adolescent sexual and reproductive health among young women in Zimbabwe. I wanted to create an inclusive and interactive platform to encourage and support transformational dialogue around ALL things menstrual health-related. The Bleed Read is an all-inclusive global platform – a resource and space for all ages, all genders, and all races. My hope is that this platform highlights how and why menstrual issues should matter to everyone. I hope the content I share, the stories WE tell as a collaborative community, and the individuals we reach all culminate in amplifying the voices the menstruators everywhere and improving the menstrual experiences of menstruators worldwide.
THE BLEED READ links: Website: www.thebleedread.com Instagram: @thebleedread Twitter: @bleedread
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What now MICHELLE BURNIE
Once in a while the pain seeps through you breath it in It hurts You speak out People don’t listen People don’t understand You shut down Not knowing where to go What to do You wait for someone to ask They don’t You wait for someone to understand They don’t believe you I spoke up I was heard for a brief period They forgot They didn’t believe me What do i do now?
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The Global Pandemic & Women - Naomi Dempsey (Associate Provost Students)
In last year’s Womens Edition of Hyde, I was asked to share a little about my leadership journey. I took the liberty with that article to look in the rear-view mirror and briefly shine a light on Edith Cowan. She was one of many remarkable Australian women whose activism has enabled us to enjoy a more inclusive and equal society today. On reflection of the time between last year’s edition and this one, I was struck by the enormity of the pandemic’s impact on women’s lives and the road travelled by women whilst we live with the global pandemic crisis. We are at a critical juncture for women’s equality and we must now shine a light on the issues for women in the times we live in. The road ahead to Covid-19 recovery is so important for women, and we must pave a deliberate way forward that ensures women can claw back progress lost towards gender equality and support their way through and beyond a Covid-19 world. The majority of students who read this edition of Hyde will reside in Victoria, Australia. To contextualise some of the many impacts of the pandemic on women locally, the McKell Institute’s report on The Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Work in Victoria (2020) provides an early insight into the compounding pressures on women caused by the crisis. These pressures include the sheer numbers of women (approx. 4/5) as response workers on the healthcare frontline, job losses in 2020 for women outside healthcare reaching a 7.1% decline in Vic. (Batchelor, 2020, p. 2) and the nature of women’s employment being likely to be less
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secure and lower paid. Nationally, it is reported that in 2020 the national gender pay gap continues at an unacceptable rate of 14% in Australia. The increasing pressure on women in their homes is also highlighted in the report and includes women dealing with economic stress, trying to cope with ‘living at work’ (the new reality of ‘working from home’), and the increasing vulnerability women are facing at home for their health, wellbeing and safety. And, to top it off, an inadequate childcare system to support these women with affordable and accessible childcare (Batchelor, 2020). The ripple effect of the compounding pressures on women are enormous and are being felt now by many. However, the real impact may not be fully realised for years to come through their children, families, communities and workplaces. Globally, it seems, the story isn’t any different for women, and in some parts of our world, it is disturbingly far worse. UN Women is focused on supporting women on the healthcare frontline, promoting flexible working arrangements and prioritising services to prevent gender-based domestic violence. They report that globally, 70% of health workers and first responders are women and that female health sector workers ‘get paid 11 per cent less globally than their male counterparts' (UN Women, 2021). Furthermore, poorer women face a higher risk of Covid-19 transmission and fatality and are more likely to suffer from violence. Whilst we are all experiencing the pressures of the pandemic in our lives, women globally are ‘bearing the brunt of the economic and social fallout of COVID-19’ (UN Women, 2020a). In
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the report from Insights to Action: Gender Equality in the Wake of Covid-19 produced by UN Women in 2020, it is reported that whilst the pandemic continues to spread, many women have less opportunity to work and earn a livelihood, particularly those who are selfemployed. For many women, the double bind of income and time poverty is real as unpaid carer work increases, alongside reduced wages or the unprecedented challenge of working full-time at home whilst being a primary inhome carer (UN Women, 2020b). For vulnerable women, the crisis of a global pandemic has hit hard, and their recovery will be long. The vaccine won’t cure their crisis overnight, and many women will have significant setbacks in their fight for equality as they suffer enduring hardship. The road ahead will not be linear. This is why International Women’s Day matters, and why it has always mattered for over a century. Our collective advocacy on this day for women’s equality is now critical for women left more vulnerable due to the pandemic crisis. Please take the time to consider how you can help shape a genderequal world. Consider an action you can take to uplift women in your home, at your work, in your community or abroad, on this International Women’s Day, and every day. International Women's Day - March 8, 2021 #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021
TOP 30 SONGS women's empowerment
e nm y sca potif s on
You Don’t Own Me - Lesley Gore 1963 Respect - Aretha Franklin 1967 I am Woman - Helen Reddy 1972 I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor 1978 I'm Every Woman - Chaka Khan 1978 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton 1980 Bad Reputation - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts 1980 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper 1983 Sisters are doin’ it for themselves - The Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin 1985 No Scrubs - TLC 1992 Rebel Girl - Bikini Kill 1992 None of your business - Salt-N-Pepper 1993 U.N.I.T.Y - Queen Latifah 1993 Just a girl - No Doubt 1995 Hot Topic - Le Tigre 1999 Work It - Missy Elliot 2002 Beautiful - Christina Aguilera 2002 Love Song - Sara Bareilles 2007 Perfect - P!nk 2010 Run the World (Girls) - Beyonce 2011 Who Says - Selina Gomez & The Scene 2011 Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys 2012 Roar - Katy Perry 2013 Fight Song - Rachel Plattern 2014 Invincible - Kelly Clarkson 2015 Good as Hell - Lizzo 2016 Tomboy - Princess Nokia 2017 Bodak Yellow - Cardi B 2018 God is a Woman - Ariana Grande 2018 Nameless, Faceless - Courtney Barnett 2018
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'Tear it out' - Hannah Nadin
Relationship violence isn’t all about bruises and broken bones. It’s not OK for a partner or friend to hurt you physically, emotionally, financially or socially. Ask yourself: can I be myself fully, in my relationship? Am I respected, even if I have different views on some things? Do I feel safe? If you are worried about your relationship, or your friend’s relationship, it’s good to talk about it. Find a time when you won’t be interrupted, and share your concerns. To help your friend, the most important thing is to believe what they tell you. Don’t express judgement on why they are in this relationship or if they do or don’t want to leave it. It can be difficult for people to talk about relationship violence and abuse. Often, people feel like they won’t be believed. They worry that doing something could be worse than doing nothing. They can feel care and concern for person who is abusing them. You can help by respecting their choices. Let your friend know you will respect their privacy and that you would like to help them feel safer. Your help could take many forms. You could be a safe person to talk to. You could help them find information about support services. You could go with them to talk to someone at VU, like a student advisor or Safer Community. You could help them develop a safety plan (see example at www.undercurrentvic.com). Make sure you take care of yourself, too, and ask for help if you need it. It comes down to a simple truth: everyone deserves to live a life free of violence, fear and abuse. Fleur Taylor, Respect and Responsibility program, VU Find a list of free, confidential support services at VU and in the community here: www.vu.edu.au/respect-responsibility Call 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au for 24/7 support nationwide
what if , tomorrow was a new day what if, i saw the world with new eyes what if, i had a chance at life and love
- anon -
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HYDE MAGAZINE PRESENTS
B L A S T F R O M
T H E
P A S T
W H A T :
B Y :
H O W
T O
K R I T I K A
W H E N :
I S S U E
M A K E
C H A W L A
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2 0 2 0
T E A
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You'll be given an empty pan and expected to serve tea But you'll be taught and trained How to give birth out of emptiness You fill it with water, for all things start with nature And give it colour, of darkness They won't complain here to make it as fair As your skin so don't worry But they can't handle your bitterness, your honesty So mellow it down a bit with milk Not a lot, but darker than your skin Till the taste is lost but the colour stays Ideas vanish but words scream And when you have balanced it all Forgetting what you even wanted to say You start boiling, reminding yourself Trying to remember the words, the taste Inhaling the aroma hoping to be reminded why you started But just when the anger is on the edge You switch off the gas Don't let it spill, they like it neat Decorate now. In fancy cups with gardens on them Hold the tray calmly while your nails Try to scrape the pink of the flowers Turning them pale, as you serve. Oh we forgot sugar. Guess they'll have to taste the truth.
THIS IS JUSTICE Justice is being able to walk down the street, alone at night, without having to be afraid of rape. It is being able to trust the justice system when you come forward about an assault without being told that “you were asking for it” because of the length of your skirt, or the amount of drinks you consumed. Justice is not waking up to a stranger having sex with you and being told by family and friends that “maybe it was consensual.” Justice is when victims are not blamed and perpetrators are not sympathised with. Justice is being able to make choices about your body without no one’s consent but your own and being it means being able to be free in all aspects of your life. Justice looks like freedom from discrimination, assault, sexual harassment and “slut-shaming”. Justice is a society where every woman and man can be treated as human regardless of their sexuality, gender, religion, race or socioeconomic status. It is safety and acceptance for all, because we are all human, walking this earth together. Justice looks like women of all colour overcoming and ending assault, together. It is all of us, privileged and underprivileged, woman and man, ending violence and promoting peace.. Justice is a day where I can confidently say, “My sexuality, my decision. My body, my choice.” ~SARAH D. ~
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- Lamees Elsadig Abdulla
' A L E T T E R T O M E
Growing everyday inside my heart, That is divided to halls, Four divisions and I am the master of them all. Tall or short, it doesn't matter to me. I am beautiful in all the ways I can be. I am the songs that I sing loudly, The smiles that I give lightly, I am the books that I read, I am the words that I speak, I am all the tears that I cried, Stretch marks like rivers that are dried, Into my body that is as wide and deep as an ocean and it's tides, I am the most beautiful soul that have been created, I am a woman, A mother, A sister, A daughter, A wife, A supporter, A lover. Without me the world wouldn't be aligned, And as Admirable as it can be.
'
When I open my eyes, All I can see is butterflies, The rays of sun shining bright Falling into my honey colored eyes. I look into the mirror, And I see a woman with all her beautiful ties, My bun, high, Just like a crown in disguise. My eyes shining bright, Honey could be made By the bright light, Coming out of my eyes. My hands, Tender and soft, My soul, High in the sky. My heart the kindest of all Inside it is a garden and it's always fall, So that new flowers bloom and I bloom them all, When my soul is taken away, And my ashes turn grey, Please just pray, And plant those blossoms on my grave, And take me away, Because I crave, The hands of a lady, Receiving a piece of me, Full of love and joy.
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- Mia Whiteside
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R o s i e
t h e
r i v e r t e r
This edition features Rosie the Riverter on the cover. Rosie was the icon of a women centric campaign aimed at getting women enlisted in World War Two. She later became an image for working women world-wide, through her rolled up sleeves and tied-back hair. Rosie was based upon a real person, a munitions worker however she has become much more than that. Rosie was a symbol of the patriotic need for women to join the US Armed forces, and was shown fighting Hitler in many propaganda posters. Nowadays Rosie is a symbol of an evolving workforce, where women should be valued and present in all spaces. Women are no longer the pre-world war two housewives, instead we are Rosie the Riverters - working women who wield strength and power.
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HYDE WOMEN S EDITION
History of Women in Higher Education Women their
have
male
been
decisively
colleagues
in
behind
terms
higher education attendance
of
.
1949,
From
graduates number
first
documented
female
graduate
was Spanish woman Juliana Morell in who earned a law doctorate
Towards
the
education popularised
,
turn
for
of
.
however
the
with
workforce
th
century
became
women
were
taught the same subjects as men
,
more
.
not
,
over
-
and
enrolled
However
,
at
,
to learn how to be
degrees
Although
women
knowledge
,
the
‘
’
educated
were
’
women so citizens
taught
academies
.
general
focused
on
enrolment
.
severely IT
completion
foremost
are
1850 , s
Humanities
,
with
,
.
mainly and
-
STEM based in
female
Engineering
lacking
degrees
,
Creative
segregated women
Arts
,
Education
by
in
whereas
,
.
For
areas
General
men
.
Australia
gender
dominate
Humanities
,
students
disciplines
opportunities arose across Europe and
and
the United States in a variety of areas
STEM fields and Commerce areas
,
as
universities
students
female
, 7/10
highly
example more higher education
and
by
Additionally
From the
,
were
have the lowest levels of participation and
household and motherhood duties first and
.
.
Australian
female Arts
educated
market
,
men
degrees
‘
mainly
degrees
Currently Australia has more women than
Education
raise
job
that
2012.
in
women
minded
population
could
university
with
teaching
female students were sent to academies
they
Rather
, 50%
1970,
until
incredibly close
18
the
women
1608,
,
graduated
of
women
reaching
However The
18%
were
of
Arts
dominate
.
but mostly Humanities and Arts based areas
.
Ivy
solely
League
available
however
‘
sister
-
Colleges
for
schools
for female students similarly most
.
Shockingly
ivy
league
exclusively accepted
1975,
In
women
and
college the
open
80 .
,
,
1960
universities
for
men the
co
.
-
s
were
Harvard
first
was
year
the
in
last
educational
in
s
Australia
,
women
were
higher education from the first
were founded
up until the
to
become
’
still
students
claiming to teach
Columbia
to
were
male
women
Bella
admitted
1880 ,
Guerin
s
to
with the
and
Edith
Dornwell graduating with an Arts degree and science degree respectively
.
Overall
women
progressed
in
representation a
long
way
Participation encouraged
;
to in
have higher
however go
in
such
by
the
,
certainly education
they still have
areas areas
of
STEM
should
government
.
be and
workforce so that Australia can have a diverse
set
of
change the world
.
graduates
ready
to
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Marsha P. Johnson
STSIVITCA ELAMEF NWONKNU 3
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Marsha P. Johnson was a trans-rights activist and is considered one of the founders of the gay liberation movement that began at Stonewall. Johnson was one of the key figures who stood up to the police in the 1969 Stonewall raids and later led multiple protests against the NYPD and their treatment of LGBTQIA+ people.
Waris Dirie
Waris Dirie is a Somalian anti-FGM (Female-Genital Mutilation) activist. Undergoing forced FGM at age 5, Dirie was one of the first women to publicly expose the practice in the late ’90s. As a result, she was chosen as the United Nation’s ambassador for the elimination of FGM and has travelled the world extensively spreading knowledge about the dangers of the practice. She has also founded multiple non-for-profit organisations to fight FGM in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Naomi Klein
Canadian Naomi Klein is one of the most prominent voices on anti-globalisation, through her book ‘No Logo’. Klein published her book in 2000, which provided an analysis of contemporary capitalism and how brands have reframed consumers minds through advertising. She continues to write analysis pieces critiquing capitalism, modern consumerism and US politics, as seen through her 2017 piece ‘No Is Not Enough…’ in response to the Trump administration election.
EMPOWERMENT LEADING INTO SOCIAL ACTION NELLY SAMANDARI
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In order to act effectively during the present period of transition in human society, individuals must, above all, be imbued with a strong sense of purpose that impels them both to transform their own selves and contribute to the transformation of society. On a personal level, this purpose is directed towards the development of one's vast potentialities, comprising both those virtues and qualities that should adorn every human being and those talents and characteristics that are the individual's unique endowment. On a social level, it is expressed through dedication to promote the welfare of the human race. These aspects of the sense of twofold purpose are fundamentally inseparable, for the standards of behaviour of individuals shape their environment, and in turn, are moulded by social structures and processes. Unless the transformation of both individual character and environment are addressed simultaneously, the full potential of humanity's age of maturity cannot be realised. To focus one's sense of purpose only on the development of one's own potential is to lose objectivity and perspective. With no outside interactions and social goals, one has no standard by which to judge personal progress and no concrete results by which to measure one's development.” - “Exploring Education”
a
Framework
for
Moral
We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us. Our inherent nature strives towards the betterment of the world which entails everyone to be and feel empowered. This requires the capacity to read reality and overcome social forces that
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lead to indifference and being passive into now being an active agent of change. Every crisis and suffering particularly in the former years of my life lead to transforming my stumbling blocks into stepping stones but it took me until 23 to figure out how. Honestly, I came out of VCE broken. Not just drowning in the dismay of an ATAR leading to tears, crippling fears and 6 years feeling academically depleted. But because I lost my sense of moral purpose. We all have this innate desire to contribute to the world around us. Let’s acknowledge our oneness of humanity. We have unity of thought, next we need unity of action, sometimes the challenging aspect when we leave youth, our spearheads in the community coming out of an educational system that doesn’t naturally nurture all our talents, capacity and true identities as noble human beings. How do we encourage 17/18-year-olds making choices about their entire futures to feel empowered? To make informed choices, we need to raise consciousness and be aware of all our options. We are only able to do this once we strengthen our capacity to read our reality through a process of study, reflection & action. VU believed in me and took a chance on a 23year-old girl, who felt in despair after I let my 54 ATAR define me and my capacity for years. Childhood trauma led me to have the system fail me and as a junior youth when my acute sense of justice was susceptible to the social forces that surrounded me. This narrative heavily influenced my career pathway in my formative years but we will get to that.
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First, I was truly awakened in my early to mid 20s through a document cultivated by the international Baha’i community shared across 114 youth conferences around the world. I wanted to use my unique but also shared trauma into an active force for social action. Transforming injustice, pain and suffering to compassion, wisdom and learnings to pave a way for new world order. A world where no soul feels depleted or in vain of their suffering. A world where empathy and justice were infused into every social structure. I went on to pursue 6 years of many sleepless and tearful nights to complete my degree in law and commerce as I continued to learn about community building and development. I was striving to live a coherent life where my degree and career pathway was part of a whole in the process of both individual and collective transformation. As a former VU student, the first 2 years of my degree I spent in awe as it was one of the best educational experiences in my life. I had the opportunity through VU's internal placements to intern with legal aid twice and the Victoria Police Prosecutions. These opportunities strengthened my moral purpose and navigated me towards a career of advocating for social justice. The cherry on top, I met amazing people along the way. Ironically, back in the summer of 2016/17, there were no online or remote options to continue my studies with VU even though I truly loved my experience and was a huge advocate as I was even employed by the academic department. You can only imagine I could only walk away from a vibrant band of
networking opportunities and most importantly, friends for finishing the rest of my degree as a Deakin cloud student for something that stole my heart. Regional Australia. A city girl my whole life, I never thought 6 weeks of my uni summer holidays would have me falling in love in outback Mildura. Ironically, you don’t feel isolated or rural at all when you’re in the heart of it. A summer fling that became my new home, Mildura really won over my heart. It was It was through the Baha’i community building activities, in particular, the Junior Youth spiritual Empowerment Program and the local youth who really helped transform my life that summer. I felt a need where I was and I couldn’t bring myself back to the life I once had. Things that used to bring me joy in the busy hub of Melbourne no longer interested or fed my soul. Through my service and community building, I felt a greater need to contribute to both material and spiritual progress through the junior youth program (JYSEP), a global movement inspiring young people, parents and communities to work together to support youth in neighbourhoods. I was meant to come back to campus after the summer but I woke up one morning with a pivotal shift - policymaking, law reform and other various transformations possible within the legal system, can only go so far as an institution. Public consensus needs to first be established before any effective policymaking can fulfil its role. For example, there are laws in place to prevent harassment in the workforce but unfortunately, it still occurs. Regulation and rule of law can partially contribute to social action and transformation, the rest comes transforming the hearts of humanity
This requires a two-fold moral purpose. Change comes from the grassroots up. A vibrant community is one in which the spiritual and material progress of all members is considered and everyone feels a sense of belonging and purpose. But where do we start? Within ourselves and within our community - simultaneously. With patience and consistency - we hope the fragrances of numerous communities around the world striving for both individual and collective transformation through empowerment will permeate. Service to others enhances our intellectual and spiritual growth, and at the same time, allows us to give back to our local communities and make a difference in society. These two aspects, helping others and helping ourselves, become one process. So long story short, I decided to stay in Mildura and 4 years later finish my double degree online. Alongside the junior youth spiritual empowerment program and its core of service projects, youth and adults are welcome to facilitate these community-building activities which further develop a greater sense of purpose which in itself empowers the Individual and all those around them. This duel process has helped me further understand the power we all have in shaping the environment around us. When we see this and feel this within our reach, we are empowered to contribute to social action and the betterment of the world. social media translating into social action has been another vital tool as used constructively, it can and has saturated the hearts of many. Living and serving with such a beautiful array of diverse souls, social media has helped me connect with junior
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youth, youth and families not just on a global scale, but particularly in my local community. I’m now 29 and even though I feel like I live in a heart of an 18-year-old, connecting to my community through Snapchat, TikTok and IG stories helps me continue to analyze my environment and explore with our local youth the ongoing social forces and realities of each age group. You too can translate your understanding of prevalent themes through creative expression and share it with others in your community. This will lead to further awareness and conversations in your environment about these important themes and inspire courage for change. There are many forces in society that push us to become passive or indifferent toward the suffering of others. We often think only of ourselves. But each one of us has a choice and we can choose to become an active agent of positive change in our environment. I invite you to analyze the social forces in your environment, how can you become an active agent of positive change? As I now continue to go full force in our community development that is occurring in towns and cities globally, in completion of my degree and starting PLT, I’m at a crucial point of deciding how to use my newly acquired knowledge as a future legal practitioner. Native title has won my heart as I connect further with our Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities, including treaty reconciliation. Regional settlement is one of Mildura's qualities, it's diversity, connecting me to refugee and newly arrived families. All these beautiful people have made this place home. Crushingly, I do see many injustices and of
course want to go into all these areas of law, but most importantly, I see hope for a beautiful world, global unity in diversity. Even though I’m at a juncture again, I do believe if our heart is sincere, the universe opens doors for us that we didn’t know existed and I look forward to future confirmation. But in the meantime, I invite you to reflect on your studies and use them as a tool to raise the consciousness of the importance of engaging in action and discourse directed at social change; analyse society as well as the content of your university course to explore elements of a conceptual framework for contributing to the advancement of civilisation; to acquire the kind of knowledge that will enable you to live fruitful and meaningful lives. To be empowered, to be heard - a tool to bring the world anew. Unfolding in the pandemic a magnitude shift in society and culture, self-care seems to be obsolete in the presence of community care. You can’t do one without the other. So let’s welcome every person who may cross our path, to empower one another with accompaniment and mutual support. The ever-changing world may seem to have complex needs in the midst of chaos but that is what makes our diverse humanity so beautiful, together can we complete the bigger picture. You are here for a reason. To contribute to society through your unique talent and skill. Dig deep and find yours - in fact, let’s help nurture each other. Next time you feel a little disheartened or depleted, let this quote remind you of the hope that lies ahead, “A generation of youth is being galvanised into action by a compelling vision of how they can contribute to building a new world.
"Thank you very much Deputy Speaker and I rise to oppose the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition. And in so doing I say to the Leader of the Opposition I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. And the Government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. Not now, not ever... I was offended when the Leader of the Opposition stood next to a sign that described me as a man's bitch.”
- Julia Gillard 2012
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HYDE WOMEN S EDITION
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Movie Review: Moxie
Where to watch: Netflix Themes: Sexism, Coming of Age Starring:
Josephine Langford, Amy
Poehler, Josie Totah
Moxie
is
which
a
coming-of-age
centres
around
film
themes
of
equality, sexism, and growing up. It has Amy
got
a
star-studded
Poehler
(SNL,
cast
Mean
like
Girls),
Josephine Langford (After) and Ike Barinholtz Suicide
(Blockers,
Squad)
as
Neighbours,
well
as
some
newer actors and actresses.
The movie opens on a regular American high school where jocks and ‘hot’ girls rule the school, and ‘nerds’ and academics fall at the bottom of the social ladder. What is really clear though, from the beginning, is the blatant sexism within the school. The main character, Vivian, watches as her classmates are consistently harassed, both verbally and sexually while the school administration does nothing about it. Inspired, Vivian decides to start a zine, much like the feminists in the 80’s, called Moxie. She uses this magazine to call out the male privilege and sexism present in her classrooms, while also starting a revolution.
Along the way Vivian and her friends face many challenges, such as the school administration and the high-school boys. However, they are also faced with more complex challenges such as racism, and its impact on the actions girls can take.
Overall, Moxie is a light-hearted film, which still deals with increasingly relevant and complex themes that young women face world-wide. It’s definitely a good film to watch as an introduction to feminism and I would recommend it to everyone.
'
HYDE WOMEN S EDITION
IWD WORD FIND
LIMITLESS EMPOWERED STRENGTH EQUALITY FEMINISM TRENDSETTER
TRAILBLAZER HISTORY LEADERSHIP MISOGYNY RIGHTS POWERFUL
COURAGEOUS VOICE ACTIVISM CHANGE WOMEN
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HYDE WOMEN S EDITION
The Be a Better Human Campaign was launched in 2019 by VUSU after the Australian Human Rights Commission conducted a survey on university students in 2017 and released the National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities.
TOGETHER we can BE a BETTER HUMAN! This initiative was created with a group of Flinders students from the ground up, to reflect campus culture. We don’t just want it to be about what we shouldn’t do; we want it to be about self-improvement for everyone. And when we say ‘everyone’, we really do mean everyone. We’re encouraging everyone who is part of our campus community to take a moment and consider how we can ‘better’ our behaviour. “Victoria University has a zero tolerance approach to violence in any form, including sexual and gender-based violence. Genderbased violence is a serious social issue driven by gender inequality and enabled by sexist attitudes and behaviours. We work to build a culture of safety and respect, where students and staff are empowered to become change agents to help stop gender-based violence at the University and in the wider community” (VU Respect & Responsibility). In-line with the VU Respect and Responsibility Department & VUSU Bystander Awareness Training, and Consent and Respectful Relationships Module,
VUSU believes that bringing the BaBH campaign to VU further develops education for students of the west to be a better human.“It is important that we all show that sexism and harassment have no place at our university. Everyone should be treated fairly and have a safe and respectful place to learn.” (VU Respect & Responsibility email). Launching this campaign last year, and working with Respect & Responsibility was a highlight of my time in VUSU. Together, we can break down stigmas and ensure a safe and equitable education and life for all. - Cat Abourizk (VUSU President 2019) We believe that this campaign is not centered at spreading a name or a department. It’s about everyone doing better, and their bit to change the culture around sexual assault and harassment. We have widely seen our Consent, Empathy, Respect tote bags and jumpers on campus, at the shops, at concerts and many other places, supporting this movement. Look out for this campaign and more this semester in 2020. BaBH is always developing, understanding, and learning.
v u s t u d e n t u n i o n . c o m / b a b h
| 48
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HYDE WOMEN S EDITION
| 88
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HYDE WOMEN S EDITION
Malala's Story
Malala
Yousafzai
Pakistan
1997,
in
was to
born
a
in
father
Determined fight
for
who was a teacher at a local
Malala
village
the
-
all girls
school
.
attended the school until
She
2008,
to
equal
fund
giving
’,
her
education
established
‘Malala
to
continue
a
,
charity
in dedication
every
girl
the
when the Taliban took over her
opportunity to have whatever
home
future
,
Swat
Valley
Malala into hiding
In
.
,
forcing
chooses
.
She
received a Nobel Peace Prize for
2012,
she
Malala
spoke
out
publicly about the right for girls
.
her
2014,
work
becoming
ever recipient
.
in
December
the
youngest
to have an education She was later shot in the head on the
Malala
way
University
home
from
masked gunman was rescued days
,
later
England
,
with
.
school
by
a
Luckily Malala
10 Birmingham,
and woke up in the
support
.
of
is
now
an
graduate
,
Oxford and
she
continues to fight daily for girls education world change
.
She
as
an
travels
the
, speaker,
inspirational
making
,
the world behind her Her family
fighting child marriage poverty
was
wars
relocated
to
the
UK
2014, and they were reuntied.
in
,
and
school
gender discrimination
.
related
| 90
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HYDE WOMEN S EDITION
Hyde Magazine would like to thank the following people for their contribution: Naomi Dempsey, VU Associate Provost Students Adam Shoemaker, VU Vice-Chancellor Hannah Nadin, VUSU President Devindya Sandumini, VUSU Women's Officer Jennifer Russo, VUSU Digital Media Officer Holly Walker, VU Alumni Gaye Hamiliton, VU Deputy Chancellor @witchdrew, Instagram Artist @lainey.molnar, Instagram Artist
VU Respect and Responsibility Mandi Tembo, Bleed Read Founder Michelle Burnie, VU Student Professor Corinne Reid, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Kritika Chawla, VU Student Kate Benesovsky, VU Student Lamees Elsadig Abdulla, VU Student Mia Whiteside, VU Student Sarah D, VU Student Anonymous, VU Student Nelly Samandari, VU Alumni
See yourself in a future edition of HYDE? Email your submissions to hyde@vustudentunion.com
| 92
RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY Online Training Working or studying from home? Catch up on new online training from Respect and Responsibility! Learn about practical ways to fight gender-based violence and build your leadership skills. The training was co-designed with VU students, is practical and is based on real life examples. Consent and Respectful Relationships A respectful relationship is everyone’s right. This training looks at respectful relationships and consent through interactive scenarios and real-life examples. Bystander Awareness and Action Everyone should have a safe place to learn. This training gives you practical strategies for challenging everyday sexism. It is important that we all take action to show that sexism and harassment have no place at our university. Each module takes about 20–30 minutes. Go to bit.ly/VU-RESPECT to access these modules within Collaborate. bit.ly/VU-RESPECT vu.edu.au/respect-responsibility