Leigh Tabrett: “Where will the momentum for change come from?”
Moment – a point of time; the turning effect of a force
Momentum – mass in motion
On 15th March 2021, thousands demonstrated in shared rage and frustration at the diabolical state of gender relations in our nation. It was definitely a moment: a point in our history when the voices of women and girls and many who support their concerns, unleashed by the testimonies of Grace Tame and Brittney Higgins, simply would not be silenced.
But was it that other kind of moment – a turning point in the history of gender relations in this country? And perhaps more importantly, can we convert that undoubted energy and passion into genuine forward motion: towards cultural change, and a society based on gender equality.
In 2006, Australia ranked 15th on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index. In 2021, we have slipped to 50th out of some 156 countries. If this was our Olympic Medals ranking, there would be a media frenzy, a national outcry, commissions of inquiry, billions of dollars invested in the turn-around. There is plenty of data showing the benefits to societies and economies where gender equality is best developed – so what can we possible conclude? That as a society, we literally don’t care? Or that actually, things are comfortable for those in positions of privilege and power as they are, so why change them? Or much more worrying, we are so blind to these inequalities and their effects, we are at a loss to do better.
Forced to the point by the shocking stories emerging from Federal Parliament, we have seen a series of internal inquiries, a belated response to Kate Jenkins’ 2020 Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces, Respect@Work, and a series of political figures outed for inappropriate sexual behaviour. These cases are incredibly important for telling publicly the lived experience of women at work: they are doubly important because of the stature these particular workplaces have in our culture: if women are not valued, indeed, not physically safe, in our Parliaments, then where? Is this what is at the heart of our culture – men entitled and hunting, and women and girls are fair game?
So where will the momentum for change come from? As it always does, from people who have a better vision, who have imagined a better way for us to live and work together, and who want that for their children – girls and boys – and for the whole world. People make culture: people decide in a thousand small ways what matters about how we live, what is fair and equitable, and how we should treat each other, and build a better future. And now, it’s our moment: we need to make our leaders follow.
Find out more and book tickets to our ‘Momentum series of events at Brisbane Festival 2021.
Leigh Tabrett
Leigh is the is co-founder of Of One Mind, organisers of WOW Australia. Leigh has worked as a teacher, university administrator, and public servant. She is a keen observer of people in organisations, and a student of neuro-leadership. She works as an executive coach, change agent, and occasional writer and commentator. Her involvement in WOW reflects a lifetime of advocacy for women, and especially women’s access to education, and the fact that she is the mother of two daughters.
