TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021 heraldsun.com.au OPINION 21

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RAY SWANN Let’s help our boys be softer RIME Minister said recently “We Pmust get this house in order” — but we can’t address toxic behaviours without changing the underlying narratives that drive those behaviours. It all starts with how we teach our boys about respect. For the past 20 years, I’ve mainly worked with adolescent boys. I have walked trails with them, listening to the bubbling brooks of conversation, and talked around the campfire. I’ve seen them achieve and seen them fail. I’ve witnessed amazing parenting and guardians who have walked alongside these boys and those who have preferred the remote-control option. Over this time, we’ve seen big societal changes including vital shifts towards inclusiveness. But this is being undermined by the elephant in the room. The boys I work with now, like all kids, are out of their depth navigating an adult world of pornography, a lack of Parliament must be a clear boundaries, with no stop cues. There are reels, reams, and feeds all designed to harvest their impressionable openness. All of this occurs without supervision in a handheld device with hours of safe and fair workplace battery life: discrete and personal. So how do we teach our boys to grow into healthy men for our age? OMEN are seething. comes to increasing female sexual harassment. And it’s invested Our boys are pumped full of The recent justice representation, more can be done. heavily in addressing family, images of conquests through marches show just The implementation of domestic, and sexual violence. superhero-inspired movies, driven how pent-up the rage prospective candidate training and Women have had enough. They by archetypes of the lone, unfeeling is across Australia quotas for candidate lists not only are sick of the violence against champion. Anything that doesn’t fit Wwith regards to violence against increases female representation but women. They are sick of the lack of his ultra-masculine world is “weak”: women and the lack of justice ensures prospective candidates are convictions that occur after rape softer characteristics, connections, delivered. KATIE recruited and trained from a range allegations. And they are sick of love, compassion. You could literally see heads of diverse backgrounds that reflects some men not understanding that Let’s focus on the kinds of nodding across the country when ALLEN modern Australia more accurately. “no means no”. conversations we need to be having the Prime Minister outlined the By making parliament a better Australian of the Year Grace with boys at home, at school and long laundry list of grievances in his whole country, what can be done? workplace for staff and elected Tame said it all when she stated: among themselves. If we don’t let “That’s not OK” speech to the press Let’s start with the Respect@Work members through standardised HR “Evil thrives in silence”. This is a our boys talk, mistakes and all, they last Tuesday. report. It is a hefty report deserving systems and processes, an conversation we all need to have. won’t change and grow. “Women are too afraid to call out of a strong and funded response. environment is created that We need to better address According to Robert W. Blum of bad behaviour for fear of losing a job The report identified many high- provides confidence to those who education regarding sexual consent Johns Hopkins University in the or being intimidated in the risk settings — but missed out wish to follow a career in politics with mandatory training in schools. US, parents and guardians need to workplace. That is not OK, and it is parliament. This is now being that parliament is indeed a safe We need changes to the court continually “monitor” our not their fault, it is the environment rectified with Sex Discrimination place to work. system to ensure more than 10 per adolescent boys. This happens by we have allowed to be created. Commissioner Kate Jenkins leading Processes and training need to cent of rape cases are successfully establishing clear boundaries for “Women who are afraid to walk a special inquiry into Australian become more professional to ensure prosecuted. And we need significant technology (phones are switched off to their car from the train, and they Parliament House — triggered by staff are supported in the high-stress changes to online safety laws to help after hours) but also picking up on carry their keys in their hand like a the recent events. environment that is their workplace. keep all — not just the casual, sexist dialogue we see knife for fear of being attacked. That The report identifies three key To this end the Prime Minister women — safe. every day all around us, describing is not OK. That is not acceptable in factors that drive a toxic workplace has announced mandatory staff I welcome the Prime Minister’s how we feel about it, and in turn a country as great as Australia. culture for women. One is a strong inductions, with annual training and announcement of a task force of inviting a response. “Women are overlooked, talked workplace hierarchy — clearly on upskilling opportunities to better women’s portfolios created to Research has shown children over, by men, whether it is in display in parliament by its very support staff in understanding issues provide a team of ministers working start to figure out as young as 3 that boardrooms, meeting rooms, nature. of sexual harassment and what is on women’s issues. Senator Jane masculinity is “hard” and femininity staffrooms, in media conferences, in The second is a lack of awareness and is not appropriate. A 24-hour Hume is now Minister for Women’s is “soft”. cabinets, or anywhere else. regarding gender inequality and the helpline has been set up to deal with Economic Security. Senator Anne To grow into healthy adults, our Overlooked and treated like they third is alcohol in the workplace. the issues in real time. Ruston is Minister for Women’s boys need to be connected to their have nothing valuable to contribute The latter can be addressed by We all know change isn’t just Safety and Senator Amanda Stoker feelings and to others, they need to … (they are) marginalised, mandatory induction and OHS needed in parliament — things need is Assistant Minister for Women in be motivated by good values and intimidated, belittled, diminished, training for staff, members, and to change for women right across support of Senator . they need to be authentic, values- and objectified. That is not OK. senators. As Senator Sarah Australia. Safety at home, in the It is great to see such capable based beings. “I have heard that women, when Henderson and I recommended on workplace, on the street and online. women helping to ensure women offered a job, take the salary offered Insiders on Sunday, we need to The Morrison government has are safe, heard and economically DR RAY SWANN IS HOST OF THE because they do not feel they can ensure a culture of responsible already taken action to support empowered. UNDERSTANDING BOYS PODCAST, HEAD ask for more, whereas the blokes do, drinking with work hours more women, especially over this last year These issues should be above OF THE CROWTHER CENTRE AT BRIGHTON and they get it.” reflective of a standard workplace. during the pandemic, whether it be politics. It’s time for us all to lean in BOYS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, AN HONORARY None of it is OK. So, with the But more than this we need more through increased investment in the on these issues. FELLOW AT MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY, tipping point of recent events women in parliament to help women’s economic security AND AN EDUCATOR OF BOYS FOR MORE creating a #MeToo moment for “change the conversation” and statement, or practical support to DR KATIE ALLEN IS THE LIBERAL MEMBER THAN 25 YEARS parliament, and indeed for the therefore the culture. When it employers to prevent and address FOR HIGGINS

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