Ep 47: Misogyny: Tackling a National Crisis in Australia

In Australia, intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 25-44 than any other preventable risk factor. So far this year in Australia, more than one woman per week has been killed by a male perpetrator. The rate of women killed by an intimate partner in Australia has increased by nearly 30% in 2022-23 (Australian Institute of Criminology), with research from Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL) showing that Australian men hold some of the most misogynistic views in the Western world. In this episode, we are once again honoured to be graced with the presence of The Unfairer Professor, Steve Roberts, alongside his esteemed colleague Dr Stephanie Wescott (Monash University). Together, we delve into the impact of toxic masculinity within Australian schools, the response from the Australian government, and why asking women and girls to suffer so men and boys can 'learn a lesson' isn't right or sustainable. We explore how harmful stereotypes affect students, educators, and the overall learning environment, and how much harder it's becoming to tackle what's been called a 'national crisis' when the likes of Andrew Tate continue to embed themself in the consciousness of teenage boys... Links: The problem of anti-feminist ‘manfluencer’ Andrew Tate in Australian schools: women teachers’ experiences of resurgent male supremacy – Stephanie Wescott, Steve Roberts and Xuenan Zhao paper https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540253.2023.2292622 Interview with The Conversation about Doctor Stephanie Wescott's and Prof Steve Roberts' research paper: https://theconversation.com/andrew-tates-extreme-views-about-women-are-infiltrating-australian-schools-we-need-a-zero-tolerance-response-229603 The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 https://www.dss.gov.au/the-national-plan-to-end-violence-against-women-and-children/the-national-plan-to-end-violence-against-women-and-children-2022-2032 Yarra Valley grammar students suspended: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/06/yarra-valley-grammar-students-suspended-spreadsheet-rating-female-classmates Julia Gillard misogyny speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNuPcf8L00