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Useful Fact

Widespread sexism in the media is one of the top problems facing women. A highly toxic media environment persists for women candidates, often negatively affecting their campaigns. The ever-changing media landscape creates an unmonitored echo chamber, often allowing damaging comments to exist without accountability.

The most workable definition of equality for journalists is reversibility. Don't mention her young children unless you would also mention his, or describe her clothes unless you would describe his, or say she's shrill or attractive unless the same adjectives would be applied to a man. Don't say she's had facial surgery unless you say he dyes his hair or has hair plugs. Don't say she's just out of graduate school but he's a rising star. Don't say she has no professional training but he worked his way up. Don't ask her if she's running as a women's candidate unless you ask him if he's running as a men's candidate; ask both about the gender gap, the women's vote.

By extension, don't say someone is a Muslim unless you also identify Christians and Jews, or identify only some people by race, ethnicity or sexuality and not others. However, this does NOT mean being even-handedly positive or negative when only one person or side has done something positive or negative.

Equality allows accuracy. Name It Change It believe cultural change is possible. Together, they work to end sexist and misogynistic coverage of women candidates by all members of the press—from bloggers to radio hosts to television pundits.

Instagram Highlight

Sister's chatting about sexual health at the pathology lab 👯

𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Testing for herpes is quick, confidential, and often free, but is not part of a routine STI test. You need to have symptoms to test for herpes. The test involves taking a swab from any suspected skin ulcers, blisters or cracks.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀, 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰.

If you do have herpes, remember that you’re not alone and that it’s the most common STI in Australia (1 in 8 sexually active Australian adults has genital herpes).

While there’s no cure for herpes, there are antiviral medications that can help ease any symptoms and reduce your risk of passing it on to someone else.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗲𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟴𝟬𝟬 𝟰𝟱𝟭 𝟲𝟮𝟰.

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Campaign & Events

‘Crushed But Okay’ kicked-off on 4 April 2022 with the release of stylised reaction videos on Instagram’s IGTV and accompanying ‘take action’ resources on this dedicated campaign page; all uniquely co-designed and co-produced with young Australians and talented influencers aged 15 to 20.

‘Crushed But Okay’ is the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s main project output of our eSafety Online Safety Grants Program – an Australian Government initiative, Improve Your Play.

It champions the strengths of managing rejection well early, and equips young men with practical strategies to reflect and communicate respectfully, when online intimate relationships don’t go the way we expect or hope.

In partnership with, Swinburne University of Technology, the Foundation worked to ensure ‘Crushed But Okay’ is an evidence-based and socio-culturally relevant digital intervention. Based on a theory of behaviour change, it ultimately aims to reduce online harms of a sexualised nature against women.

Know Your Websites

Abortion grief/ trauma is an emerging mental health issue which is presenting at almost every level of our health and welfare services, but for reasons both political and related to the trauma itself, it is not being recognized.

Abortion Grief Australia (AGA) is the only organization in Australia committed to addressing the issue of abortion trauma in a manner that recognizes the seriousness and the magnitude of the problem.

Who are?

Founded in 2015, Body Safety Australia promotes childhoods free from violence where children enjoy equitable and respectful relationships.

They have a strong commitment to provide all communities with body safety education that celebrates children of all socio-economic status, religions, abilities, sexualities, genders, cultures and/or family structure.

Body Safety Australia is committed to keeping children and young people safe by empowering the whole community in primary prevention education. We value and empower children and young people's voices in our programs.

‘We acknowledge the diversity in our communities and provide all our highly qualified (and screened) staff with written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children, steps and procedures to report any disclosures and providing support during the process. To learn more, please view our Child Safety and Code of Conduct Policies.’

On the Blog

We thought it was a good time to loop back on our sex positive stance and take some time out to acknowledge the work of a sexologist, discuss what sexology is and why there is such a buzz around this type of work at the moment.

Throwback to Salt and Peppa when they sang their famous tune “Let’s talk about sex baby!” It gave permission to talk about sex more openly. See, the thing is “sex” and the experience of “sex” means lots of different things to different people.

A discussion with a sexologist can really help to open your mind to the possibilities around sex. Sexology in a nutshell refers to the study of sex and sexuality. It looks at aspects of human sexuality such as sexual behaviours, interests and function. Sexology is about both the psychological and physiological response to arousal and sex. Someone who studies sexology is known as a sexologist. To become a sexologist requires specialised training and in Australia, they may become accredited through the Society of Australian sexologists.

Read the whole blog. Watch or listen to On The Couch with Aleks Trkulja from The Pleasure Centre.

Resource

Trans Vitality is ACON’s resilience-building program for all trans and gender diverse adults in NSW. Trans Vitality focuses on trans people supporting trans people, and centres self-determination, autonomy and agency, while uplifting trans voices.

Diary Dates

Our exciting line up of guests for On The Couch in 2024 includes Dr Tessa Opie from In Your Skin with Kerrin Bradfield, Danyelle Mei Kaplan from Magkasama with Egan Magee from Every Body, Laura Crozier from Youth Affairs Council of Victoria and Rachel Wotton with Mohammed Samrah.

Register and get your free tickets to be in the live online audience for On The Couch episodes HERE.

Watch or listen to previous On The Couch episodes HERE.

Complete free modules about sexual & reproductive health in your own time.