What is misogyny

According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is a dislike or ingrained prejudice against women.

Counting Dead Women Australia reported 56 women have been murdered in Australia as at 27 November 2023. Their deaths were related to domestic violence or gender-based violence. The figures are shocking and represent more than one women being murdered per week.

Photo: Zonta Caboolture orange figures representing the impact of domestic violence on families, including pets.

Systemic changes

To make long-term, systemic changes around the world everyone must be willing to influence behaviour change, and this can be achieved through small but connected efforts. Everyone must influence their inner circle to respect women’s rights before they try to influence total strangers.

Men can become part of the solution through mentoring younger boys to respect women’s rights and challenge misogyny and discrimination in all its settings at work, in sport, recreation and the home life.

Young people also have a role to play in sharing knowledge on gender equality with their peers in their communities and social media circles. We must harness the power of numbers and offer alternate views on the role of women in our society.

Photo: Zonta Says No banner erected during the 16 Days of Activism at Caboolture.

Calling men and boys

Zonta calls on men and boys to be more aware of how patriarchy affects our society.

Patriarchy

Patriarchy, according to the Oxford dictionary, is a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it. 

Argentinian activist Juan Pablo Poli says we all need to promote and fight for intersectional approaches that include women and LGBT people in all their diversity. Being gender sensitive means having the ability to acknowledge and recognise that gender differences, issues and equalities do exist in our society.

Gender sensitivity

“That is the only way to achieve comprehensive measures. In my opinion, the main challenge is reaching those men who are not gender sensitive. Working with men sometimes becomes a vicious circle, where we are always the same men raising or questioning patriarchal values. Show men how patriarchy affects not only women and LGBT people, but it also affects them, for example, when expressing their emotions or in health matters. Then patriarchy is recognised as negative for all people, so the change is favoured.”