PROTESTER: (CHANT) What do we want? Justice!
When do we want it? Now!
I think it's important for women to be treated equally.
I feel like women don't get enough respect
and men and boys should stand up for them a lot more.
AMELIA: They were scenes and words that echoed all across Australia
and around the globe...
What do we want? Justice!
When do we want it? Now!
..as thousands of people of all ages hit the streets to demand change.
I think the women should have the same respect
and the same power as men do.
While the law says that men and women should be treated equally,
experts say that's not always the case.
Women make up less than a third of our elected leaders in parliament
and two university graduates, a man and a woman,
when they get their first job,
the woman, on average, earns 10% less,
even though they've got exactly the same qualification.
So our society treats men and women differently and it treats them
as though they're worth a little bit less than men.
It makes it easier for other people to hurt them.
And it also makes it harder
for people to ask for help if they are getting hurt.
Dr Powell says that hurt all too often comes in the form
of sexual harassment or violence.
So, sexual violence, harassment or abuse
can really be anything that makes someone feel uncomfortable.
So whether it's someone's touching their body
or even making comments about their body
or anything in a sexual way that's not wanted.
Surveys show that one in two women in Australia
have experienced sexual harassment,
one in six experienced violence by their partner,
and one in five have experienced some form of sexual violence
since the age of 15.
While men do experience these things too,
it happens way more often to women.
And recently this woman came forward to say it happened to her
while she was working for the government at Parliament House.
My story was on the front page for the sole reason
that it is a painful reminder to women
that if it can happen in Parliament House,
it can truly happen anywhere.
(APPLAUSE)
Her story made a lot of people angry
and sparked these big March 4 Justice protests.
We want people to be able to dress how they want, behave how they want
and not have terribly unjust consequences.
I want the politicians to listen to women about what's happening
and for them to make changes.
Governments have started programs to try to address the problem,
including ad campaigns like this...
Doesn't she know that's just boys being boys?
Yeah, I mean, I've already accepted that, as I grow up,
I'll probably be harassed and even abused.
..and education programs in schools
teaching kids about respectful relationships
and recognising gender stereotypes.
# So cute # Whoa, cries, whoops! #
Experts say from the time we're really little,
we can start to get messages
about how boys and girls should look and act...
# This one longing to be thinner That one wants to get the girl... #
DR POWELL: Those types of stereotypes about boys and girls,
or men and women, they do cause real harm.
They add up to a society that doesn't treat women with respect.
So, Dr Powell, what can kids do?
When someone says, "Oh, girls can't play sport,"
or "Boys shouldn't have long hair,"
or "Boys are just naturally loud and strong
"and girls should be quieter,"
we can say, "Hey, that's just not true."
She also says it's really important to speak up.
If someone does tell you
that they're being hurt by another person,
it's really important that we believe them
and that we help them to talk to someone about it.
So whether that's a trusted teacher,
whether it's a parent or even the police,
everyone deserves to be safe.
That's a message that protesters say they want taken to workplaces,
sports clubs, homes and even right here,
so we can all enjoy a safer and more equal future.
I think women should just be able to follow their own dreams
and do what they want to do and makes them happy.
I want to live in a world where all genders are equal.
You know, no matter if you're non-binary, man or woman,
it's so important that we just move together as a generation,
otherwise nothing is ever going to get done and no change will happen.