QTIX

When we call out the inappropriate behaviours of boys and young men, we still hear the refrain ‘ah well, boys will be boys’ – in schools, in the workplace and at home. And with younger and younger boys being drawn to harmful social media influencers, this issue is becoming increasingly urgent. This panel will unpack these issues around toxic masculinities, incel culture and male mental health and share solutions to move away from the norm of ‘boys will be boys’ and promote healthy models of masculinity for young men.

Traditionally, we have thought of leaders as people in position of power and influence – statesmen, high professional achievers, business leaders, team captains. What we sometimes overlook is that there are leaders all around us in our everyday lives – people whose lives are an example of advocacy and service, people who stand up or speak up for a principle when it really counts, people who risk disapproval, people who put time and effort into a campaign for change just because it’s the right thing to do.

With the FIFA World Cup behind us and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon, let’s sit down for a conversation about gender equality in the sporting world as a lens for exploring gender inequities in Australia today with a panel of young sports stars and behind the scenes professionals. Just how far have we really come and what mountains are left to climb? We’ll explore all the issues, from the gender pay gap to trans rights, media treatment to access to facilities and training, and everything in between.

Labels are a problem. They divide and confuse as much as they unite, and the term feminist is a great example. For some it’s out of date, for some they feel excluded by its focus, and for others it’s too aggressive. But what have we learned from these discussions? What work do we still have to do to achieve gender equality for all? And how do we do that in ways that unite and strengthen us all, whatever our story and starting point?