RESPECTFUL RELATIONS

During November and December each year, KSC recognises the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. As part of the Respectful Relationships Curriculum, all students explore the concept of Gender-Based Violence and understand power in relationships. According to the Like Minds class, Gender-Based Violence is any violence (verbal, physical or psychological) that is perpetrated against someone based on their gender. Gender includes the way you present yourself, including the actions and characteristics someone adopts.

According to ‘Our Watch’, one in four women in Australia experience violence by an intimate partner, compared to one in sixteen men. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence aims to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of gender based violence, and encourages us all to be active bystanders, or upstanders, in combatting these behaviours when we witness them. Topic 7 of the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships curriculum tackles how gender stereotypes are developed over time, and what happens when people step outside these ‘expected’ roles. Topic 8 looks at the power dynamics that may emerge in relationships based on these roles, and provides students with many opportunities to problem solve how they can be active citizens in promoting and respecting everyone’s human rights.

This year, the local theme for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence is ‘Let’s Chat’; a theme that promotes conversations about what is ok, and what behaviours need to be called out. The National Theme is ‘Respect is….’, and you can expect to hear more about our students’ opinions on that in coming weeks.

If you would like more information about Gender Based Violence you can call 1800Respect, or visit www.1800respect.org.au