On International Women’s Day, Yarra Ranges Council encouraged staff and community members to help break gender biases and stereotypes.
Yarra Ranges Deputy Mayor Johanna Skelton said despite progress in recent years, gender biases and stereotypes are still present.
“International Women Day this year is all about forging gender equality and working towards a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. Everyone in our community should be able to develop their abilities, interests, careers and live their lives without being limited by gender bias or stereotypes,” she said.
“There have been big wins in gender equality in recent years – increasing representation in politics and boards, including here at Council, means more women and people from diverse backgrounds are in spaces where decisions are made, which is a great thing.”
On 8 March, International Women’s Day is celebrated globally to focus on the social, economic, cultural and political advancements of women, while marking a call to action for accelerating gender equity.
The theme for 2022 International Women’s Day is to break the bias.
Cr Skelton said equity between genders hasn’t been achieved yet because of biases, attitudes and expectations about how people are supposed to look, where they should work or how they are supposed to act.
“For example, we often make assumptions that women will be the primary caregivers in families or that men are the providers. Many are still surprised to see women employed in certain industries including technology and construction,” she said.
“Part of breaking the biases that exist and moving towards gender equity is acknowledging rigid stereotypes, attitudes and ways of thinking about women, men, and gender diverse people and working to change them. We can all do this with ourselves and with the people in our lives.”
Yarra Ranges Council said it is committed to working towards a shire where women, men and gender diverse people have equitable access to resources, power and opportunities.
“I’d encourage everyone in the community to use this occasion to think about how they can better work towards gender equality – including challenging comments, stereotypes and attitudes that are derogatory or negative,” Cr Skelton said.
Yarra Ranges Council ran a number of events to mark International Women’s Day, including art exhibitions and movie screenings.
