At the end of Term 1, Senior Prefect Jack Jacobs (12/FL) was invited to a panel discussion on gender inequality and male champions of change at Wenona School titled ‘HeforShe’. While Jack is familiar with the struggle for gender equality and equal opportunity, this event presented a new challenge – an all-female audience.

The expert panel included Anglican Minister and Principal of Inaburra School in Sydney’s South, Principal of Wenona School Ms Briony Scott, 2016 Australian of the Year, Lieutenant General David Morrison and Former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Ms Elizabeth Broderick. ‘Black and White’ asked Jack what he gained from the event and whether it’s deepened his understanding of ‘Standing with Her’?

1. What were some of the key ideas discussed at the He for She event?

The He for She event focused on gender issues, as a battle for both the sexes. David Morrison spoke about his experiences in the army, and why he believes that every individual can make a change in the face of Gender issues. Other issues raised focused on gender in Sport, the distortion of the term Feminism, the importance of Men in dealing with issues of domestic violence and respect, a well as the issues that Social Media presents Gender with.

2. How was this event different to the assembly held at Newington with David Morrison and Liz Broderick?

The event offered a different perspective to the one we held at Newington. Newington’s event was focused more on the male side of things, and why young men need to care about women, and how the way that we treat women as young men, in turn defines our value as a man. The event was set up like this because of our audience. We needed to interest and engage a room full of boys on what is usually seen as a womens issue.

Wenona offered a different perspective to this, however, and instead focused on how a marriage between the perspectives offered by both men and women is the key to solving the gender divide. The event was also different in form. Our event was steeped in fluid interview whereas Wenona structured it differently whereby David Morrison gave a speech followed by a discussion panel with questions from the audience. There was a diverse range of voices at Wenona, from different schools, different ages and genders. It was an interesting event. 

3. Were there any new ideas and concepts brought up that challenged you and the way you have thought about gender equality?

There were. I was already familiar with Elizabeth Broderick and David Morrison, yet even then, they presented me with new ways of thinking on engagement. David made the point that influencing one man out of a hundred, will go on to have a domino effect, in which the lives of many women are bettered because of the education of that one man. What interested me was that many of the views I expressed challenged, in a positive way, the views held by other schools at the event. Many did not expect a boys school to be leading on a feminist issue, and it was very encouraging to see how girls schools in particular, were thankful and encouraged by the fact that we were standing alongside them.

4. Did the change in context (from all boys to all girls school) change some of the ideas or the way some of the ideas about gender equality were expressed?

The context did alter expression. As I wrote before, at Newington we have an almost all male audience, thus the focus shifts to ‘how Gender issues like domestic violence reflect on us as men’. What I learnt from Wenona is that the girls know how to do it best. They have been a part of this debate for so long, and everyone of their leaders present is passionate about struggles they are facing. Because they are directly affected by the issues we are talking about, their ideas and passion become even more encouraging. 

Girls tend to be more comfortable talking about Gender Equality as well. This is because it is real for them, and it has always been encouraged within their school environments. Newington is unique in that the discourse is opening up, and we now have a ‘safe space’ in which we can talk about issues of domestic violence and respect. 

5. What was one of the most challenging / inspiring / ideas you took away from the event?

Elizabeth Broderick said some utterly wonderful things about Newington. The care with which she spoke about our school, and the movement that we are championing, reaffirmed for me that what we are doing is acknowledged and is working by one of the leading female voices on the issue in Australia. It was inspiring yet again to work alongside David Morrison and Elizabeth Broderick, as well as the other student leaders out there. Their passion in turn just shows me that change is occurring all over NSW, not just in Stanmore. 

6. Is there anything else about the event that I haven’t asked you about that you would like to mention?

Many of the other boys schools present became inspired by the day- something I am really encouraged by. The Trinity School Captains, were very keen to work with Newington on gender issues after the event, and were sparking their own ideas with me. What has encouraged me is that Newington’s small steps internally, have made it easier for other schools, boy schools in particular, to take up the issue in their own way. Gender equality can not only be achieved within Newington, it can certainly start here, but it must progress further. It is now obvious that Newington is a key leader in this fight on the High School Level. I will be very interested to see where the message and movement goes in future years.