Introduction
The Women’s March 4 Justice included 47 events around Australia on or around Monday 15 March 2021. Widespread outrage over sexual violence and harassment led to a tweet by Janine Hendry on 25 February which set in motion an incredible organising effort.
The marches are the latest expression of the fight for gender justice and equality. While large mobilisations can move things forward in significant ways it takes sustained action to win lasting change.
If you’re wondering about what you can do next here are some ideas from the Commons Librarians. If you have suggestions to add to this article contact us.
Ideas
Connect with Others
- Stay engaged with the Women’s March 4 Justice Facebook page and Twitter hashtag and see what emerges.
- Join a feminist organisation and/or support existing campaigns. See Fair Agenda, The Sydney Feminists link directory and the Wikipedia Feminist Organisations in Australia list.
- Join your union and connect with the women’s caucus in your union or state Trades & Labor Council.
- Join or start a feminist Meet-Up group.
- Join a bookclub such as Women’s Melbourne Network, Women’s Electoral Lobby Feminist Book Clubs, or these online options.
- Start an Affinity Group for Non-Violent Direct Action.
- Start a Consciousness Raising Group.
Skill Up for What Comes Next
- Enrol in the ChangeMakers Organising School or watch past sessions.
- See the ‘Learn’ section of Activist Inspiration and Learning in Lockdown for a wealth of online courses and freely available webinars, or try the Psychology of Political Activism: Women Changing the World online course.
- Read Tips for Campaigning Women, including insights about building effective groups and coalitions.
- Run effective and engaging events with Family Friendly Organising, Facilitating for Gender Balance, and How to Make Your Social Justice Event Accessible.
- Explore the Commons. The whole Commons Social Change Library is all about learning to be more effective change agents! You might like to start with these Topic Overviews that guide you through many key resources:
Plan for Beyond the Big March
- If you’re developing a campaign use the Campaign Strategy Planning Template to get clear about your goals, stakeholders, timeline and more. Use the Tactics Star to plan effective actions.
- ChangeMakers podcasts tell stories of social change around the world, including big mobilisations and a wide range of other tactics. Start with The Power of March for Our Lives and Making the Impossible Possible.
- These practical guides cover many campaign tactics:
- Getting More Petition Signatures, Canvassing and Door Knocking, Volunteer Led Phone Banking and Texting Campaigns
- Make great banners, posters, stickers and more with Items of Mass Instruction, Changing the World via Shock and Beauty, and How-To’s for Effective Peaceful Protest
- Strikes Resource Guide, includes details of women’s strikes.
- Australian Conservation Foundation community resources including setting up local groups, lobbying politicians, doing media interviews, calling talkback radio, and changing the story via email and social media.
- For tactical innovation see Tactics in a time of physical distancing: Examples from around the world and Examples from Australia’s progressive past. Learn from Black Lives Matter with The creativity fuelling the struggle to defund the police, Beautiful Trouble.
- Join the Activist Tactic Exchange Facebook group to share examples of creative actions with people from all over the world, or explore New Tactics in Human Rights.
Understand Intersectionality
- Watch Kimberlé Crenshaw’s TED talk on The urgency of intersectionality.
- Explore the Climate Justice and Feminism Resource Collection.
- Read the Intertwine Charter: Going beyond anti-discrimination and towards pro-active change to welcome others.
- How victim blaming is heightened when sexism intersects with race, Celeste Liddle, 2017.
- Intersectionality? Not while feminists participate in pile-ons, Ruby Hamad and Celeste Liddle, 2017.
- Learn about the Nature and extent of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation against people with disability in Australia (Royal Commission report) and read AFDO factsheets and an AIHW report.
Know Your History
- Australian Gender Equality Milestones from 1882 to today, Victorian Women’s Trust
- The Long History of Gender Violence in Australia, and Why It Matters Today, Alana Piper and and Ana Stevenson in The Conversation, 2019.
- Preventing Violence Against Women – An Australian Timeline: 1970-2015, VicHealth.
- 3 Strategies Today’s Activist Women Share with Their Foremothers, Liette Gidlow in The Conversation, 2018.
- Watch Brazen Hussies for insights into the Australian Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1960s and 1970s.
Stay Inspired
- Inspiring quotes from women leaders and activists
- Read Books about Women & Leadership
- How to inspire a young activist? A collection of books for kids and teens
- Listen to Feminist podcasts we can’t stop talking about plus:
- Watch Films about Women & Social Change, plus:
- 5 films about fighting for gender justice and fundamental human rights
- TED talk: Black women – Tipping the balance: Michelle Deshong
- TED talk: How to overcome apathy and find your power: Dolores Huerta
- All in For A Feminist Recovery: Plenary recording from Virtual Progress 2020
Got more to add? Contact the Commons Librarians. Remember to stay tuned to the Women’s March 4 Justice website, Facebook page and Twitter hashtag.
Attribution CC BY