“Your privilege runs deeper than mine though, and you should shoulder this responsibility,” she said.
The experienced counsellor received loud applause when she called on the state government to reprioritise the view of violence of crime against women away from police.
“Prioritise prevention. Why do we continue to glorify police when they solve the crime, but we don’t glorify those who are preventing crime.”
Brisbane performance poet Huda the Goddess encouraged women to support each other.Credit: Tony Moore
Organisers at marches in Melbourne on Saturday used social media to encourage men to come to the gender violence rally in Brisbane on Sunday.
As a result, there was a ratio of around one man in four women in Sunday’s rally and march around inner-city Brisbane which began and finished in King George Square.
Men in the loud and large rally carried signs with slogans ranging from “Real men stand with women” and “Call Out Your Mates”, while women’s signs were direct and specific; “Let Us Live” and “Teach your boys to have some respect” and “Even my dog understands when I say No”.
Thousands of protesters march down Brisbane’s Adelaide Street as part of one of the biggest gatherings since the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020.Credit: Tony Moore
Long-serving University of Queensland women’s studies feminist Professor Carole Ferrier carried a 1960s banner reading: “Some of my best friends are men; yes, but would you want your sister to marry one,” demonstrating how long women have protested the issue.
“I had this on my wall in my office in the 1960s,” Ferrier said.
“The socialist current of feminism says you’ve got to change the economic relationships,” Ferrier said.
“If your dependent within the family on a husband’s wage, or a partner’s wage, then you can’t really be an equal in that situation. It is very much about economic equality.”
Long-serving University of Queensland women’s studies Professor Carole Ferrier with a 1960s poster which she said demonstrated how long women’s issues, including male violence, have been debated.Credit: Tony Moore
Other younger speakers, like Brisbane performance poet Hudda the Goddess pointed out the impact of the large crowd in King George Square in a message to men.
“Just being present, and taking up space is a reminder that masculinity does not have to equate to you eliminating your human emotions which makes you the most dangerous thing you could be to them [women],” to loud applause.
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Another, Camille, who worked in a range of social institutions over the past decade told the crowd she suffered sexual assault, while the crowd called out “shame, shame”.
“It’s a part of me, but it doesn’t define who I am,” Camille told the crowd.
“My experiences, unfortunately, are not unique,” she said.
“Why is it that men feel and overwhelming sense of entitlement to other people’s bodies?”
“Why is it that we have to gather here across the country to call on our nations leaders to stand up and declare men’s violence as national emergency.”