Women's suffrage in Australia

Since the 19th century, the women's suffrage movement ignited what soon became a consistent fight for respect and power in Australia, through protests and rallies. “Sex, Power, and Anger," were the focal points in these protests exhibiting rage for the mistreatment of women. Although these issues have been ongoing for decades, it's evident that persistence among the protests is steering oppressed groups in the right direction. This particular march took place on the 15th of March outside of the Parliament House, located in Canberra Australia.

The women's suffrage movement was sparked through intimate problems house wives faced on a day to day basis like marital rape, unwanted childbearing, and most commonly physical violence. These issues were addressed by australian federal governments and labeled as a national crisis, but given how common they were, problems as such were overlooked. It seemed like only the most severe ones were worthy and prioritized attention, leaving 80% of unsolved issues neglected.

A “silent epidemic,” is what domestic family violence was labeled as due to how frequent cases came up, but in a slow and discrete manner. Victims are not one to blame as they live in constant fear and embarrassment to only build the courage to speak up. This is also why rape is the least reported crime every year. Social norms were also one to blame considering how in the 20th century husbands were entitled to punish their wives’ behavior. Today’s social customs advocate the opposite but there will always be individuals with “traditional mentalities.”

Because of these outdated perspectives, it is that women all over the globe, but in particular Australia should be encouraged to consistently voice their thoughts and constantly fight for what they believe in. Historically speaking, this issue has been categorized as a cultural phenomenon as a result of failed attempts when passing legislation that addressed underlying causes that enabled violence. Moving forward, it is vital to challenge those with high power and authority to make sure that issues as such are never invalidated but rather find a resolution if peace seems far out of reach.

Cited Sources
Piper Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Alana, and Ana Stevenson Postdoctoral Research Fellow. “The Long History of Gender Violence in Australia, and Why It Matters Today.” The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2021, theconversation.com/the-long-history-of-gender-violence-in-australia-and-why-it-matters-today-119927.

Woollacott, Angela. “Why the March 4 Justice Matters in Australia's Long History of Feminist Protests.” ABC News, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2021, www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-27/sex-power-and-anger-a-history-of-feminist-protests-in-australia/100030592.