By Aneeka Simonis
LIFE-SHAPING concepts around gender and equality were a focus at a recent children’s story time session in Pakenham.
But it wasn’t just in Pakenham.
The gender equality education wave has been engaging with kids all over the southern metropolitan region – including in libraries in Springvale, Doveton, Dandenong and Endeavour Hills.
The stereotype fight has been bubbling away in the region for some time.
Cardinia Shire has been swept up in a huge family violence awareness campaign – Together We Can – to try wipe out violence against women and children.
The shire has the second highest reported rate of family violence incidents in the southern metropolitan area, with four serious incidents reported each day.
Disturbingly, more than 40 per cent of incidents are witnessed by or inflicted on children.
Less than a week after hundreds of anti-violence campaigners gathered in Pakenham to walk the streets as part of White Ribbon Day, the library played host to the region’s most impressionable residents for a lesson in equality.
Gender neutral books, including titles ‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’, were read to a group of kids at Pakenham library on Thursday 1 December.
Kids sat transfixed, listening to the words and looking at the pictures of each book designed at creating positive messaging around ability for both male and females.
WAYYS family violence integration co-ordinator Linda Watson said gender equality messaging needed to start early to help positively shape young people and their perception of gender.
She put her support behind the library program.
“They shift the conversation towards an approach that tackles gender inequality and an adherence to rigid gender roles as the primary causes of violence, rather than awareness-raising alone.”
Anyone who is experiencing family violence can phone the Safe Steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Centre on 1800 015 188.
