ABC Radio Brisbane, By Antonia O’Flaherty
Posted Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 12:33pmFriday 19 Mar 2021 at 12:33pm, updated Fri 19 Mar 2021 at 11:30pmFriday 19 Mar 2021 at 11:30pm
The school captain of one of Brisbane’s top private boys’ schools has called on his peers to put an end to rape culture and be proactive in stopping the sexual assault and harassment of women.
Key points:
- Brisbane Boys’ College captain Mason Black made a powerful speech to his peers
- The Queensland government has ordered a review of how sexual consent is taught in both independent and state schools
- Queensland public and private schools were named in anonymous testimonies about sexual assault in an online viral petition
Brisbane Boys College (BBC) captain Mason Black made the resounding speech in front of peers on Thursday, calling on them to “accept this injustice against women and stand up for what is right”.
It follows thousands of Australian students anonymously detailing harrowing accounts of rape and sexual assault on a viral petition calling for sexual consent to be taught earlier in schools.
The petition was launched by former Kamabala student Chanel Contos.
BBC was among the Queensland public and private schools identified on the petition in testimonies from young women.
A video of Mr Black’s speech calling for a change in culture at the college and broader society, has attracted about 260,000 views on Instagram and tens of thousands on Facebook.
In his speech, Mr Black revealed his mother had been sexually abused at just 10-years of age.
“Are you brave enough to ask your mum about her experiences? What about your sisters? Friends?” he said.
“I wish I grew up in an Australia where the narrative that one in three women will be physically or sexually abused at some point in their life wasn’t true, but it is.”
It comes as the Queensland government undertakes a review of sexual consent education in both public and independent schools across the state.
‘It’s on all of us’
Teaching children about consent
Hear Natalie Hamam’s interview with Life Matters’ Amanda Smith
Mr Black also made reference to NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller’s idea for an app to record sexual consent.
“What you really need is a basic acceptance and respect, and that, boys, is on all of us,” he said.
“Boys, if a woman wants to say ‘no’, and she says ‘no’, we have to listen, understand and accept this.”
Mr Black said the deeply-ingrained rape culture within society needed to be addressed.
“As good as this message is coming from public speakers or staff, it’s up to us, the boys.
“They need to accept this injustice against women and stand up for what is right.”
‘You are part of the problem’
He said it made him feel “sick” and “embarrassed” that the school had been named in the testimonies.
Sexual assault support services:
- 1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732
- Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
“I feel so ashamed that this issue is a part of our history and our culture.
“I feel ashamed that the action of some reflects poorly on us all, but realistically it isn’t just those who are mentioned in the media.
“If you have ever objectified a woman based on her looks, talked about females in a misogynistic way, or taken advantage without consent, you are part of the problem.
“Seemingly harmless comments can have such devastating effects.”
He called on his peers to “stop being boys” and “be human”.
“Every person in this room must not just be an advocate for equality, but in our every action and deed we have to be proactive in stopping the abuse.”
‘Keep your mates accountable’
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The student called on his peers to put an end to slurs and derogatory comments, to stand up to “any man” if they see it happening, and keep their mates accountable.
“Each and every one of us have an obligation to each other to not follow the ways of the past, and to take our future on a new path,” he said.
The speech was lauded on social media for inspiring a change in culture but drew some criticism that the same attitudes were not held among his peers.
One 16-year-old Brisbane schoolgirl, Anya, voiced her frustration that the speech had received so much praise “over the voices of millions of women around the world, some of whom in recent weeks have had the courage to be vulnerable when sharing their past experiences with sexual assault”.
“It’s been widely recognised a massive part of the problem is the way men are praised for doing the bare minimum yet women are compelled to overcompensate for their lack to “keep them safe”, her post on Instagram said.
Posted 19 Mar 202119 Mar 2021, updated 19 Mar 2021
Guys, ‘the dots don’t join together’, if we do follow the habits of our ages: news-schoolmates-family-selves. We each need to realise that some “traditions” don’t last forever. For other parts of our world to move forward, humans need to change ourselves with the times. BBC can be at the front of these changes!