Sexual consent campaigner Chanel Contos has been picked by former prime minister Julia Gillard to lead a youth committee for the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL).
Since 2016, Gillard has led the research and advocacy institute that aims to gather research, practice and advocacy to address various gender inequality issues, including the causes of workplace gender inequality, the underrepresentation of women and gender diverse people in leadership positions, and the gendered discriminatory procedures of evaluating leaders.
The Institute is co-run by Australian National University and King’s College London, and often hosts forums and conferences on the latest activist research in gender equity.
In her new role, Contos will establish and chair a Global Youth Advisory Committee to gather a wide range of perspectives from young people for researchers and policy advocates at the Institute.
The committee will focus on identifying the growing challenges and opportunities for young people to broaden the gender equality space, and is open to anyone under 30.
Contos, who was recently named 2023 NSW Young Woman of the Year in recognition of her work as an advocate for consent, described the new role as “a privilege.”
“There is so much disconnect between the experiences of young women and policies that are made that will dictate their lives,” Contos said in a statement. “I am hoping to help bridge that gap.”
“Generation Zs and Millennials have grown up in the Google era. It means we fact-check everything. We are very used to unlearning things that we think we know. It’s almost post-modern in the way we think about things because nothing is definite because of how fast technology can progress. That’s true for social change as well.”
Gillard said Contos was an easy choice, since “…she has shown herself to be an outstanding and inspiring leader already.”
“Chanel bravely came forward to start a major conversation about consent and respect among young people, as well as make meaningful change in one of the most challenging issues we face today,” Gillard said in a statement.
“We’re delighted to have Chanel on board. Her expertise and experience will be invaluable as we move forward in our mission to support and champion the next generation of female leaders.”
Director of GIWL at ANU Professor Michelle Ryan echoed the former PM’s sentiments, saying that gender equality was a “generational task and challenge” – one which Contos is fit to tackle.
“Chanel and the committee she will establish present an exciting opportunity to help us make meaningful change and empower girls, women and gender-diverse people everywhere,” Professor Ryan said.
“For generations, we have fought for equality and respect. While many gains have been made, there is still much to do. Young leaders like Chanel will play a major role in helping to advance this work, build on the legacy of the past and shape a better future for all young people, especially those impacted by gender inequality.”
In early 2021, Contos took to Instagram to ask her 7000 followers (today, its grown to 31.2K) how many of them had experienced sexual assault from students at all-boys’ schools. Three quarters of her friends who responded said they or someone they knew had been victims of assault by these boys.
Days later, Contos created an online petition that went viral. It collected more than 5,000 signatures, and 6,000+ allegations of sexual assault in the following weeks. Since then, the former Kambala student has founded the Teach Us Consent campaign – an initiative that lead to mandatory consent education in Australian schools, which kicks off this year.
The new curriculum will incorporate comprehensive consent education, including an understanding of gendered stereotypes, coercion, and power imbalances. It will be taught from Kindergarden to Year 10 in every school.
A recent study by the Institute found that 60 per cent of surveyed Millennials and Gen Z thought gender equality would be achieved in their lifetime, while roughly the same proportion believed there is individual action they can personally take to support this.
However, more than fifty per cent of surveyed participants also said that the promotion of women’s rights was going “too far” and that it is now discriminatory against men.
It’s a dilemma Contos is conscious about.
“This poses significant opportunities, but also some clear challenges to progressing gender equality, and we need to listen to young people in order to navigate this,” she said.
“As an important first step, assembling a Global Youth Advisory Committee for GIWL will bring in the real experiences of young people, particularly women and girls and gender diverse people, to inform and inspire research, advocacy, and practice.”
The GIWL Youth Advisory Committee will also contribute to the direction of the Institute’s research, policy and engagement, and act as a network of young individuals providing advice to GIWL.
You can find out more about the Youth Committee here. Individuals under 30, living in Australia and the Asia Pacific region can apply. Applications close May 22, 2023.
Image credit: @chanelc