Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Wednesday 27 October
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location
wheelercentre.com
What kind of stories do we tell about men? Is there enough space within these stories to simultaneously hold men accountable, and encourage them to grow?
Research shows that societal pressure on men to conform to rigid ideals of masculinity (dominance, control, risk-taking, hypersexuality, heterosexuality, stoicism and aggression) is prevalent and dangerous, not just to men themselves, but to the other men, non-binary people and women around them.
The stories told in Australian media can either perpetuate these stereotypes, or challenge them. But for the challenge to be meaningful, those leading the conversation must unpack gender inequality, male power and privilege, while also addressing other systems of oppression, including racism, homophobia and classism.
In October, we’ll hear from Lech Blaine, author of the Quarterly Essay Top Blokes: The Larrikin Myth, Class and Power; Tarang Chawla, advocate and founder of Not One More Niki; and Shaun Braybrook, general manager of Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place. With host Sarah McCook, they’ll explore the challenges and opportunities of redefining the masculine experience. Can the work of rewriting masculinity actually prevent men’s violence against women? And how can Australian media give greater representation to diverse and positive forms of masculinity, while also holding men accountable?
Our Watch’s Cameron McDonald will write a report on the outcomes of the discussion, to be published on the Wheeler Centre website following the event.
Content warning: This event may include discussion of violence against women. To talk with someone about violence or abuse contact:
1800RESPECT Yarning safe ‘n’ strong (Victoria)
1800 737 732 1800 959 563
1800respect.org.au Facebook @YarningSafenStrong
Men’s Referral Services Lifeline (24-hour crisis line)
1300 766 491 131 114
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277
Presented in partnership with Our Watch
Featuring
Lech Blaine
Lech Blaine is the author of the memoir Car Crash and the Quarterly Essay, Top Blokes: The Larrikin Myth, Class and Power. His writing has appeared in The Monthly, Guardian Australia, The Best Australian Essays, Griffith Review, Kill Your Darlings and Meanjin. He was an inaugural recipient of a Griffith Review Queensland Writing Fellowship.
Tarang Chawla
Tarang Chawla is an advocate, writer, speaker, educator and recovering lawyer who serves as Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission and is the co-founder of Not One More Niki, a grassroots non-profit working ...
Shaun Braybrook
Shaun Braybrook is a proud Aboriginal man who follows his grandfather line to the Kuku-Yalanji people. Shaun has been working with the Victorian Koori community for around 28 years.
For the past 20 years, Shaun has been working in the corrections system, specifically with Koori men. For the past 12 years, he has been the General Manager of the Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place in Gippsland, which provides Aboriginal men with an opportunity to reconnect with their culture and divert themselves from the justice system.
Shaun has an unwavering belief that Aboriginal cultural identity is a strength, protective factor and crucial building block in our community’s development. He has a deep commitment to social justice and to ensuring Aboriginal people have opportunities to achieve and excel– and he works tirelessly to ensure that even the most disadvantaged members of our community get this opportunity.
Under Shaun’s management, in 2011 Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place won an International Prison and Correctional Award in the area for Community Correction for its innovative approach in work with men on correctional orders.
Shaun was the recipient of the prestigious Australian Corrections Medal (ACM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, which was announced on the June 2019.
Cameron McDonald
Cameron McDonald is an Iranian-Australian man who has never been satisfied with socially dominant forms of masculinity in Australia. He is dedicated to working with men and he believes that they/we can be better.
Cameron has worked in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of men’s violence against women. At Our Watch, he is currently developing a practice guide to support prevention initiatives addressing masculinities and engaging men in the prevention of men’s violence against women. He has a Master of Social Work and is passionate about breaking gender stereotypes, hanging out with his mum and washing nappies.
Sarah McCook
Sarah McCook is a feminist gendered violence researcher living and working on unceded Wurundjeri Country. Sarah is a current PhD candidate with the Social & Global Studies Centre at RMIT University examining Australian men's lived experiences of masculinity, normativity and social change.
Prior to the PhD, Sarah contributed to primary prevention policy and programmatic responses for gendered violence in Australia and internationally.