Year 11 student Charlotte C submitted part of her English oral presentation to Raise Our Voice Australia, a national campaign amplifying young voices, and was selected as one of this year’s winning contributors - an inspiring achievement. Her piece on gendered violence in everyday language was read in Federal Parliament by Senator Lisa Darmanin.
Since I was 14, I’ve wanted to be represented in Parliament and to have my voice heard. Having that dream come true through Raise Our Voice Australia was an incredible experience. Knowing that my words could encourage people to think more carefully about everyday language brings me so much joy.
In her presentation, Charlotte explored how casual jokes, ingrained expectations, and everyday phrases can reinforce inequality - teaching girls to shrink themselves and boys to hide vulnerability. She examined how language shapes culture and why challenging these habits is an essential step toward reducing gendered violence.
I don’t expect a major shift in sexism overnight, but I hope at least a few people have paused and reflected before they spoke.
The College congratulates Charlotte for her initiative, insight, and willingness to speak up about an issue that affects communities across Australia. Her achievement highlights the power of student voice and the influence young people can have on national conversations.
This opportunity has shown me that I don’t need to wait until after university to make something of myself. With support from John Paul College, I’ve begun exploring ways to gain more experience in politics and continue doing what I love.
Full presentation transcript:
Gendered violence is everywhere. But when I said the word “violence” what was the first thing that goes inside your head? Physical abuse? Domestic control? Possibly even rape. But what about the unseen side of gendered violence that contribute to our everyday lives. The joke your friends made at lunch, in the expectation that your mum will take your plate after dinner, the way you praise a woman for something but critics when a man does it. Gendered violence isn’t just what makes headlines; it’s what happens in the silence, in habit, in the spaces that we don’t question. And until we confront the invisible roots, we’ll never dismantle the consequences we’ve created.
Conversational sexism is one of the most hidden forms of gendered violence, not because it’s loud, but because its quiet. It slips into our everyday speech, disguised as humour, tradition or “just the way things are”. Phrases like “man up “or “don’t be such a pussy” may seem harmless, but they carry wight. They are reinforcing the idea that masculinity is a synonym to strength, dominance and emotional detachment while femineity is weak, fragile and irrational. These comments don’t just reflect bias, they teach it. They condition us to accept inequality as normal and worse, laugh at it. Over a period of time, these messages can become internalised. With girls as they learn to apologise for taking up space, that their authority isn’t earned, and competition is the only way to get approval. As boys learn to suppress vulnerability, act tough and emotionless. This quiet violence doesn’t leave bruises; no, it leaves scars. And hey I’m not saying every person who’s made a sexist joke intends harm, but intention can’t erase impact. The normalisation of these phrases wires us to more forms of gendered violence then we can comprehend.
We are unintentionally creating a world where disrespect is tolerated, and if we truly want to see an end to gendered violence, we must start by challenging the language that keeps it alive, not just in the courtroom, but in the classroom, in group chats, and at the dinner table. Our common speech has led to the end of lives and that is the violence.