“WHAT do you do on a daily basis to not get raped?”
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Eastlakes Domestic Violence Committee member Roz Smee said it was a simple question the organisation asked high school students at a recent seminar about respectful relationships.
“The boys were laughing, saying ‘we don’t do anything to not get raped – we don’t get raped’,” she said.
“But these years 9 and 10 girls were saying ‘we’re careful about what we wear, we don’t wear revealing clothing, we’re careful where we walk, you shouldn’t get in a cab alone and you shouldn’t get too drunk’. These girls should not be living like this, where they don’t feel safe leaving their front door.”
Eastlakes and Westlakes domestic violence committees have joined forces to host Lake Macquarie’s Reclaim The Night.
The event is based on a woman’s right to use public spaces without intimidation and fear – and also a sign of opposition to violence against women.
Ms Smee said interested participants would meet at Warners Bay Rotunda from 6pm on Friday for a free barbecue and live music, before marching from 6.45pm.
Newcastle University Students’ Association’s Women's Collective is hosting its event from 5pm at Gregson Park in Hamilton, but have asked men not to participate in the march.
“Most women will experience sexual assault at some time in their life, from receiving comments about their bodies right up to rape,” Ms Smee said. “Others curtail their own freedom in an attempt to avoid it.”