Everyone tells lies — some are big and some are small. We might tell a lie to save someone&#8217;s feelings (of course that shirt looks good on you!) or to get out of trouble (I didn’t smash that vase; maybe it was the cat?). Some lies we tell ourselves over and over again until we actually start to believe it (No way! I’m not a lesbian, I’m bisexual! I LOVE guys, I just have a preference towards women!) 
For 23 years I convinced myself that I was bisexual, though I always knew deep down that I’m only attracted to women. As I was in a long-term heterosexual relationship and had only briefly dated two women, I put unnecessary pressure on myself to somehow ‘prove’ my queerness. This feeling of <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://betches.com/how-to-deal-with-imposter-syndrome-when-youre-bi-and-dont-feel-queer-enough/">‘bi imposter syndrome’</a> is unfortunately quite common, however you can be <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://bi.org/en/articles/im-still-bi-even-if-ive-only-been-with-one-gender">bisexual</a> even if you’ve only been in relationships with people of one gender. Sexuality is about who you’re attracted to, not your dating history. 
<div id="attachment_9533" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9533" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9533 size-full" src="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/girl-in-red-768x435-1.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="435" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/girl-in-red-768x435-1.jpg 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/girl-in-red-768x435-1-300x170.jpg 300w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/girl-in-red-768x435-1-32x18.jpg 32w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />Musician Marie Ulven Ringheim, better known as Girl in Red. Photography via Tone Deaf </div>
I was drawn towards women from a young age, but was afraid to interact or even talk with them in a romantic capacity. In movies, on social media, and in books I always fantasised about the women being portrayed. Some of my early girl crushes were <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0397171/">Bryce Dallas </a>Howard, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/22/how-kristen-stewart-became-her-generations-most-interesting-movie-star">Kristen</a> Stewart, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.instagram.com/nikkireed/?hl=en">Nikki </a>Reed and <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/live-review-girl-in-red/">Marie</a> Ulven Ringheim. I didn’t feel sexually attracted to male characters or public figures, so I would overcompensate because I felt ashamed and like something was wrong with me. I just LOVE Robert Patterson; I LOVE boys who look like they haven’t ever slept and only drink Monster Energy and cigarettes for breakfast, I told myself. Yet when I pictured my perfect life, it was always with a woman. I dreamt about living in a cute little cottage where I would have a writing studio and she would have a place for her passions. We would have cats (how did I believe I wasn’t gay?) and we would be so happy.
The thing is, during the last two years I had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right. I had this weight on my shoulders that I couldn’t shake off. Then I read the <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.docdroid.net/N46Ea3o/copy-of-am-i-a-lesbian-masterdoc-pdf">Lesbian Master Doc</a>, and something cracked inside of me. I started to think, what if I’m not bisexual? What if I’m a lesbian? I freaked out, as I was in a five-year-long heterosexual relationship with a man. I felt like I had been lying to everyone for years, and like I was evil for not being honest about my sexuality right from the get go.
<div id="attachment_9535" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9535" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9535" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/nancy-nguyen-RPWsfsVjiUg-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" />Photography via Unsplash / Nancy Nguyen</div>
I tried to hide these feelings, but that didn’t help at all. I would have mini freak outs in front of my partner. I would make jokes about being a lesbian, and he would too. It was like a weird game where sometimes I was okay with the joking but some days it hit a nerve. I finally took  the time to reflect on why this affected me so negatively, and why I was okay with making jokes about being a lesbian but if others did I couldn’t handle it. I realised that maybe I wasn’t bisexual, but I was too nervous to figure out my true sexuality.
I was in severe denial. I think I had a lot of <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.rainbow-project.org/internalised-homophobia/">internalised homophobia</a> without even realising it. I was okay with other people being gay — hell, I was a massive ally and classed myself as a part of the community — but I thought it wasn’t okay for me. This led to a lot of self-hate — I hated that I felt so strongly towards women and that I didn’t think of men in the same way. I hated that I wasn’t like a ‘normal’ bisexual woman. I think that was one of the main reasons I stayed in the closet for so long, and unintentionally hurt those around me as a result.
<blockquote>&#8220;When I told him I was a lesbian it was like a weight lifted, and all the pressure I had been feeling just disappeared. Like everything was right.&#8221;</blockquote>
After this tumultuous period of self-reflection, my ex-partner and I had a lengthy talk about my sexuality. I broke down and just couldn’t stop crying. I think we had both known for a very long time that I wasn’t bisexual. We decided to break up but have been best friends ever since. He was amazing about it — he helped me work through a lot of my self-hate, helped me set up a <a href="https://weareher.com/">Her</a> dating profile, and is always there for me when I need to talk. I seriously couldn’t have figured out my sexuality and overcome a lot of my internalised homophobia if it wasn’t for him. When I told him I was a lesbian it was like a weight lifted, and all the pressure I had been feeling just disappeared. Like everything was right.
<div id="attachment_9540" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9540" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9540" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-7-1024x683.png" alt="" width="700" height="467" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-7-1024x683.png 1024w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-7-300x200.png 300w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-7-768x512.png 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-7-1536x1025.png 1536w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-7-32x21.png 32w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-7.png 1619w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />Photography via Canva</div>
Now I have a girlfriend — she’s amazing and I feel butterflies just thinking about her. I’m so happy and relieved. I’ve started to feel more connected to the queer community and myself. I’m planning on checking out the grand opening of <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@beansbarmelbourne">Beans Bar</a> in Fitzroy, Naarm — one of the first dedicated lesbian, trans, non-binary &amp; neurodivergent bars in Melbourne! I’ve been consuming more lesbian focused media such as <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_L_Word">The L Word</a>, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43317482-in-the-dream-house">In the Dream House</a> by Carmen Maria Machado, and <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8613070/">Portrait of a Lady on Fire</a>. I’m going to participate in <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://unyouth.org.au/event/global-issues-resources/national-pride-month/#:~:text=What%20is%20Pride%20Month%3F,to%20protest%20discrimination%20and%20violence.">Pride</a> this month (my first ever pride!).
For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I need  to prove my love of men or prove that I’m bisexual. Now I’m comfortable and happy with my sexuality, and yes I’m a lesbian! But that’s just a small part of me. I am also a writer, a huge dinosaur nerd, a lover of really shitty reality tv shows… I’m me. 
<h5>Further Resources:</h5>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-021-00590-x">“I Do Not Like Being Me”: the Impact of Self-hate on Increased Risky Sexual Behavior in Sexual Minority People</a> by Maria Rosaria Nappa, Maria Giuseppina Bartolo, Jessica Pistella, Nicola Petrocchi, Angela Costabile &amp; Roberto Baiocco</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://rosie.org.au/blog/what-if-im-a-lesbian-overcoming-doubt-as-a-young-queer-person/">What if&#8230; I&#8217;m a lesbian? Overcoming doubt as a young queer person</a> by Saskia De Leeuw Kyle (another fantastic Rosie blog!)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://advocatesforyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ITIMB-Lesbian-for-print.pdf">I Think I Might Be A Lesbian</a> by Advocates for Youth</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg</li>
</ul>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-9031 alignleft" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/susannah-e1637281586863-209x300.jpeg" alt="" width="209" height="300" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/susannah-e1637281586863-209x300.jpeg 209w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/susannah-e1637281586863-22x32.jpeg 22w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/susannah-e1637281586863.jpeg 393w" sizes="(max-width: 209px) 100vw, 209px" />
SUSANNAH MANNIE (SHE/HER)
Susannah Mannie is a writer, poet, and a proud lutruwita/Tasmanian Aboriginal woman.
She is an avid reader and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English at the University of Tasmania. Susannah is a co-host with a group of individuals for a radio show based in nipaluna/Hobart called This Way // That Way on Edge Radio that focuses on youth-led conversations about sexual and reproductive health, relationships, and culture. Susannah is passionate about spreading awareness for Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that she was diagnosed with in 2020 after multiple misdiagnoses.

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How I overcame internalised homophobia and found my true sexuality 

What does a healthy friendship look like in the age of social media, where self-comparison is at an all-time high? Rosie intern Ciara Kirby chats with YA author Allayne L. Webster about all things friendship, social media, and her latest book, Selfie.
<div id="attachment_9505" style="width: 522px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9505" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9505 size-full" src="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/allayne-.png" alt="" width="512" height="552" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/allayne-.png 512w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/allayne--278x300.png 278w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/allayne--30x32.png 30w" sizes="(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" />Photography via Matilda Bookshop</div>
<h5>CIARA KIRBY: Impressively, you’ve written ten books now, six for young adults. What inspired you to write your latest book, Selfie?</h5>
ALLAYNE L. WEBSTER: For me, most of my books come from a tiny seed that germinates, takes root and won’t leave me alone. The seed for Selfie comes from a memory of when I was a teen. I was excitedly explaining to a family member how enamoured I was by a particular person. I was incredibly offended when the way I felt was labelled a childish crush. It stands out in my mind as a pivotal moment in my adolescence because I wish the joy I was experiencing had been celebrated instead of being belittled and dismissed. Tully is just as smitten, just as committed, just as starry-eyed as I was. 
<h5>Selfie explores the complicated territory of real and fake friendships. Why do you think it’s so hard for young people like Tully to work out which of their friendships are real, and which aren’t worth pursuing?</h5>
Even without social media at play, some friendships are tricky to navigate simply because of our backstory/the existing trauma we bring to the table. Trust is at the heart of all good relationships, but it’s difficult to build if we’ve been burned before. Not all friendships are long-lasting. Some will burn brightly and dissolve just as fast. In the case of Tully, she’s almost hyper-focused on Dene, dizzy with excitement for the way Dene makes her feel; Dene is like a drug Tully can’t get enough of. As the relationship progresses, Tully’s high dwindles and it’s like she needs larger doses of Dene to get the same fix. Eventually she has to find something else (art) to fill the void. But what Tully doesn’t readily see is that Dene is like the art — they’re both a distraction for the true void in Tully’s life. I’ll stop there. No spoilers!
<div id="attachment_9509" style="width: 760px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9509" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9509" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/helena-lopes-knqIUJ3HyQ4-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="500" />Photography via Unsplash / Helena Lopes</div>
<h5>Your book interrogates the negative side of being insta-famous, but do you believe social media is all bad? Is there a way that we can enjoy social media without losing our authenticity along the way?</h5>
I definitely don’t believe all social media is bad. And I certainly don’t think Instagram is bad. To the contrary: of all of the social media platforms available, Insta is my favourite. And without giving away any spoilers, the ending of Selfie is evidence of that.
Authenticity is dependent on the individual. Only you know if you’re being truly authentic online. When you submit to the public domain, regrettably everyone’s authenticity, including yours, is up for debate. I try to approach it with an open heart. Humans are flawed, they make mistakes, and they’re not going to get it right every single time. We are a messy soup-mix of emotions and what we post on any given day is reflective of that.
Finally, I’d question what’s wrong with a bit of projecting? So what if it’s a bit pie-in-the-sky. Humans are capable of talking themselves into a happier space via projecting a frame of mind or an image they aspire to. Does it make them any less authentic to be reaching for something?
<h5>Tully eventually finds her way back to herself by rediscovering the joy she finds in painting. Do you share this passion for art with Tully? What are some things you like to do when you want to feel like yourself again? </h5>
I’m definitely artistic. My Insta is evidence of that. I’ve posted many a painting/illustration. At one point I was posting with the hashtag #distractionismyqueen because keeping my mind actively immersed in something joyful (painting) prevented me from wandering to darker spaces. Other than painting, I play guitar, or I go bush-walking and search for koalas to photograph. These things help to centre me and remind me it’s not healthy to focus on just one thing in order to feel fulfilled. 
<div id="attachment_9508" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9508" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9508" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/jade-stephens-WhVO1xKiDVw-unsplash-683x1024.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="600" />Photography via Unsplash / Jade Stephens</div>
<h5>Your book examines the difficulty of navigating friendships in a time when social media is so intertwined with modern social life. What advice would you give to young people struggling with maintaining healthy friendships?</h5>
I’m wary of giving advice because every situation (and the players involved) is different. But I would say to keep in mind that SM messages don’t always carry tone, so use friendly emojis wherever you can. If you’re in a rush and you don’t have time to reply properly, briefly explain just that and promise to respond soon, rather than leaving a friend on read. Acknowledge people politely just as you would in the real world. If your friendships are truly important to you, they’ll be strengthened by real world interaction. Make time for the people you care about and prioritise them. 
<h5>What are some qualities you look for in a friend?</h5>
Someone who’s honest, who’ll tell me all the uncomfortable truths. Someone who doesn’t leave when the going gets a tough, who sticks around through thick and thin. A strong communicator, a naughty sense of humour.
<h5>If you could be friends with anyone in the world (dead or alive), who would it be?</h5>
Judy Blume. She was my favourite author when I was a teenager and she inspired me to chase my dreams. When I published my first YA novel Our Little Secret, Judy sent me signed copies of her books. A package arrived postmarked from New York and I couldn’t believe what I found inside. I still can’t quite believe it. Sometimes I get her books out and just stare at them. Her signed books are my most treasured possessions. 
<div id="attachment_9510" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9510" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9510" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/judy-blume-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="525" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/judy-blume-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/judy-blume-300x225.jpg 300w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/judy-blume-768x576.jpg 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/judy-blume-32x24.jpg 32w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/judy-blume.jpg 1456w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />Photography via Glamour / Jonathan Skow</div>
<h5>What are some of your favourite recent young adult books that you would recommend to Rosie readers? </h5>
This is like asking me to pick my favourite child. There are so many books I love! Recently? Alice Boyle’s Dancing Barefoot and Biffy James Completely Normal and Other Lies — because both books made me laugh. But I could give you an enormous list of all the Australian YA I adore and waffle on for hours. We are spoilt for choice in Australia and so very very lucky!
<a href="https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/selfie">Selfie</a> by Allayne L. Webster is now available at bookstores across Australia. 
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignleft wp-image-9512" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WebsterAllayneL_2023-1-283x300.png" alt="" width="250" height="265" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WebsterAllayneL_2023-1-283x300.png 283w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WebsterAllayneL_2023-1-967x1024.png 967w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WebsterAllayneL_2023-1-768x813.png 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WebsterAllayneL_2023-1-30x32.png 30w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WebsterAllayneL_2023-1.png 1287w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" />ALLAYNE L. WEBSTER
Allayne L. Webster grew up in rural South Australia and now lives in Adelaide. Her books include the CBCA notable novels Paper Planes and A Cardboard Palace, Our Little Secret, The Centre of My Everything, That Thing I Did and Sensitive.

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Q&A with Allayne L. Webster 

Ideal body image feature

The ‘ideal’ woman: past, present, and future

<div id="attachment_5234" style="width: 650px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5234" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-5234 size-full" src="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/feminism-2-e1386764612806-4972.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/feminism-2-e1386764612806-4972.jpg 640w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/feminism-2-e1386764612806-4972-300x300.jpg 300w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/feminism-2-e1386764612806-4972-150x150.jpg 150w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/feminism-2-e1386764612806-4972-32x32.jpg 32w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />Image from 8tracks.com/morrisonkj/uterus-power</div>
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<h5>Every year on the 8th of March people around the world celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) – but what exactly is it?</h5>
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and gender diverse folk. It is an opportunity for feminists to come together and make a clarion call for gender equality. <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://iwda.org.au/take-action/international-womens-day/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the IWDA</a>, It is a day embracing “intersections of faith, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity, or disability”. 
In some countries like Afghanistan, Vietnam and Russia, IWD is an official holiday where men honour the women in their lives by giving gifts, while in others there is more focus on taking feminist action. There is a different theme every year, and the theme for 2023 is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future’.
<h5>Who is International Women’s Day for?</h5>
Conversations around International Women’s Day can alienate some who deserve to have their voices heard on this day, particularly <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/gender/international-women-s-day-has-a-way-to-go-before-it-represents-all-women-20220307-p5a2fu.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Nations women</a>, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/why-australias-women-of-colour-need-to-be-at-the-forefront-of-international-womens-day/l86552u0u" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women of Colour</a> and <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/why-international-women%E2%80%99s-day-matters-lgbt-people" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LGBTQIA+ folk</a>. In light of this, it is important to uplift culturally diverse and marginalised women, and to clarify that IWD invites all women (cis or trans), as well as gender non-conforming folk aligned with feminist concerns such as misogyny, patriarchal violence and inequality to get involved. By embracing intersectionality, we can celebrate a more <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.elitedaily.com/p/im-non-binary-but-i-still-observe-international-womans-day-heres-why-16811351" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inclusive IWD</a>.
<h5>So what’s the history behind March 8th?</h5>
International Women’s Day began in 1908 when thousands of garment workers, who were mostly women, marched through New York City demanding better pay and working conditions. In 1910, European feminists came together for a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark where German Socialist Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of an “International Women’s Day” to promote equal rights for women, including the right to vote. In 1911, 8 March was celebrated in various countries such as Denmark and Germany as International Women’s Day for the first time. 
While pioneers of mainstream feminism in the West made admirable progress in areas such as work conditions and suffrage throughout the twentieth century, it’s important to acknowledge that these movements have historically excluded non-white women. <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/3/8/what-is-international-womens-day-for-black-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For writer and historian Edna Bonhomme</a>, IWD “is a reminder of the erasure of Black feminist struggles”. This erasure is not due to Black women’s lack of participation in feminist protest, but rather the anti-Blackness of white feminist movements. 
In Australia, mainstream feminism has also lacked an intersectional perspective — an issue which unfortunately continues to this day. Suffragists in the early twentieth century were almost exclusively concerned with the rights of white women, where they won the right to vote in 1902, but First Nations women only gained this right 60 years later.
<div id="attachment_9445" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9445" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9445" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/08FDC50B-45A6-4C7A-8C95-CB07B29F2278_w650_s-703x1024.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="583" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/08FDC50B-45A6-4C7A-8C95-CB07B29F2278_w650_s-703x1024.jpg 703w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/08FDC50B-45A6-4C7A-8C95-CB07B29F2278_w650_s-206x300.jpg 206w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/08FDC50B-45A6-4C7A-8C95-CB07B29F2278_w650_s-768x1119.jpg 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/08FDC50B-45A6-4C7A-8C95-CB07B29F2278_w650_s-22x32.jpg 22w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/08FDC50B-45A6-4C7A-8C95-CB07B29F2278_w650_s.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />A Russian IWD poster from 1932 which says, “8th of March is the day of rebellion of the working women against kitchen slavery” and “Down with the oppression and narrow-mindedness of household work!”</div>
Until the 1970s, IWD was mainly celebrated in communist and socialist countries due to its base in the workers movement. This rebellion against traditional gender roles on 8 March was later mirrored by second wave feminists in Australia, who marched in the nation’s first IWD rally in 1975, held in Naarm/Melbourne. 
This rally took place during the Women’s Liberation Movement (1965-1975), which called for action on matters including equal pay, reproductive rights and an end to sexual violence. However, First Nations women continued to face inequalities compared to white women and faced racist attitudes within this movement. Check out the film<a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.brazenhussies.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Brazen Hussies</a>, which tells the story of this chapter in Australian history. You can also check out <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.vwt.org.au/gender-equality-timeline-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this gender equality timeline</a> for a more detailed outline of Australia’s history of progress in gender equality. 
After decades of grassroots recognition instigated by socialist movements, IWD was officially adopted by the United Nations in 1975.
<h5>Why is IWD still relevant today?</h5>
IWD has become an opportunity to celebrate the amazing achievements of feminists around the world, as well as a day to spread awareness about the ongoing struggle for gender equality. 
There are still many issues that must be addressed to gain equal rights for all women and gender diverse folk in our society. The gender pay gap is still widespread in Australia — a <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Gender_pay_gap_factsheet_august2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 study</a> found that men earn an average of $255.30 more than women per week. First Nations women and Women of Colour are further disadvantaged, as evidenced by a<a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/voices/culture/article/2018/05/04/why-women-colour-need-askformore-pay" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2017 study</a> that found that women from migrant backgrounds are nearly 11.9% less likely to be employed than white women, while a <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/the-point/article/infographics-snapshot-of-indigenous-australian-women/lht1op7h7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2016 report</a> shows that First Nations women earn $349 less a week than non-First Nations men.
In 2022, the Four Corners report <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2203H036S00" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How Many More?</a> shed light on the rates of First Nations women missing and murdered in this country. First Nations women are disproportionately victims of violence due to the intersection of racism and misogyny in our society, particularly within the police institution and justice system. 
<a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.dss.gov.au/ending-violence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Violence against women</a> is still pervasive in our society, with 1 in 3 women experiencing physical violence since the age of 15, and 1 in 5 experiencing sexual violence. Alarmingly, <a href="https://www.tgdsexualhealth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a sexual health survey for trans and gender diverse people </a>in 2018 found that 53% of respondents had experienced sexual violence or coercion.
After decades of protest, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/27/explainer-abortion-laws-australia-is-it-legal-illegal-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abortion has become legal in all Australian states</a> with limitations in WA. However, the decision to overturn Roe vs Wade signifies a major setback in global abortion rights. The rise of the Me Too Movement has also shown that sexual assault and harassment remain persists at unacceptable levels across society. 
These are just some of the facts that show us why spreading awareness about feminist issues, fighting for intersectionality, and taking action on IWD and every day of the year is so important. 
<h5>How can I get involved in IWD? </h5>
There are many things you can do to celebrate and take action on IWD. You can join an IWD rally <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.weareunion.org.au/iwd_2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">like this one in Naarm/Melbourne</a>, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.vwt.org.au/your-guide-to-international-womens-day-2023/">attend an IWD event</a>, start conversations among family and friends about IWD and more! 
<hr />
This article was originally written by Rosie co-creator Georgie Proud in 2015, updated by Maddy Crehan in 2018, and updated by Maki Morita in 2023.

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What is International Women’s Day, and why does it matter?

CW: Racism, violence
<div id="attachment_9428" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9428" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9428" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/johan-mouchet-RAoLmD9LpgA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" />Source: Johan Mouchet, Unsplash.</div>
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26 January is a painful day for mob. It is Invasion Day, Survival Day, a Day of Mourning. It marks the beginning of the devastating colonisation and genocide that has and continues to occur in this country, yet it continues to be officially celebrated as ‘Australia’ day by way of a public holiday.
26 January is also a day where many immigrants continue to receive their Australian citizenship. This year alone, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.sbs.com.au/language/sinhala/en/podcast-episode/19-000-people-have-used-australia-day-to-take-out-australian-citizenship/yxkbxqvns">19,000 people took part in citizenship ceremonie</a>s across the country, some of which have struggled to gain citizenship and have fled from violence and colonisation elsewhere. As wading through bureaucracy to reach citizenship can take years, making it to the other end is often hard-won.
However, if we reap the benefits of being on stolen land while neglecting the suffering of First Nations people, we remain complicit to the British colonial project.
I am a Japanese immigrant on stolen Wurundjeri land, who grew up in a linguistically diverse household and became an ‘Australian’ citizen 4 years ago. As an ally acknowledging First Nations struggle, this reflective piece does not seek to diminish or take space over First Nations voices, as they hold all priority. The objective of this piece is to meditate on positionality, the experience of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities on Invasion Day, and the responsibilities we have on stolen land.
<blockquote>&#8220;If we reap the benefits of being on stolen land while neglecting the suffering of First Nations people, we remain complicit to the British colonial project&#8221;</blockquote>
When I was growing up, 26 January was not met with merriment or protest by my family. It was met with indifference. As Japanese citizens who landed here knowing absolutely nobody, my parents were not interested in engaging with romanticised tropes of ‘Australiana’ some buy into on 26 January. They also had a lot of learning to do about the colonial history of this land, the dispossession of First Nations people, and the politics surrounding this date. If anything, they didn’t perceive 26 January as a day to go out and have a BBQ, but as a mandated day off that didn’t resonate with them.
Indifference, however, is also a position of complicity. As Goenpul woman, academic and Indigenous feminist Aileen Moreton-Robinson writes in her 2015 book <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctt155jmpf">The White Possessive: Property, Power and Indigenous Sovereignty</a>, “In the Australian context, the sense of belonging, home, and place enjoyed by the non-Indigenous subject—colonizer/migrant— is based on the dispossession of the original owners of the land and the denial of our rights under international customary law.”
<div id="attachment_9429" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9429" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9429" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Prof__Aileen_Moreton_Robinson_preferred_web-1220_x_732-1024x614.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="420" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Prof__Aileen_Moreton_Robinson_preferred_web-1220_x_732-1024x614.jpg 1024w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Prof__Aileen_Moreton_Robinson_preferred_web-1220_x_732-300x180.jpg 300w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Prof__Aileen_Moreton_Robinson_preferred_web-1220_x_732-768x461.jpg 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Prof__Aileen_Moreton_Robinson_preferred_web-1220_x_732-32x19.jpg 32w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Prof__Aileen_Moreton_Robinson_preferred_web-1220_x_732.jpg 1220w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />Professor Aileen Moreton-Robinson, source: https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2020/jun/aileen-moreton-robinson.</div>
Where indifference exists, we must also recognise its context. For instance, Asian immigrants in Australia have continually found themselves amidst rhetoric of ‘Yellow Peril’ and have been positioned as a cause of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-14/pauline-hanson-maiden-speech-asian-immigration/7645578">“danger”</a>. They have encountered their own struggles, as this is after all a colonial outpost founded on racism. Decades after the <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.moadoph.gov.au/blog/white-australia-policy-the-beginning-of-the-end-50-years-ago/">White Australia Policy came to an end in 1973</a>, the <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-26/racism-towards-chinese-australians-continues-covid19/101099690">rise of anti-Asian hate in Australia</a> and <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-238">other Western countries</a> due to misinformation around COVID shows us that discriminatory speech can be conveniently repurposed at any time.
But this doesn’t necessarily let us off the hook in terms of allyship with First Nations resistance — to live, work, and play on stolen land comes with a responsibility.
While migrants undeniably experience racism in this country, unfortunately this hasn’t stopped members of our communities from holding racist attitudes towards First Nations people. We need to reflect on our positionality as migrant-settlers on stolen land, acknowledge our privileges, and take active steps to be anti-racist.
<blockquote>&#8220;Like most that went through the Australian schooling system, I was handed a woefully whitewashed version of our colonial past and present&#8221;</blockquote>
As &#8216;newcomers&#8217; on this land, we have a responsibility to understand its violent history, which continues to this day — <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/12/i-was-10-years-old-when-i-was-taken-from-my-home-the-stolen-generations-never-ended">the stolen generations</a>, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/30/inquest-veronica-nelson-death-urges-overhaul-victoria-bail-laws">deaths in custody</a>, and the <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/children-searched-more-than-100-000-times-by-nsw-police-20230207-p5cio0.html">over-policing of First Nations people</a> show us that colonisation is well and truly alive. The truth of our colonial past and present may not come easily — like most that went through the Australian schooling system, I was handed a woefully whitewashed version of so-called &#8216;Australian history&#8217;. As we are often denied the truth within this institutional framework, we have a responsibility to self-educate and go beyond the curriculum. For myself, this learning has come from listening to First Nations leaders and educators, engaging with the hard work of First Nations led organisations, and following the fight of First Nations activists. And this process of learning is ongoing.
Alongside listening and learning from mob, we have a social responsibility to remedy past and present harm and injustice by taking action. For allies, taking action can involve supporting First Nations-led initiatives, organisations, and events. It means having those difficult conversations with family, friends and colleagues to challenge harmful views among our networks. For those with the financial capacity, it means <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://paytherent.net.au/">paying the rent</a>. Being a good Indigenous ally is vital in raising the profile of issues affecting First Nations people, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/how-to-be-a-good-indigenous-ally/7czmek946">as Yorta Yorta woman Summer May Finlay explains</a>.
<div id="attachment_9430" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9430" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9430" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/maxresdefault-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="394" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/maxresdefault-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/maxresdefault-300x169.jpg 300w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/maxresdefault-768x432.jpg 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/maxresdefault-32x18.jpg 32w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/maxresdefault.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />Source: https://paytherent.net.au/</div>
Our responsibility to listen, learn, and act is especially pertinent this year as conversations about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament take place. The Voice, or Makarrata, comes from <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/">The Uluru Statement from the Heart</a>, which is not a top-down proposal but a community-led call led by Alyawarre woman Pat Anderson AO and Cobble Cobble Professor Megan Davies to enshrine a First Nations Voice in the constitution. And in recognition of access, the statement has been <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://ulurustatement.org/education/translations/">translated</a> into more than 20 Aboriginal languages and 60 languages for CALD communities.
<blockquote>&#8220;Our responsibility to listen, learn, and act is especially pertinent this year as conversations about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament take place&#8221;</blockquote>
Invasion Day rallies this year saw <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/26/nothing-to-celebrate-invasion-day-rallies-draw-thousands-but-participants-divided-on-voice">division in terms of the Voice</a>, with some rallies marching for ‘Treaty before Voice’ and calling for an overhaul of colonial structures that have failed First Nations people again and again. Indigenous supporters of the Voice such as <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/25/why-i-cant-attend-an-invasion-day-rally-that-seeks-to-sabotage-an-indigenous-voice-to-parliament">Nira illim bulluk man Marcus Stewart felt alienated by this call</a>, expressing “I can’t attend an Invasion Day rally that seeks to sabotage an Indigenous voice to parliament”.
For allies, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/26/in-the-clamour-and-confusion-around-the-indigenous-voice-the-media-has-a-special-responsibility">arguments around the Voice have left many confused</a>, and CALD communities might struggle to grapple with the emerging discourse. While arguments such as those made at the Naarm rally make a radical call to decolonise our government and institutions, participants are uncertain as to what this means <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/26/with-only-a-simple-yes-or-no-vote-available-in-the-referendum-scenes-on-invasion-day-expose-the-problem-labor-faces">when there is only a clear-cut ‘yes’ or ‘no’ option in the referendum</a>. The media now holds a special responsibility to accurately relate information about the Voice to the public, and I hope that measures will be taken to keep CALD communities informed too.
If the right opportunities are offered to listen to First Nations voices, immigrants and those of the diaspora will listen with empathy.
<hr />
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9424 alignleft" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2021-04-22-MAKI-collection-13-14-41-750x1024.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="205" />MAKI MORITA (SHE/THEY)
As the current editor of Rosie, Maki is passionate about elevating young voices.
Maki is also working on her upcoming season of Trash Pop Butterflies, Dance Dance Paradise (Theatre Works, March-April 2023). They are a 2022 Wheeler Centre Playwright Hot Desk Fellow and have appeared in events including National Young Writers Festival and Feminist Book Week.

johan-mouchet-RAoLmD9LpgA-unsplash

Our responsibility on stolen land

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-9417" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alyssa-blog-cover-1024x576.png" alt="" width="750" height="422" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alyssa-blog-cover-1024x576.png 1024w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alyssa-blog-cover-300x169.png 300w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alyssa-blog-cover-768x432.png 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alyssa-blog-cover-1536x864.png 1536w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alyssa-blog-cover-32x18.png 32w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alyssa-blog-cover.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" />
I first came across cancel culture as a 16 year-old. I was sitting in English class, and my friends were discussing <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/harvey-weinstein-accusations.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an article in the New York Times</a> reporting on the allegations made by 13 women accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. 
“Yeah, everyone’s cancelling him,” one of my friends said. “Even if he doesn’t go to jail, his career is definitely over.”
Dumbfounded by the article’s contents and confused as to what she meant by ‘cancelled’, I went home and started doing my own research. I grew increasingly disgusted by Weinstein’s atrocities, and found myself nodding in agreement at YouTube videos and articles explaining cancel culture’s purpose. Fuelled by feminism and the desire for justice, I, too, cancelled Weinstein.
For those whose minds are a little foggy surrounding the definition of cancel culture and need a refresher, allow me. ‘Cancelling’ is the practice of boycotting celebrities and companies after they have done or said something that is considered intolerable. This includes racist and homophobic comments, sexual assault, and other vile acts.
To gain further insight into cancel culture, I spoke to <a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/6945-lauren-rosewarne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr Lauren Rosewarne</a>, a Social and Political Sciences Professor at the University of Melbourne specialising in feminism, pop culture and gender studies. According to Dr Rosewarne, when someone is cancelled they are expected to take accountability and learn from their wrongdoings. If they fail to do so, the public often avoid engaging with the ‘cancelled’ and their work.
<div id="attachment_9405" style="width: 810px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9405" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9405" src="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/tarana_burke_header-1000x494-1.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="395" srcset="https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/tarana_burke_header-1000x494-1.jpg 1000w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/tarana_burke_header-1000x494-1-300x148.jpg 300w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/tarana_burke_header-1000x494-1-768x379.jpg 768w, https://rosie.yourcreative.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/tarana_burke_header-1000x494-1-32x16.jpg 32w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />Tarana Burke, the original founder of the MeToo movement. Image source: https://news.blog.gustavus.edu/2019/05/06/metoo-founder-tarana-burke-to-speak-at-gustavus/.</div>
Although the term <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/12/30/20879720/what-is-cancel-culture-explained-history-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘cancelled’</a> has been around for years, <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/6945-lauren-rosewarne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancel culture rose to popularity</a> in the last decade, which saw the continued rise of <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/feminism-fourth-wave" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourth wave feminism</a> and the virality of <a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/6945-lauren-rosewarne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#MeToo</a>. Powerful, influential Hollywood men including Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey had their careers ended and reputations destroyed after victims spoke up about their experiences of sexual abuse. Weinstein is now in prison, and Spacey is hiding in the shadows.
“[Kevin Spacey will] pop in an obscure Italian film, but basically his career in Hollywood is over,” Dr Rosewarne tells me.
While Hollywood, television and other conventional media outlets still cancel celebrities (just take a look at what’s happened to <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/6945-lauren-rosewarne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kanye West’s reputation</a>), most of the work now occurs on social media. Cancel culture thrives on platforms like Instagram and Twitter — which, love them or hate them, have the democratic power of allowing pretty much anyone to share their opinion. This includes voicing dissent when a celebrity, company or person in a position of authority has done something wrong. Cancelling someone can also involve ‘<a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/6945-lauren-rosewarne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doxxing</a>’, where their personal information and content is released to the public.
<blockquote>Cancel culture thrives on platforms like Instagram and Twitter — which, love them or hate them, have the democratic power of allowing pretty much anyone to share their opinion. </blockquote>
In fact, well-loved and popular YouTuber <a style="color: #d7435d;" href="https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/01/06/why-is-jenna-marbles-cancelled-vlogger-makes-emotional-apology-video-and-quits-youtube/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jenna Marbles</a> took herself off the platform and all social media in response to cancel culture. She was ashamed of her past videos which included racist remarks and blackface and did not want to risk harming watchers with any more content.
Although a single individual can’t cancel a public figure, they can stop supporting them on an individual scale.
“If you’re pissed off about JK Rowling, for example, and want to see her cancelled, what you can do as an individual is not buy her stuff and not follow her on social media,” Dr Rosewarne explains. “In a tiny way, you can take away her cultural imprint.”
However, the lines of what’s deemed worthy of ‘cancelling’ someone over has muddied. 
“It’s become such a political football and has been used by all sides of the political spectrum to describe online behaviour,” Dr Rosewarne says.
<div id="attachment_9411" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9411" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9411" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/visuals-2TS23o0-pUc-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" />Image from Unsplash.</div>
As it’s become so easy to cancel people over social media, it’s now common practice to dig up old, controversial content as evidence to publicly shun creators and celebrities. As Dr Rosewarne explains, these aren’t instances of cancel culture in its original form. “I think moreso labels such as ‘shaming’ work better,” she says. 
A prime example of this is the <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tiktoker-mikayla-nogueira-faces-backlash-previously-saying-influencer-rcna49458" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent backlash TikToker Mikayla Nogueira faced</a>. A video of hers from 2021 resurfaced where she complained being an influencer was hard. In an exasperated tone, the short clip (taken out of context) shows Mikayla speaking to the camera: “Try being an influencer for a day. Try it.”
Outraged, TikTokers flooded the creator with hate, furious with how inconsiderate Mikayla was being. Calls to cancel her were being made. And sure, Mikayla’s comment may have been inconsiderate. There are many difficult jobs in the workforce, with numerous that are arguably harder than influencing. But is it really worth being cancelled over?
As a feminist, this leads me to wonder: should feminists be subscribing to and participating in this culture at all now that it has deviated from its original intention?
People get frustrated. People have bad days. Cancel culture no longer accounts for this, resulting in many celebrities and influencers being cancelled for miniscule mistakes they’ve made in their past. This creates toxic online communities, relationships and environments.
This is so far from what cancel culture used to be. Dr Rosewarne explains that because people in the spotlight are mostly cancelled for such minor issues, they never stay that way.“There are some people who become persona non grata, we’re not going to task them anymore but that’s very rare, most people have actually survived in various ways,” Dr Rosewarne tells me. “That doesn’t mean they haven’t taken hits, but most have survived.”
<div id="attachment_9409" style="width: 710px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-9409" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-9409" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/prateek-katyal-xv7-GlvBLFw-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="467" />Image by Prateek Katyal on Unsplash.</div>
Cancel culture is no longer doing what it originally set out to do: holding people accountable for inexcusable actions and punishing them. And this is because on the spectrum of offences, quite a few cancel-ees haven’t committed anything that drastic, hence undermining the seriousness of cancel culture and rendering it useless. 
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s impossible to cancel somebody. If the shoe fits, they’ll wear it (rather unwillingly). However, as an audience we need to stop being keyboard warriors and rushing to cancel some influencer because of their selfish comment. Hold them accountable, sure, but don’t threaten to cancel them over something minute on the scale of intolerable offences. 
A great way to consider respectfully holding people accountable is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/style/loretta-ross-smith-college-cancel-culture.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calling-in</a>, rather than publicly shaming them through calling-out. By having discreet, two-way conversations via dms or IRL, we can inform others why their actions are offensive and give them the opportunity to redeem themselves without public shaming.
<blockquote>When I first learned about it, I was all for cancel culture. A way to propel the feminist movement forward and stand up for our bodily autonomy? Sign me up. This was a way we could finally have our voices heard; to make real change&#8230; But with what cancel culture has become now? I’d rather sit this one out.</blockquote>
In my humble opinion, feminists (and all people, really) should not subscribe to cancel culture as it currently stands. It’s a harmful and detrimental cause that has lost the powerful meaning and purpose it originally held. When I first learned about it, I was all for cancel culture. A way to propel the feminist movement forward and stand up for our bodily autonomy? Sign me up. This was a way we could finally have our voices heard; to make real change. We could make genuine progress rather than remaining silent and being afraid of what would happen if we spoke up for our rights. But with what cancel culture has become now? I’d rather sit this one out.
Let&#8217;s bring back the original purpose of cancel culture: boycotting those who are committing heinous, unacceptable acts and causing damage to those around them. Rather than cancelling people for minor mistakes, if appropriate we should make the effort to call-in those who have offended us, and start meaningful conversations. While some might never change, many of us have the capacity to reflect on our mistakes and evolve — and cancel culture needs to account for that.
<hr />
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignleft wp-image-9403" src="https://rosie.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Alyssa-1-211x300.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="213" /> ALYSSA FORATO
Alyssa is a writer based in Naarm/Melbourne, currently studying her final year of journalism at RMIT. When she isn’t busy typing away at her keyboard, you’ll find Alyssa out for a walk or buried in a book, knitting needles in hand.

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Has cancel culture lost all original meaning and purpose?

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