In some ways, rural Victoria has very traditional gender roles that make me fairly uncomfortable.
They still have debutante balls in which a boy and girl attend together, but it apparently really is meant to be a celebration for teenaged girls. They have to learn several dances and all (but a few) wear white. People plan for the event for weeks and spend thousands of dollars, similar to our prom.
Since this event is largely about the girls, and all girls must be accompanied by a boy (who often don't want to go), the girls often have to beg boys to go with them. The girls are pressured into it by society, and the boys are pressured into it by the girls, enforcing this idea that girls need to be accompanied to be worthwhile. And what about those girls that don't get a date? How are they seen?
This isn't just about the youth, either. The big event in Warrnambool is the May races - a three day long horse racing event that culminates in a big race day that is a public holiday on town. The first day of the races is Ladies Day - a day of the races JUST for women. Why would the women need a day to themselves? Are they made to feel unwelcome at the main events? Are women traditionally sidelined? Did it begin as a tradition where women could go out without disturbing the delicate sensibilities of the menfolk, or was it more meant as a time where women could let loose without worrying about being seen doing inappropriate things by the men? Either way, it is strange to me that, in this day and age, this would still be seen as necessary.
However, it is necessary. Even to this day, there are men-only bars and areas at the main race events. Areas that literally exclude women. Again, why? In a so-called modern country, why are there such extreme gender separations?
This could be partly steeped in the indigenous traditions of this land. I know that in at least some indigenous Australian cultures, there were some roles traditionally separated by gender. The playing of the didgeridoo, for example, was only done by men in the local cultures, while women traditionally played the "clackers" (sticks whacked together for percussion). Have those traditional cultures influenced gender roles in the area, or are these strict gender roles holdovers from Victorian times?
And I still don't have an answer as to how trans people are accepted or not in the area. I know there are LGBTQ+ organizations in larger urban centres, and there were definitely queer folk in Melbourne, but I have not yet found such groups in Warrnambool or other rural locations. Not a good sign.
This is a traditionally farming area, and I get the impression that a lot of people are raised to continue in the family business - usually farming. If jobs are passed down through the family, then so will things like values and traditions - including gender roles. Is that why they are so strong in this area?
As for gender roles and school uniforms, I found an interesting story recently about a school (I don't recall where) that has banned skirts in effort to make uniforms more gender neutral. I have mixed feelings about this. In a way, it's great to not force gender roles. In another, it is super weird to me that we treat pants as if they are gender neutral, but skirts are not. Why can't kilts also be considered gender neutral? It normalizes men's clothes and makes women's clothes seem like something "other", and thus women seem like something "other". Is this really going to eliminate gender roles, or just send girls the message that to be accepted in society, they need to be more like men?
I have always had many thoughts around gender issues, and mostly I have been thinking lately that we have a long LONG way to go. My trip to Australia has only reinforced this idea.
They still have debutante balls in which a boy and girl attend together, but it apparently really is meant to be a celebration for teenaged girls. They have to learn several dances and all (but a few) wear white. People plan for the event for weeks and spend thousands of dollars, similar to our prom.
Since this event is largely about the girls, and all girls must be accompanied by a boy (who often don't want to go), the girls often have to beg boys to go with them. The girls are pressured into it by society, and the boys are pressured into it by the girls, enforcing this idea that girls need to be accompanied to be worthwhile. And what about those girls that don't get a date? How are they seen?
This isn't just about the youth, either. The big event in Warrnambool is the May races - a three day long horse racing event that culminates in a big race day that is a public holiday on town. The first day of the races is Ladies Day - a day of the races JUST for women. Why would the women need a day to themselves? Are they made to feel unwelcome at the main events? Are women traditionally sidelined? Did it begin as a tradition where women could go out without disturbing the delicate sensibilities of the menfolk, or was it more meant as a time where women could let loose without worrying about being seen doing inappropriate things by the men? Either way, it is strange to me that, in this day and age, this would still be seen as necessary.
However, it is necessary. Even to this day, there are men-only bars and areas at the main race events. Areas that literally exclude women. Again, why? In a so-called modern country, why are there such extreme gender separations?
This could be partly steeped in the indigenous traditions of this land. I know that in at least some indigenous Australian cultures, there were some roles traditionally separated by gender. The playing of the didgeridoo, for example, was only done by men in the local cultures, while women traditionally played the "clackers" (sticks whacked together for percussion). Have those traditional cultures influenced gender roles in the area, or are these strict gender roles holdovers from Victorian times?
And I still don't have an answer as to how trans people are accepted or not in the area. I know there are LGBTQ+ organizations in larger urban centres, and there were definitely queer folk in Melbourne, but I have not yet found such groups in Warrnambool or other rural locations. Not a good sign.
This is a traditionally farming area, and I get the impression that a lot of people are raised to continue in the family business - usually farming. If jobs are passed down through the family, then so will things like values and traditions - including gender roles. Is that why they are so strong in this area?
As for gender roles and school uniforms, I found an interesting story recently about a school (I don't recall where) that has banned skirts in effort to make uniforms more gender neutral. I have mixed feelings about this. In a way, it's great to not force gender roles. In another, it is super weird to me that we treat pants as if they are gender neutral, but skirts are not. Why can't kilts also be considered gender neutral? It normalizes men's clothes and makes women's clothes seem like something "other", and thus women seem like something "other". Is this really going to eliminate gender roles, or just send girls the message that to be accepted in society, they need to be more like men?
I have always had many thoughts around gender issues, and mostly I have been thinking lately that we have a long LONG way to go. My trip to Australia has only reinforced this idea.
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