Waking Up Melbourne is a diverse community exploring teachings from the Waking Up app. Learn more here.

Upcoming Events

Meditation Practice

Sun 3rd August
16:00 - 18:00Melbourne Connect

Monthly Gatherings

Sat 2nd August 1-4pm
Sat 13th September 1-4pm
Sat 11th October 1-4pm
Sat 8th November 1-4pm
Sat 7th December 1-4pmKathleen Syme Library
(Activity Room 1)

Things Men Can Do

To Promote Gender Equality

const items = [ "Cultivate humility and gratitude.", "Understand how being a man has made things easier.", "Share insights about male privilege with the people in your life and ask women how their experiences differ from yours.", "Identify your emotions and needs, and communicate them constructively.", "Learn how to receive criticism and rejection.", "Acknowledge and apologise when you realise that you have ‘stuffed up’.", "Work to expand your capacity for empathy.", "Engage with media made by women.", "Seek feminist mentorship.", "Notice how your attitudes and use of language might contribute to gendered power imbalances.", "Notice when women are interrupted while speaking.", "Negotiate the division of labour with your partner.", "Encourage women’s leadership in your workplace and community.", "Support women when they disclose an experience of gender-based harm or abuse.", "Speak up if a friend is acting disrespectfully toward a woman, and check on her to find out what she needs.", "Challenge other men when they make sexist comments or jokes, whether socially, at work or online.", "Understand and challenge rape-culture.", "Practice affirmative consent.", "Learn how to properly ask a woman out.", "Critically analyse your porn consumption.", "Be a role-model for defying gendered expectations.", "Develop safe spaces for vulnerability with other men.", "Commit to continuous learning and growth in promoting gender equality.", "Invite other men to join you in this work.", "Constructively overcome the challenges of being a man." ]; const resources = [ "These help shift one’s mindset from zero-sum competition to collaboration and soften the ego and its need to dominate or always be right.\n*examples/resources required*", "For example: Men face less risk of sexual harassment and have more freedom in public spaces. They are often assumed to be competent and are less judged for their appearance or career focus. Men are not expected to balance family and work as heavily. Media representation and acceptance of assertiveness further contribute to the ease with which men navigate social, professional, and personal spaces.", "Create a comfortable space for open dialogue: frame your thoughts humbly and ask open-ended questions. Listen actively—avoid interrupting and acknowledge their feelings. Be prepared for discomfort, recognise the emotional labor involved, and express gratitude for the conversation. Remain open to feedback for ongoing growth and take action based on what you learn.", "Use 'I' statements like 'I feel [emotion] when [situation] because I need [need].'\n *Why and How?*", "Express gratitude toward the person for voicing their perspective/preference. It takes courage to express something that others might not want to hear! \n Ask for clarification where needed, but ensure you don’t make the person feel obliged to justify themselves. \n Reflect on how you can move forward constructively. \n Finally, thank them again. In an age when it’s so easy to just ignore/ghost, their good-faith communication is a expression of authenticity and respect.", "Take responsibility for your actions without defensiveness or excuses.\n Be specific about what you did and why it was wrong, showing that you understand the impact. For example, say, 'I realise I interrupted you earlier, and that was disrespectful. I’m sorry.'\n Avoid minimising the issue or shifting blame. Commit to learning from the mistake and making changes to avoid repeating it.\n A sincere apology not only repairs trust but also demonstrates accountability and a willingness to grow.", "Practice being fully present in conversations: focus on understanding their emotions, perspectives, and needs (without judgment). \n Seek out diverse stories through books, media, or conversations that challenge your viewpoints and broaden your understanding of different lived experiences.", "Books, podcasts, films, blogs etc. \n Also recognise how algorithmic biases affect your feeds, and proactively seek influences who positively challenge your perception and understanding.\n For suggestions, see the resource page.", "Find women who are willing to regularly engage in constructive conversations and offer their perspectives on navigating gendered issues. \n Invite them to challenge you. \n Compensate them generously.", "Seek feedback from trusted peers who can provide insight into how your communication is perceived.\n Commit to continuous self-awareness and adjustment to foster equality in your interactions.", "Observe patterns of interruption, particularly when women are speaking, and reflect on whether these moments stem from unconscious biases.\n If you catch yourself interrupting, apologise and allow the woman to continue.\n In group settings, advocate by redirecting focus back to the interrupted speaker with statements like, 'I think [name] was making an important point.'", "Share your perspectives on workload and how it aligns with each other’s capacities, preferences, and schedules. Acknowledge any imbalances and express a willingness to adjust for fairness.\n Be specific about tasks and set clear expectations, ensuring the agreement feels equitable to both parties.\n Revisit the arrangement periodically to address changes in circumstances or feelings.\n Approach the conversation as a team effort, prioritising mutual respect and understanding to create a partnership that values both contributions equally. Commit to something equitable and role model fairness for your children and peers.", "Offer mentorship, challenge biases, and attend women-led initiatives. Encourage an inclusive environment and address barriers to ensure equal opportunities for women to lead.", "Support them emotionally. \n Be mindful of your own emotional reactions, ensuring your support remains centred on their needs rather than your discomfort. It can be confronting to hear a heavy story. So there may be a tendency to avoid the emotional discomfort and pivot to investigation or action. Resist those urges and just hold space for them to share. \n Avoid questioning their account or offering unsolicited advice—focus on validating their feelings and experiences. \n Allow them to lead regarding what they disclose and what they wish to do. \n Familiarise yourself with resources, such as counselling services or helplines, so you can provide practical assistance if needed.", "*How?*", "Approach the situation with respect, aiming to educate rather than shame. For example, you might you might begin curiously with ‘What do you mean by that?’, then 'That kind of joke perpetuates stereotypes and is harmful.' Encourage open dialogue by inviting them to consider the broader implications of their words. Set clear boundaries, showing that sexist behaviour isn’t acceptable in your presence.\n By speaking up and fostering a more respectful environment, you contribute to changing the culture around gender-based humour and attitudes. You also relieve women from the burden of defending themselves.", "*Why and How?*", "*When and How?*", "Your intention should be clear and she should feel safe to answer freely. If rejected, thank her for taking care of herself and respect her boundaries.", "Consider how the porn you watch portrays women, and reflect on whether it aligns with your values.", "Demonstrate that strength isn't defined by conformity, but by authenticity.\n also*Why and how*", "Set the tone with openness and authenticity.\n Share your own experiences, struggles, and emotions; demonstrate that it’s okay to be vulnerable. Encourage others to do the same by creating a non-judgmental, supportive environment. \n Foster trust by listening actively and offering empathy, not solutions unless asked. Respect each other’s boundaries and create a space where men can talk about mental health, relationships, fears, and aspirations. \n You might consider doing this deliberately and plan regular time with friends where you intentionally focus on this activity.", "Stay open to learning, whether through reading, listening to diverse perspectives, or reflecting on your own experiences.\n Mistakes will happen. Each one is an opportunity for growth. By remaining humble and dedicated to continuous improvement, you help create a more inclusive and equitable environment for everyone.", "Resources pending.", "This item could contain/consume:\n 1) Cultivate humility and gratitude\n 5) Learn how to receive criticism and rejection.\n 7) Work to expand your capacity for empathy.\n 17) Understand and challenge rape-culture. \n 18) Practice affirmative consent.\n 19) Learn how to properly ask a woman out.\n 21) Be a role-model for defying gendered expectations.\n22) Develop safe spaces for vulnerability with other men.\n 24) Invite other men to join you in this work.\n \n One source of resistance will be from men who defensively argue ''Men have it hard too. Being a man is not purely privilege!''\n Acknowledging men’s unique challenges in a constructive way validates their concerns and enables us to redirect that attention away from men’s rights personalities who propose a zero-sum approach whereby men’s self-interest requires they resist feminism and maintain dominance." ]; // Function to create the accordion function createAccordion1(containerId, items, resources) { const container = document.getElementById(containerId); items.forEach((item, index) => { const accordion1 = document.createElement('div'); accordion1.className = 'accordion1'; const header = document.createElement('div'); header.className = 'accordion1-header'; header.innerHTML = ` ${index + 1}.${item} `; const body = document.createElement('div'); body.className = 'accordion1-body'; body.innerText = resources[index] || "Resources pending."; header.addEventListener('click', () => { body.classList.toggle('open'); }); accordion1.appendChild(header); accordion1.appendChild(body); container.appendChild(accordion1); }); } // Create accordions for both containers createAccordion1('accordion1-container-1', items, resources);

About

Waking Up Melbourne is a diverse community brought together through the Waking Up app, exploring topics like meditation, non-dual awareness and ‘the good life’.

We regularly gather across Melbourne for group meditation, discussion, and social outings.We primarily communicate through Discord and WhatsApp, where we host group chats, plan events and more!Whether you're looking to establish a meditation practice or deepen your existing one, make new friends or explore what’s happening in your part of Melbourne, Waking Up Melbourne invites you to grow with us.

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