3 Simple Ways To Do Something About Disrespect

But sometimes it seems hard.

Or it can feel awkward.

And you don’t want to feel like you're making things worse or ‘killing the mood’.

While 70% of Australians want extra tips to take action, only a small portion of us feel confident enough to actually do something when we see disrespect.

It seems like maybe people don’t do anything because they’re not comfortable, they may not feel safe or they’re unsure howto call out disrespect.

Have a quick think about whether you step in when you see disrespectful behaviour.

Now, ask yourself what you could do to call it out.

Calling out disrespectful behaviour doesn’t have to end up in an argument, a fight, or you losing some of your mates.

It doesn’t have to be a massive deal to make a change.

If you see or hear something disrespectful, there are ways you can make a real impact.

It’s not always easy to take action, and you shouldn’t do anything that makes you feel unsafe.

Here are 3 simple ways you can try without putting yourself or anybody at risk:

What Can You Do To Call Out Disrespect Toward Women?

1. Show that disrespect isn't okay

You can show you don’t think what’s been said is okay without even saying anything at all.

Rolling your eyes or not laughing along is a good start.

That awkward silence and the things you don’t say can go a long way towards making disrespect less popular.

2. Support women who experience disrespect

You can support women who are being disrespected by asking if they’re okay and acknowledging what has happened to them, whether it’s in person or by sending a message.

You can also share and like comments online that are pointing out disrespect towards women.

3. Speak up when you see or hear disrespect

You can speak up by purposely changing the topic of conversation or asking them to stop.

Make sure you talk about the values, comments and behaviours rather than the person to keep it constructive.

You could point out double standards, like:

• ‘We don’t talk about our guy friends' clothes or bodies, how about we quit doing it about girl mates?’
• Or make it about how it makes youfeel with something like 'I really don’t like it when we talk about women like that'

Whether you speak up at the time or days later, it can still have a huge impact.

Stepping in and calling out disrespectful behaviour can definitely be a scary thing to do, especially if the person that you’re calling out is one of your mates.

The best way to do it is to already have a few ideas about what you will do and say in mind so that you don’t freeze in the moment.

Remember, your actions, no matter how small, will make a difference.