How My Family Stories Birthed a Feminist

My Aunty Kath, from the former seaport town of Port Augusta, South Australia, had this chic old-style, two-door toaster with flip-down sides. It would produce the crunchiest golden bread one could ever desire, and she knew precisely when to flip it. Toasters back then had no timer or fancy dial to determine the shade of your toast. Breakfast was made on instinct, and this retro appliance held up throughout my childhood. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

A country woman, all heart, a business owner and unequivocally a feminist was my Aunty Kath. During World War II, she transported injured soldiers as an ambulance driver, in a role primarily reserved for men.

But this was wartime, and with the men away, women went to work.

They took on all sorts of jobs, running farms, shops, and bookkeeping to keep their households afloat and, of course, put food on the table. As a member of the Australian Women's Land Army, Aunty Kath, like women everywhere, became the head of the household and the boss of their family, asserting a degree of economic independence never previously attained. Yet, women's employment was only encouraged as long as the war was on, and upon the men's return, many stepped into these positions, replacing women workers.

After years of shouldering multiple responsibilities, women were suddenly faced with one: housewife. Undoubtedly an important role, but limiting. Unsurprisingly, an uprising of feminists emerged.

Etched in my brain are countless stories like this that I've collected along the road of life, and the correlation to their impact on my own life is evident. Other tales from my Dad further compound its impact, as does the unwavering support of my two brothers and my sister, who cheer on all my endeavours.?

My mother, the daughter of Irish immigrants, is a multi-faceted woman who has taught me resilience, strength, and confidence to speak out against injustices despite the naysayers. Resolute in her views, my Mum is black and white on almost every issue. She doesn't operate in the grey and profoundly believes in right and wrong. For these reasons and a million more, I've never looked at any job position and pondered gender. If a man can do it, so can I. It took me the last two years to realise that this belief was ingrained in me, fully displayed in a keynote I did aptly titled "If He Can, I Can."

By sharing these stories, I aim to demonstrate how our roots formulate our beliefs and emphasise the need for awareness of those in our lives, both past and present. We all play a prominent role in someone's life, and we teach without sometimes knowing the lessons we impart. So many women sacrificed, spoke up, and fought for greater access to opportunities and education that I have benefited from. Lately, I've become fixated on paying it forward and asking myself, "What more can I do for the next generation of women entering workplaces and universities?"

I didn't grow up dreaming of marriage and children, yet they do hold appeal, and so does building something, like a business, a house, or wealth. Can we have it all? I believe so, but I am an optimist and never rule out anything.

Right now, women and young girls worldwide confront tremendous challenges—from the inability to access food, education, and employment to the threat of gender-based violence. In Australia, violence against women is a serious and widespread problem. Working women encounter a lack of representation, pay disparity, discrimination and sexual harassment.

Last year, a McKinsey report found that the number one reason women leaders switch jobs is a desire to advance, but they face stronger headwinds than men.

These insights carry weight and also agitate, boiling over into a desire to be more influential in making a difference.?I capture women's and men's workplace perspectives and experiences weekly. Often communicated in hallways, on the street, in coffee shops, and through direct messages. As an ardent feminist, I recognise that it's hard to drive change and put your name out there for fear of retribution, one common thread women and numerous male allies frequently raise. But these snippets, these worthwhile understandings, will help shape our collective future.?

There is a need to unite both genders to explore themes and work towards achieving gender equality.?And I hope that with this article, and many more to come, we can continue these important conversations.