Young Women's Alliance | gender justice

Young Women's Policy Submission

A social impact initiative aiming to improve women's life outcomes through data and consultation-driven policies and programs.

YWPS focuses on the critical but tumultuous decade of 18-28.

During this decade, women face heightened risks of gender discrimination, sexual assault, political marginalisation, and life-ending violence, yet lack the social, political, or financial capital to counter these challenges. This produces a dual disadvantage.

Despite this, the Australian Government’s 10-year strategy for gender equality makes 1 mention of young women. Despite this, the National Women’s Alliances — the core body

representing Australian women — have no organisation for young women. Despite this, academic literature largely does not mention the intersection of youth and gender.

YWPS aims to correct the clear epistemic ignorance of young women. Ignorance springs disadvantage; through recognition and action, progress blooms.

Our Policy Submission is due in August 2024 to state and federal governments.

YWPS Launch Events

Evidence

We are bombarded with opinions on gender issues - we've gone too far, feminism is robbing men of rights, we haven’t done enough, the sexual revolution has screwed us, literally - but what does the evidence indicate about being young, female, and Australian?

YWPS relies on evidence and data to establish Our Why - why we exist and focus on young women.

Young women experience significant gender discrimination, violence, and disadvantage because of their gender

51% of Australian women in their 20's have experienced sexual violence; young women are subjected to violence at higher rates than women of any other age group

Young women's mental wellbeing is significantly compromised by gender inequality

50% of young Australian women are living with a mental health disorder

Young women's financial security is hampered

KPMG analysis demonstrated that when the presence of women in an industry increases, pay declines; young women are disproportionately affected by unequal pay

Young women have no direct avenue for connecting their opinions and experiences with policy change

72% of young Australian women feel Australian politics is NOT an inclusive or equal space for them; 97% desire to be politically involved

Gender data gaps, research gaps, and limited policy evaluation hinder progress on gender issues and each of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Australia has a gender data gap of 51.6%

There has been NO systematic gathering of young Australian women's experiences, and asks for policy change; state and Commonwealth policies have limited evaluation frameworks

YWPS Solution

Centralise Consultation

National Listening Tour

Strategic Partnerships

National Research Project

Policy Submission

Evaluation Tool

Research Project & Policy Submission Focus

Targeting research & data gaps

Across Australia’s gender landscape (universities, institutes, NGOs, government)

As identified by UN Women Data Hub, ANROWS’ ANRA, AIHW, Per Capita, and YWPS’ own analysis of state and national gender strategies

Figuring out what we don’t know but need to know for measurable gender progress

Understanding optimal interventions & intervention points in young people’s lives

To prevent gender from creating an inescapable and compounding cycle of disadvantage

To prevent gender from creating a cycle of perpetration - of bias, discrimination, and/or violence

Identifying specific, detailed policy & systems solutions

Asking young people which specific solutions, implemented in which specific ways will tangibly improve their lives

Extending others’ consultations and research to create whole-of-community coordination

YWPS
Original
Research

Listening Tour

Through YWPS’ National Listening Tour we collected qualitative data about young women across Australia, with a focus on understanding how geography and gender impact life experiences and outcomes.

Gender Survey

Through YWPS’ National Gender Survey (NGS) we collected quantitative and qualitative data understanding young women and men’s lives across multiple areas (education, career, health, sex, relationships, family/friends, Australian society, political agency, etc.), painting a whole-of-life picture with a nationally representative sample. Our sample focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons. The survey also aimed to understand which specific policy solutions would improve young people’s lives, and how young people view their futures as well as that of Australia.

Literature Review

Literature review of existing gender and youth research and reports, with the goal of understanding the Australian gender landscape, identifying research and data gaps, and creating whole-of-community coordination.

Literature review of existing Australian state and federal government programs and policies aiming to improve young women's life experiences and outcomes; Literature review of internationally effective programs and policies improving young women's life experiences and outcomes.

Interviews

Through YWPS’ long-form interviews with a nationally representative sample of young women and men (focused on CALD, low-income, and rural/regional persons), we are understanding optimal interventions and points of intervention in young people’s lives to reduce gender disadvantage and/or perpetration of gender discrimination, as well as devising a model of effective consultation.

YWPS also conducted interviews with young women experiencing intersectional disadvantage. This includes a young single mother who had her first child at 15, lives in rural Queensland, is a survivor of FDSV both as a child and in adult relationships, does not have a relationship with her parents, was homeless, and does not have access to full-time employment. These interviews provide considerable insight into the inescapability of disadvantage, how systems can help mitigate disadvantage, and what needs to be done to support some of our most vulnerable Australians.

Academics

Through YWPS’ review with academics, we are dissecting how systems perpetuate and/or stymy gender issues, and how to align systems with Australia’s gender objectives. Academics have also been integral to YWPS’ research design and are providing constructive feedback on our policy recommendations.

Practioners

Through YWPS’ collaboration with MBCP (Men’s Behavioural Change Program) practitioners, we are dissecting factors leading to and deterring young men from engaging in FDSV, clearly identifying entry and exit points in these cycles.

Research Supported By People From

Policy Submission Objectives

Contribute to closing Australia’s 51.6% gender data gap, as identified by UN Women, as well as broader gender research and data gaps.

Recommend and seek to implement evidence-based policies and system changes that improve young women’s life outcomes and eliminate gender injustice in our generation.

Segment young women as a distinct group requiring special attention. Deploy a model for effective consultation of young women.

Present original, detailed research and findings on young women’s life experiences and outcomes.