Blog post by Mary Pirozek, Monash University Law Student and Amanda Selvarajah, Monash University Law Student
In mid 2018, Dr Becky Batagol approached me with an opportunity- she had just been in Canada and had seen something fantastic. In 2016, the Feminist Collective of the Faculty of Law at McGill University organised a photo campaign, showcasing a diversity of opinions why the law needs feminism. It was simple, yet powerful, with 33 individuals looking out into the camera and their reason superimposed above their head in their own handwriting. Since then, the team has gathered 1,000 portraits from across North America, organised National Forums and conferences, gathering feminist thinkers from students to judges. Becky wanted to do the same at Monash.
This is the first intercontinental campaign, and at first, I thought it would be easy- it was just a matter of lining people up, taking a photo, and writing up quotes. We quickly formed an excellent committee to organise all the elements- Laura Placella organises the social media, Amanda Selvarajah handled getting a photographer and other logistics, and Gabby Maginess handled the paperwork and the photography. Monash Education Academy soon came on board to fund the campaign, as it presented a way for Faculty members, especially the Monash Feminist Legal Studies Group, and students to work together. The photographer, Michelle McFarlane, was also very keen to lend her talents to the cause.
But the reality of what “Law Needs Feminism Because” required and what it hoped to achieve quickly became clear. To ask anyone to publicly use their face, name and identity to inspire a call to action for a cause so deeply necessary and overdue is a tall order. Standing in front of a camera at all is nerve-wracking, never mind when you’re doing so in the knowledge that you’ll be showcasing your innermost thoughts for a movement so intrinsically important to you.
It’s why I still stand in disbelief as I look at the bravery of our models and their diverse, honest and eye-opening points of view. Some focused on feminist jurisprudence, others the imminent career struggles and underrepresentation so many of us stand to face, many the experiences of women as they interact with the law and others provided insightful intersectional views, highlighting the pervasive gender inequalities that have found their way into the law from our larger, underlying social inequities. Across each photo, however, was also an undeniable optimism – that our words, this campaign and others like it would serve to push the needle forward.
Today, being able to see our photos side by side in the Law Library, serves as a powerful reminder that feminism and fights like it are won together and serves to offer just a few meaningful reasons as to why that fight is far from over. On an individual level, I had to confront my fears and insecurities to put my face and experience to the campaign. Yet when I saw my photo amongst all of the rest, all of those fears faded away. To take action requires a deep vulnerability but being part of a movement larger than yourself gives you strength to face that. The power of the Law Needs Feminism Movement is that it showcases each person’s unique perspective, acknowledging their individuality, and presents it as a collective which cannot be ignored.
So, we truly cannot be more grateful to Law Needs Feminism Because Canada, Dr Becky Batagol, the Monash Education Academy, Monash Feminist Legal Studies, the Monash Law Library, our executive committee and our incredible models for lending their time and support to such an incredible cause. For more information and further updates on Law Needs Feminism Because Monash please like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.
Mary Pirozek, Student in the Faculty of Law at Monash University
Amanda Selvarajah, Student in the Faculty of Law at Monash University
Themis Says 