Data - Women

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1j4TahoLeO2qLj4E_s4rijkgD2qpI79kUm2YtP0m09Qo/viewanalytics

Basic Data: 50 Responses (54% Undergrads, 46% Postgrads); 44% First Years

## What does feminism, femininity and/or womanhood mean to you?

> Women being treated the same as men and not having to fear men in day to day life 

> Owning & appreciating women and all that they have to contribute in society.

> Feminism=theory & activism Femininity= scary and sad Womanhood=menstrual period 

> Making each person feel equal and supporting others

> I believe that everyone should be given equal opportunities regardless of gender and that we should work together productively rather than seperatly on different areas.

> Gender should be known and recognized for better  

> Femininity is a set of labels and definitions that other people demand I be and accept with little regard for my own individuality. Feminism is attempting to rectify the social conditioning that had taught society that people who share my label are "lesser than".

> To me being female is a biological fact. While feminism is more political, femininity is more personality, and womanhood is more ideological. 

>Feminism - equality for all genders.

> Feminism to me is about educating, uplifting and informing young women, other women and men (people who identify outside of female) what women go through, what rights or benefits they lack and what can be done to make everyone more equal. Femininity and womanhood to me means the right to comfortably express myself as a woman in the workplace, at home and everyday life without judgement and without being scrutinised for not being a certain way.

> Weakness

> Feminism is what allows me the freedom to be myself, make choices that I want and to live my life without worrying about fullfilling outdated standards. I pride myself in my feminism and don't believe that femininity undoes the feminism in society. Often feminism goes hand in hand with an image of an alternative and societal-standard breaking woman but femininity must be embraced too. 

> Being strong and not taking abuse from anyone lying down

> Being recognised and valued for the female nurturing role women contribute to society.

> It means empowerment and confidence in my own skin.

> Knowing who I am as a woman in the world and knowing my capabilities regardless of my gender

> Being myself, not comparing myself to others and very removed from the left feminist movement - that this limiting and a backwards move for females.

> Difficult to put it in words but mostly embracing & being OK with physical changes over the month or over the years with mental & spiritual growth. 

> Being strong & independent; lifting other women up & supporting each other; being viewed & treated as equal to men; being given ample opportunity to speak up about topics we are passionate about & being heard; not being objectified by men; not having mental health conditions be seen as a weakness

> Women should be given equal opportunity and they have a unique set of attributes associated with being female 

Women are people with the same value as any other human but with some qualities that make them different in certain ways. Feminism seeks to celebrate those unique qualities of women and also bring to attention the unique vulnerabilities women have in order to balance the conversation in situations where women do not have equal voice and consideration with men.

> Being proud of being me and not having to be an idealogical figure prescribed by societies expectations

> It means freedom. Intersectionality. A TERF free zone. A SWERF free zone. It means choice and respect. 

> nteresting question, my attitude to all these feminist terms has change over my life. I used to think that I had to do everything and be everything to my husband and family. During my marriage, my husband served in the Australian Defence Forces and was regularly away from home and in these circumstances I was solo parenting and managing the household. Since he has left the defence force and I chose to start my degree and finally chase my dreams that were put on hold 15 years earlier. I have come to realise that I don't have to do it all or be it all. That in relationships, the load should be shared, even if it meets resistance and push back from those who have always been at the center of everything I did. Moving past the expectations of others can be problematic and cause friction.  

> Equal rights and conditions with male counterparts.

> Growing up I believed that women had successfully achieved equal rights in society but as I have grown up and experienced discrimination, unfair gender roles, and sexual assault I have seen how disadvantaged women still are and how important it is to have a voice about our rights. 

> Being able to do what I can regardless of stereotypes, being myself as a woman. 

> It means equal rights for women and to live freely without prejudice 

> equality of sex/gender 

> Equality, equity, nurturing, social expectations, 

> "feminism - I identify as a feminist - acknowledging my middle class, white, educated privilege, and knowing that great amounts of good have been fought for, but that there are still many more to go. Femininity - still makes me think ""girly"", a more traditional way of expressing being a ""lady"" in dress, behavior etc - go figure!

womanhood - all the different ways of being an adult female (including those who identify as female, not just the ones who were born that way genetically)"

> Feminism means fighting for women to be recognised as equals socially, economically and politically. 

> The ability to express yourself for who you are and beliefs

> equality, sensitivity

> I struggle with them. I look feminine but don't identify with it and I prefer equality to feminism. 

> Having the means and the opportunity to reach ones full potential 

> Sticking up for both male and female rights & equality 

> Not much

> Feminism is as political as existing, is an aim for equity, an ideology I identify myself with. Femininity is built by social constructs, which determine what is usually associated to women, in general, conforming to a variety of normalized standards. Womanhood is to identify yourself and feel as a woman, in many personal means, in which that a woman may signify for each one of us.

> Equality between men and women. 

> Empowering, equal

> Being independent to make decisions and live life without other's judgement.

> equal opportunity for everybody

> That women have the same rights as men and are treated equally. 

> equality 

> balancing masculine and feminine. Looking after myself physically - beauty, jewellery, health, looking a certain way.

> Feminism to me means that women are granted the same opportunity as their male counterparts. Women are believed, supported, and celebrated to the same capacity as men are. Women are championed for their physical, emotional, and unseen endurance in all aspects of life (professional, maternal etc environments)

> Feminism to me is expressing and exercising my rights as a woman without the fear of discrimination. It is also the feeling of empowerment that comes from being valued. 

> Femininity to me is being in tune with something innate that guides my daily choices. Womanhood is both an individual and community descriptor that tells me I represent and am represented by. It gives me strength.

> Having equal social and economical recognition as men. Knowing that I have no limits on what I can do.

## Do you live with any mental health conditions ? If yes, please specify.


> Anxiety

> Anxiety, depression, PTSD

> anxiety and depression 

> General anxiety disorder, clinical depression, ptsd

> Depression and anxiety

> Depression/Anxiety Suspected PTSD and/or Borderline Personality Problems

> Growing Depression and Anxiety. Constant Weakness Mentally and Physically. 

> Anxiety

> borderline personality disorder, complex ptsd, anxiety, depression, agoraphobia

> PTSD and Major Depressive Episode with Anxious Distress

> anxiety, depression 

> I have a diagnosed severe general anxiety disorder, relating to performance anxiety

> Anxiety, depression, anorexia nervosa

> depression and anxiety

> depression

> anxiety.

> Oldest child (19) has cystic fibrosis and youngest (12) has ASD, ADHD and intellectual impairment. I have also suffered from post natal depression after last child was born - it went undiagnosed for 3 years

> High Functioning Anxiety

> Anxiety 

> Stress, some anxiety, worry

> Social and general anxiety

> Anxiety, sometimes feelings of depression due to chronic health condition 

> OCD, anxiety and depression

> Generalised anxiety disorder 

> Anxiety and depression, my dude

> Anxiety

> Anxiety, OCD

> Borderline personality disorder and depression. 

> Depression 

> I suffer from anxiety and depression. Currently these conditions are exacerbated by menopause symptoms.

## Have you ever concealed your symptoms/diagnosis due to societal discourse and expectations around women?


## Do you have a physical disability?

## Has your physical disability, as a woman, affected your mental health? If yes, how?

It has symptoms that make me seem weak and I'm often told to just suck it up, as many people do not physically see my disability. It's hutful, demeaning, and makes me feel like I can't feel the pain that I do feel and, when I do, I should just mask it and put up with it.

made me ashamed, limited the amount of interactions i have with other women, made me unable to express myself

Finding loss of respect

## What resources could the university offer that would help with women specific mental health?

Better access to after hours shuttle bus.

More education around how to balance our needs & family needs. How to change negative thought patterns. Empowering messages

Bathrooms that facilitate the washing of my menstrual cup. Going into the disability bathrooms makes me feel that I’m abusing my position and that having a menstrual period is a disability. Regular bathrooms are not suitable for cleaning my menstrual cup. I have to go in and out of the cubicle at least three times.

Specific sexual assault support services

Encourage them to see a counselor if they may need to

free with good quality activities and motivation to do so

The university is mostly a welcoming place for women in the faculties I've belonged to and the staff have been approachable. Issues have mostly come from fellow (male) students; resources to help those students broaden their acceptance would help female students dealing with those issues not need to mitigate their every word and action.

I think the university could facilitate better interactions and ideas through modeling this in female faculty, staff, and student leaders

Nothing comes to mind

In another survery i completed for this i suggested therapy groups being helpful/useful maybe female (and female identifying) only groups could be useful.

Women-only events/emails sent providing free mental support that is private

Support groups and safe spaces, More advertisment of available services

spread awareness for 'woman centric' help available on campus to all women

Women with children centred support groups. Finding balance between being a mother and studying.

Im not sure as im only in my 1st year and still discovering

A better system for genuinely diagnosed anxiety disorders and the requirement to continually go to the doctor in times of stress relating to assessment extension

.

Maybe time management resources, as most women (particularly those in post grad courses) are working and running families as well.

Monthly Round-table support/ chat group (domestic & int'l students and staff all together)

support groups for women specific to certain mental health conditons

Support groups and or information

I don't know what there is now as I'm fairly new and haven't looked into what you have to offer.

I think they already do a great job

Information and campaigns targeted at people who assault us, TERFs and SWERFs.

female empowerment workshops, help groups for parents, more connectedness for parents.

Links to online resources. Wellness clinics provided by nursing/medicine/psychology students.

more group based counselling opportunities

Offer group chat supports that women can attend, along the lines of a afternoon tea chat group, similar to Eg mothers groups

It could create a space or society alike, for men and women and talk/ask questions and freely express themselves and what burdens them.

Assignment help for people struggling with anxiety

More diverse representations of women (e.g. in advertising most female students seem young, slim, pretty).

make it easier for women to study - I'm in education, a very female dominated area. Most of us work and study, yet our subjects are only offered in the two uni semesters, not over the Christmas break when we actually have time to study. Also, our assignments are almost uncannily always due in the middle of the school reporting season - stress isn't a mental health diagnosis, but it's a game changer!

By better tailoring class times to suits women's needs. Women bear the brunt of childcare and domestic duties, but too often my external workshops are scheduled at times when I would either be at work, or at home, trying to feed my kids. Uni assignments are often due during school holidays making it near on impossible for me to concentrate. It adds to the stresses of studying incredibly.

Support groups online

a psychologist i can email and get replies from. I hate phone calls and zoom

.

unsure

Unsure

crying sessions lmao

Beyond brochures, maybe videos and podcasts. Groups with regular meetings are also valuable.

Unsure

I don't know

Opportunities to connect with like-minded women.

advertisements including variety of people,

Female counsellors.

womens clubs

mindfullness/meditation/harmony circles where people feel safe

Not sure specifically, but at the times when I have needed extensions on my assignments, it has been slightly jarring to send a detailed letter written by my psychologist to university staff describing my condition and the reason I need an extension. Perhaps a little less daunting process and trusting empathy when requesting for extensions could be applied. Especially considering how unexpected depressive behaviour can come on sometimes.

Mature age women students should be taught differently/separately and their experience be valued more

Menopause support group. Strategies to assist with cognitive decline.

## What resources could the university offer and/or improve on that would help with mental health in general?

## How often are you physically active? How often do you get a general health check?

## What resources would you like the university to implement to assist women specific physical health?

## What resources would you like the university to implement to assist physical health in general? What is your addiction?

## How has the above affected you? What of the following resources would you consider using that the university could provide?

## Is there anything you would like to say about your mental health that could assist us with providing a better university for you?