Breaking Barriers - Melinda Tankard Reist

St Peters Life Symposium Series are proud to present Breaking Barriers

Featured Speaker: Melinda Tankard Reist

Have you noticed that your children seem to be growing up too fast? That they are worried about their appearance and more aware of sexual issues at earlier stages? Children and young people are bombarded with hypersexualized messages from media and popular culture.

Even small children are worried about their looks and physical appearance, shaped and conditioned at the earliest of ages by a dominant message that tells them they have to be ‘hot’ be liked and accepted. The lives of young people are increasingly socialised, conditioned and informed by exposure to porn related content online. They are exposed to this content not only before they have had sex, but often before their first kiss, with an average age of first exposure at 11.

Exposed to a pornified landscape, young people are ‘acting out’ through social media and sexting, putting their bodies on display for attention and judgement.

Drawing from current global literature on the subject, Melinda will explore with us how the proliferation of sexualized images and messages contributes to a distorted view of bodies, relationships and sexuality in young people, hampering their healthy physical emotional and social development. How can we address this toxic culture and raise happy, healthy and resilient kids?

Melinda is the co-founder of the grassroots campaigning movement, Collective Shout: for a world free of sexploitation, exposing corporations, advertisers and marketers who objectify women and sexualise girls to sell products and services.

Tickets $5.25 including a small processing fee. Purchase tickets at provided link.

PLEASE NOTE CONTENT WARNING: It is advised that Students and Children attending be aged 12+ 

Food & Drinks available for purchase on the night. Please note, there is a strict "No food or Drink" policy inside the St Peters Performing Arts Centre.

Please arrive at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm sharp start.