We are The GEAC (The Gender Equality and Awareness Club), and we stand for gender equality for all people.

 We started as a group of individuals who were dissatisfied with the casual harassment and sexism integrated into our society, and so we came together to work at challenging the status quo which we have grown up with. This status quo hurts all of us in different ways, so that is why we are so passionate about changing it.

The GEAC held its first rally in the last few weeks of Term One. On that Thursday lunchtime, we filled the Aurora Center with students and teachers alike, standing together against sexual violence and harrasment. This was also a show of solidarity for our peers from Christchurch Girls’ High School. It was an amazing experience, and everyone came away with a sense of community and hope for the future. Stuff wrote an article about our rally, and we were really proud of how this article portrayed our club.

Sexual harassment, casual sexism, and gender inequality will continue to infect our society for as long as we do nothing. It happens on every level of society, and it is not okay. We are here to speak up, speak out, and change our status quo. We are here to support our fellow students and teachers. We are The GEAC, and this is just the beginning.