skip navigation |
large text |
normal text |
tell a friend
Women's Health West
Give Violence the Flick'Give Violence the Flick'
An art project with young women inside
for Week Without Violence 2005
When the land follows you
And your heart follows the land
You (meet in the middle and) unite as one.
POWER
This is in my head and I don't care
This is how I feel and that will never change.
This is who I am. This is how I'll stay.
I can finally say 'this is who I am'.
This is who I wanna be.
I can't believe what I used to want to be.
That stereotypical 'size 8'
With long blonde hair and big beautiful blue eyes
Wearing the latest fashions
With the perfect apartment and boyfriend
Why would I want to stick my fingers down my throat?
Only to lose my last meal.
Why would I want to stick a syringe full of speed in my arm?
What has society conditions me to feel that way?
Why do I have to look like that?
What can't I just be me?
This is who I am.
This is how I'll stay, until I want to change it.
I can finally say 'this is who i am'.
This is who I wanna be right now.
I'm not trying to be anything but what I am, and that's enough.
MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
and other young women
who experience violence
You don't have to be the best drawer or writer.
You don't need an excuse to express yourself.
Do what makes you feel happy.
Everyone always told me I'd never make it.
Just because I'm sitting inside doesn't mean I'm rotting.
Been there, done it.
You go for it girl.
Don't let anyone hold you back.
You're all beautiful, you can do it.
No human, especially no woman, ever deserves to be beaten.
It's never ever your fault.
FLICK BOOK ANIMATIONS
Sometimes journals and diaries can be a way of documenting your feelings. Making a flick book can help process those things that words cannot express. They are cheap to make, can remain private and there is plenty of room to experiment. They can be abstract ideas such as the ones we filmed or incredibly detailed - it is up to you. They can contain texture, line art, words, collage, cut outs or photography.
Check out the 'Give Violence the Flick' flick book animations. You will need Quicktime. See the links at the side of this page for more on how you can make your own flick book.
FREE ANTI-VIOLENCE POSTCARDS
Organisations or individuals can contact us to order postcards.
About this project
The art, words and flick book animations here have been produced by young women in custody. They are part of the 'Give Violence the Flick' project for Week Without Violence 2005, supported by Women's Health West, the Western Region Family Violence Prevention Networks and Community West. Find out about other Week Without Violence events in the Western Region.
The project involved six workshops with young women inside, encouraging them to explore accessible forms of creative arts, including simple animation 'flick books', drawing and poetry to express their thoughts and feelings.
Order anti-violence postcards
As part of the project, free postcards are available incorporating the lizard image and other artwork and poetry, along with some key contacts for young people. See below for the front and back images from the postcard. Organisations or individuals can contact us to order postcards. Donations for postage appreciated.
Violence and
young people
In research commissioned by the federal government in 1999, young people aged 12 to 20 reported high levels of violence. The most prevalent form was bullying, experienced by 56% of males and 45% of females. Fifteen percent of both males and females reported personally experiencing domestic violence, while 14 percent of females reported experiencing rape or sexual assault. The 1996 ABS Women's Safety Survey showed that single women aged 18 to 24 are more at risk of sexual assault than any other group.
Both young men and women are vulnerable to violence, however women in particular are at risk of violence in intimate relationships. The same ABS survey found 7.3% of women aged 18 to 24 had experienced violence by their current partner in the previous year, compared to 2.1% of women aged 45 to 54. Eighteen percent of women calling Victoria's main family violence crisis line in 2002 were under 24 years of age.
Participant feedback
Reflecting on their involvement in the project, young women's comments included: "I never used to want to continue. Now I do. It improved my self esteem." "Good for people who have been through abuse to see that they are not the only ones. I thought I was the only one who had been through what I had." "The time that I have had allows me to be myself. I'ts been a non-judgemental environment. I learned on an emotional level." "Being in here, not many people come in. It's nice that you were thinking of us, bringing in resources." "Simple is beautiful."
More about flick books
Creature Features
Activity on the Move
A history of flip books
Post it note theatre
Youth anti-violence links
Our links section has a whole page of fantastic anti-violence links for young people, including to websites on on relationships, sexuality, intimate partner violence, family violence and heaps more.