ICYMI, this Sunday the 8th of March is International Women’s Day. It’s a day to recognise and appreciate the women around us but – as the name suggests – it’s just as much a day to support and lift up all women around the world, including Indigenous women.
Tiddas4Tiddas is a social media initiative and podcast empowering Indigenous women by telling their stories and helping them know their worth.
The GOAT team was lucky enough to speak to Tiddas4Tiddas founder Marlee Silva on the latest ep of It’s Been A Big Day For… about the challenges and pressure Indigenous women face in Australia and how we can support women not just on International Women’s Day, but all year round.
Listen to our chat with Silva on It’s Been A Big Day For… below:
“Tidda is an Aboriginal slang word that we use on the East Coast and it means sister,” Silva explained. “It’s something I grew up calling every Aboriginal girl in my life, regardless of whether I was related to them or not.”
“It’s all about supporting each other and cheering each other, and it’s for all women.”
When asked about the hurdles young Indigenous women are facing, Silva said, “There’s still massive challenges around the expectations that other people have of Indigenous women. I used to work in high schools with young girls and you’re not expected to achieve much. The bar is set very low – it’s a miracle if you finish Year 12. That’s the attitude, but it’s not the case.”
Silva also shared her advice on how to show support. “I think it’s about not being afraid to be vulnerable, to drop your ego and be honest about where you’re at in your relationship with Indigenous Australia. We’re all on different journeys and there’s nothing wrong with not knowing but there’s something wrong with not knowing and not trying to do better, or know more.”
“When you are listening, or stopping to listen to Aboriginal voices, listen to learn, not to respond. Quite often, people slide into your DMs with a loaded question that you know is backed up by a very well-rehearsed debate about ‘why you’re wrong and I’m right.’ Because we’ve been so absent from so many conversations for over 250 years it is about us retelling our truths and our history and reclaiming that.”
It’s so important we continue to educate ourselves, appreciate and respect the Aboriginal land we live on, and listen to the stories of others, especially this International Women’s Day. You can follow Tiddas4Tiddas on Instagram or listen to the Tiddas4Tiddas podcast for more incredible and inspiring content.