Listening to the silenced

How Dr Monique Mulholland is championing the voices of young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds

Flinders University’s values and ethos encourage staff and students to ‘champion diversity and equality of opportunity, respecting peoples from all nations, cultures and backgrounds.

Flinders’ values were created after extensive consultation with staff and students, and are an indicator of the inclusive and accepting society the University strives for. However, in many cases, societies set values without consultation, often from a position of power, resulting in inequalities that cannot be ignored.

“I’ve always been interested in social justice and inequality. The voices of those that are marginalised are persistently silenced, and this is the case for young people who are too often spoken for, and about.”

White, cis-gendered, middle class and able-bodied, Senior Lecturer Dr Monique Mulholland
has always been aware that her highly privileged life in Australia is not the norm for many. She is also aware that teachers and educators often make assumptions, based on outdated societal values, that their content will appeal to everyone, when in the main it mostly serves the interests of white Anglo people like herself.

“I want students to think critically about power and inequality. Despite historic privileged white, western, middle-class knowledges, I believe teaching can be a place that we can try and radically transform and decolonise what knowledge counts, and whose perspectives are most valued.”

Monique delves into the ways in which societies shape gender and sexuality norms, and how these norms privilege some identities, and marginalise others. She works mainly in the space of sexual health, and sexuality and relationships education. At present, Monique is undertaking a project that focuses on the ways in which sexuality education does not adequately address the needs and experiences of young people from different cultural and religious backgrounds.

“I want to help give voice and agency to young people, and more particularly young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds who are set up as ‘cultural others’ in this country. In teaching about gender and sexuality, I am passionate to explore with students the ways in which gender and sexuality norms are also affected by race, class, and disability.”

Monique’s research and teaching is fearlessly helping make sure the University is a place that can help radically transform inequality, rather than reproducing it.

“I will always listen to voices that continue to challenge the inequalities that exist in this country.”

The work of academics such as Dr Monique Mulholland plays a major part in making Flinders an inclusive and welcoming place to study.

You’ll find a huge selection of helpful articles online, but our student support team is always happy to meet with parents and students face-to-face, to help you both see eye-to-eye.