To mark International Women’s Day, we spoke to a woman who is not afraid to get her hands dirty when it comes to fighting for equality.
In 2012, Julie Bartlett was named NEXT Woman of the Year and was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her work to change the lives of thousands of young people with disabilities and their families, through StarJam in 2013.
Now, she is taking up the fight for young women with SOUL, a Kiwi charity she founded which is dedicated to replacing prejudice and discrimination with respect and empowerment, especially towards girls and young women.
“There is still discrimination towards girls and young women in all kinds of ways. And girls who are ‘different’ don’t get the same opportunities in life as ‘regular’ Kiwi girls do, especially migrants and refugees,” Bartlett says.
“That’s why SOUL is taking a completely different approach; an exclusively positive one by shining a light on discrimination, with love. SOUL’s programmes empower girls to break free of the constraints placed upon them and motivate them to become their own role model.”
Across 10 new “soulcricles”, the organisation encourages girls from all walks of life to meet – in person and online – and, with the guidance of mentors, learn new life skills while building a circle of trust and friendship. The organisation also uses social media and video to tell thought-provoking stories to make people think and laugh – and ultimately change their behaviour.
SOUL founder, Julie Bartlett.
Julie, what is SOUL and why is there a need for an organisation like it?
After founding and leading StarJam for 12 years, I felt I could take on a bigger challenge. I wanted to find out if there was one underlying cause for all the challenges that seem to face our young people today – especially girls – and address it.
It’s my belief that the effects of prejudice and discrimination are a key cause of underachieving, poverty, crime, family violence and suicide. These are very difficult subjects so talk about, so let’s not talk about them.
We couldn’t find any programmes in New Zealand that gave girls the opportunity to be part of an organisation that would empower them to be free of the consequences of prejudice. To ensure the change endures, SOUL’s programmes give the girls the opportunity of ‘paying it forward’ so even more girls can benefit.
What, in your opinion, is the toughest challenge facing young women today?
The increasing pressures to look like someone they are not, think they should do things they know they shouldn’t and feeling they shouldn’t rock the boat. These pressures have been around a long time but now are exaggerated by the online world, especially social media.
SOUL is using humour and positivity though videos and social media to tackle the issue – why?
Everyone has conscious or unconscious biases, it’s part of human nature. So instead of lobbying, protesting or guilt-tripping, which is a ‘turn off’, we believe people’s prejudices will dissolve when they can laugh about them, even their own.
Who are some examples of SOUL role models?
We call them SOULmodels! There are well known SOULmodels like Lorde and Lydia Ko. Others are lesser known girls who have risen above social conditioning and cultural constraints. You just know them when you meet them.
If you could go back, what advice would you have for the 15-year-old you?
Keep focused on your own dreams and priorities, not the expectations that others put on you.
What’s the hardest challenge you have personally had to overcome?
To overcome my mother’s expectations for me, including that I would leave school early and become a bank teller.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It’s about being connected to women all over the world; being in sync with half of the population of this beautiful planet.
To learn more about the organisation, visit soul.kiwi
