Why Global Citizens Should Care
Gender discrimination remains a prevalent issue in Australia. Women around the country continue to earn significantly less than men and face heightened levels of gender-based violence. Girls and women deserve to be treated as equals. You can take action for gender equality here.

The iconic "Fearless Girl" statue, a celebrated symbol of female empowerment, is coming to Melbourne.

Commissioned for International Women’s Day, the bronze sculpture will be placed in Melbourne’s renowned Federation Square for two years, before finding a permanent home somewhere amongst the city’s many top-rated attractions.

Take Action: Know the Stats and Inspire Confidence Among Girls

"We are proud to be bringing Fearless Girl to Australia,” said CEO of Maurice Blackburn Jacob Varghese, the company responsible for bringing the sculpture to Australia alongside industry super funds HESTA and Cbus.  

"Fearless Girl will be a reminder to Australian workplaces that we must keep up the fight for gender equality, including by tackling entrenched pay gaps, increasing the number of women in leadership positions, and providing flexible work environments,” he added.

Melburnians have been quick to offer suggestions for the sculptures permanent home. The steps of Flinders Street Station, outside Parliament House, or within the Botanic Gardens have all been popular proposals.  

Mary Crooks, executive director of Victorian Women’s Trust, told the Herald Sun she hoped the sculpture would encourage other Indo-Pacific cities to create their own public pieces that honor women.

"It’s wonderful. Hopefully it triggers energy in other cities and towns,” Crooks told the Herald Sun. “We need to keep doing the hard yards — we are not even close to equality.”

Women are significantly underrepresented within high-ranking political and corporate positions throughout Australia. They hold less than a third of all parliamentary seats and fewer than a quarter of ministerial posts.

Despite a gradually improving gender pay gap, Australian men still out-earn women by 21.3%.

The bronze sculpture of the young girl with her hands on her hips initially took the world by storm when she was unveiled in front of the Wall Street charging bull statue in New York in 2017. Rather than “staring down the bull”, the original girl was moved last year to outside the New York stock exchange.

Two other identical statues live in Oslo and Cape Town.

TopicsGender EqualityAustraliaMelbourneFearless Girl

Editorial

Demand Equity

The ‘Fearless Girl’ Statue Is Coming to Melbourne

By Madeleine Keck