Semper Floreat is the University of Queensland Union's free & independent student newspaper.
In 19th century Queensland, the age of consent was twelve. Upon marriage, women lost what little autonomy they had. They were often forced to resign, and the law prevented them from owning property or investments, obtaining divorces easily, or retaining custody of their children. There were no laws against marital rape or domestic violence. Women’s […]
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I’m sure we all heard the recent audio clip of Triple M radio host Marty Sheargold passionately claiming on-air to the nation “God, don’t ladies carry on. Jesus Christ, there is no end of it. Honestly, endometriosis, and this is controversial… It’s made up.” Speaking from someone who suffers with this disease, I can assure […]
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Gisèle Pelicot is the 72-year-old woman who was at the centre of a mass rape trial in France in 2024 that shocked nations worldwide. It was not just the horrific nature of the abuse she suffered that made her a household name, but also her unwavering strength and determination. The trial has evoked criticism on […]
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Look upon the mighty halls, Filled with canvases and likenesses Perhaps you may happen upon a plaque A great artist was inspired by his beautiful wife Or fiancé Or daughter Never her on her own Her as adjacent to him He’ll immortalise her likeness to the canvas or marble Proclaiming her as his muse For […]
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Where has the time gone Since this all first begun Since we last had a sleepover And spent a day out in the sun? Since I last heard your laughter And watched you first ride a bike It’s been months since I’ve seen you Though it feels like just last night I can’t remember the […]
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She is beyond words, beyond language, but I am a romantic, so I will try to explain anyway how each and every word I speak belongs to you, is made of you, even if you will never read them She walks with a confidence, undeserved as if she doesn’t create fire hazards on a flat […]
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In Studio Morra, Naples, 1974, there was a table with seventy-two objects. These objects varied from instruments of pleasure to instruments of pain, such as a rose, lipstick, a knife, and a gun with a bullet. Standing at the centre of this performative art piece was Marina Abramović, a Serbian conceptual and performance artist who […]
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It must seem an unreachable fantasy to those who lack the freedoms to sing into the clouded skies as they realise their lifetime of dreams, despite the relentless hammering of the jealousy-filled voices below. Who can reach out their delicate fingers, and simply caress the horizons of human existence itself. The societies with such freedoms […]
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It’s a bright summer morning in 2008 in New Delhi, India, as a mum prepares her daughter for school. The mum switches on the television to keep her kid occupied while she bustles in and out of the kitchen. The Best of Both Worlds from Hannah Montana plays on Disney Channel India. Life is good. […]
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I cannot believe a plane is about to embark me on a journey where I have always been told “don’t go” “it’s too risky” as a solo, young, woman, who does not speak the language. One of the countries I am about to visit is listed as one of the “most DANGEROUS countries” in the […]
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