Working with rural year 10 students in the Hunter, my research showed that young people, mostly believe that men and women should be treated as equals, that sexual coercion was not OK and that anyone can say no to sex at any time. They also believed that the myths about sexual assault were just that - myths, not facts.

The concerning part was the not insignificant number of young people who believed that coercion in sex was OK. These young people also tended to support myths about sexual assault, such as women who wear revealing clothes are asking to be assaulted; if a person didn't scream, they weren't assaulted and "no" usually really means "yes". They were also more likely to support a patriarchal view of men and women.

I had hoped that things would have improved, but Sydney student Chanel Contos' online petition has allowed many young people to share their stories of unwanted and coercive experience of sexual assault.

Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, is also raising awareness of attitudes that support the perpetuation of sexual assault and this encouraged Brittany Higgins and others to come forward with their experience of sexual violence. Let's hope this year brings awareness, and an understanding, that attitudes towards women create the culture that perpetuates this violence.