Students at the University of Melbourne have been given workshops on “male privilege” after other students complained about their “gaslighting” when they felt they were being talked over in class, The Australian reports.

They have been told to behave more like women by curbing their over-confidence and dominating behaviour, allowing other students to feel more involved in lessons and able to speak up.

The workshop, called “how privilege manifests itself in tutorials” also asked men to reconsider their use of “Australian banter” so as not to exclude students from other backgrounds.

“Ways for men not to dominate tutorials: acknowledging the race and gender problem in order to fix it,” a report from the session says. “Questioning yourself, when you want to speak in a tutorial, as to why you want to speak. Is it to self-aggrandise or to learn and contribute.”



The report also advises female students against minimising the importance of their own input by using statements like “this is probably stupid but ...”.



“Women should stop second-guessing their intelligence,” it says.



“But men should learn how to speak like women (and) not speak with absolute confidence when they are in fact not sure or expressing an opinion.”

The workshops were reportedly well-attended, although some have questioned how they may affect freedom of speech.

Bella d’Abrera, The Institute of Public Affairs’ director of foundations of Western civilisation, said “By asking men to tone down ‘Australian banter’ and to ‘speak like women’, the (student union) is simultaneously discriminating against men and patronising women.

“The workshops are a direct assault on masculinity and are designed to make men feel ashamed of being men.”

The student union has yet to comment.