The Preatures' Isabella Manfredi On 'Q&A' #MeToo Special: 'Fault & Responsibility Are Two Different Things'

The Preatures singer Isabella Manfredi used her appearance on Q&A's #MeToo special last night to discuss a post she shared last year addressing her own experiences of sexual misconduct. 

Manfredi's statement, shared on the Sydney band's Facebook page in October, contained incidents of sexual harassment she has experienced in the music industry; the post generated over 1,000 'likes' and was shared over 100 times. 

"[The post] gave me a chance to not only have conversations with other women but to have conversations with the men in my life that I've never been able to have," Manfredi said on the ABC panel. 

"Real honest conversations."

Manfredi added that the #MeToo movement has been "a really positive thing for women to share their stories as a collective".

When asked how the movement has impacted Manfredi's male band members, the vocalist said it is important to engage men in the conversation. 

"The greatest thing is to lean forward to men and go 'We really need you guys to take some responsibility for this as well.'

"That doesn't mean that it's your fault. In fact, fault and responsibility are two different things.

"We seem to equate them with the same thing in our society, that for some reason taking responsibility means excepting blame or accepting fault. In fact, it doesn't. The true meaning of responsibility means to respond to a situation, to be responsive."

Manfredi also received over 200 emails in under two weeks from women who shared their own accounts. 

"Quite a few of those stories were clearly breaches of legalities," she said.

"In those cases, I did my best to consult those women on, 'What would you like to do? Would you like to take this any further?'

"But it's a huge step. And it goes back to that thing before, saying, no woman wants to be known as that girl - the 'sexual harassment girl' - she wants to be known for what she's doing a good job for."

Check out clips from last night's show below.

Isabella Manfredi: How would you say this campaign has impacted your career in the music industry? #QandA pic.twitter.com/gy03ZpHi91

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) February 15, 2018

Isabella Manfredi thinks it came from wanting to be heard, understood & believed in world that is not really your oyster #QandA pic.twitter.com/JvObLctB6R

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) February 15, 2018

Isabella Manfredi does not believe women should have to alter their behaviour. @catharinelumby hopes companies will be called out #QandA pic.twitter.com/eVWkdBs1Wn

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) February 15, 2018

Isabella Manfredi thinks it's a huge step and no one wants to be known as 'the sexual harassment girl' #QandA pic.twitter.com/RzWLz6FpGn

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) February 15, 2018