In the lead up to the Violence Prevention - It's Everybody's Business Conference in October, the Bendigo Advertiser is profiling the conference ambassadors and speakers.
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OUR Watch chief executive Paul Linossier says recent surveys show young people have negative ideas about gender equality.
Mr Linossier - who is a speaker at October's violence prevention conference - said social media played a significant role in shaping young people's views.
"We have a resurgence of stereotypes emerging in that medium and the backdrop violence of (computer) games is likely to be a strong influence of attitudes," he said.
"We have to change how we approach that space.
"We're not having a balanced representation of women and relationships."
Mr Linossier said it was vital children and young adults were taught to value equality and to treat people with respect from the moment they were born.
"Setting the right examples for children, having the right conversations, the right physical interactions are really critical," he said.
He said people formed their values at a young age and children who grew up in violent households often went on to believe violence was normal.
But he said broader society also played a role in shaping children's values, with the media, schools and social groups influencing what children thought was acceptable.
He said his organisation was running a number of campaigns urging people to challenge gender stereotypes and speak out if people were victim-blaming.
One such campaign includes The Line, a Facebook group that encourages teens and young adults to discuss and challenge gender issues.
But Mr Linossier said despite the fact values were shaped during childhood, it was possible for adults to change.
He said society needed to send strong messages that violence - whether it be emotional, financial or physical - was not acceptable.
