A landmark survey by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) has highlighted good news: that Australians’ support for gender equality is the strongest it has been in nearly a decade.
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Gender equality matters because the strongest predictor of attitudinal support for violence, is far and away, low support for gender equality.
Gender inequality lies at the core of the problem of violence against women, and gender equality is at the heart of the solution.
In other words, if you agree with the majority of Australians that gender equality is important in Australia, chances are, you’re also someone who rejects violence against women in all its forms.
The National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) suggests that overall, more Australians than previously recorded (in 2009 and 2013 reports) understand the problem of violence against women.
And more say they would act, or like to act, when witnessing violence or disrespect towards women.
But we can’t afford to be complacent. The NCAS data also demonstrates there is a clear disconnect between our society’s perception and the reality of violence against women in this country.
For example, there has been a concerning decline in people’s awareness that men are the primary perpetrators of family violence (down 22 per cent since 1995), and that women are more likely than men to experience physical harm due to this violence (down eight per cent since 2009).
This is despite the fact that women are nearly three times more likely than men to experience intimate partner violence, and four times more likely than men to experience sexual violence.
Australian women are almost four times more likely than men to be hospitalised after being assaulted by their spouse or partner.
It seems many of us are also unable to identify what constitutes rape, with one in 10 Australians not seeing a problem with a man forcing his wife to have sex with him, and a further seven per cent not knowing whether or not it was OK.
While this is shocking, it also highlights the fact that many Australians need more clarity when it comes to consent and gendered violence, and there is a dire need for accurate information and education on what constitutes healthy relationships from the earliest of ages.
No matter who we are or where we come from, preventing violence against women starts with challenging attitudes, practices, norms and systems that support gender inequality.
And we’ve got to continue to fund evidence-based, long-term programs and initiatives that both educate and enable people to make change.
In that vein, we must challenge rigid gender stereotypes that restrict women to some things and men others, promote women’s independence and decision-making at home, at work and in public life, strengthen equal and respectful relationships, and call out disrespect when we see it.
NCAS tells us that while Australians largely support women’s independence in public life, there’s a way to go before men and women are seen as equals, with the same opportunities and decision-making powers in the home.
Change is slow, but the data tells us that overall, we are making progress.
No matter who we are or where we come from, preventing violence against women starts with challenging attitudes, practices, norms and systems that support gender inequality. And we’ve got to continue to fund evidence-based, long-term programs and initiatives that both educate and enable people to make change.
Understanding of violence against women has improved. Attitudes towards gender equality have improved, and attitudinal support for violence against women has declined.
Let’s take a moment to take stock, celebrate the important work being done to change these concerning attitudes, then get back to work and keep moving in the right direction together.
Patty Kinnersly is chief executive of Our Watch, the national organisation to prevent violence against women and their children.