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niyad

(112,435 posts)
Fri May 27, 2016, 02:12 PM May 2016

Our action on domestic violence is like throwing popcorn at the Taliban (but, NO war on women!!)

Our action on domestic violence is like throwing popcorn at the Taliban


All the policymaking in the world will mean nothing unless we accept that sexism sits at the heart of our society and that the real action on domestic violence must come from each of us

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A White Ribbon mural
‘There is the conspicuous compassion of White Ribbon Day ... but many Australians, of all genders, have a deeply nourished suspicion of women.’ Photograph: Gymea Bay Public School




I admire the courage of Rosie Batty, and I admire the courage of the many women who endure lives of quiet desperation in the shadows of a continuing cultural conspiracy in this country that limits domestic violence to the physical acts that capture public attention.

I endured an extremely violent marriage for 11 years in the 70s. It was physically violent, and I know now, as the definitions have finally widened, that it was socially, emotionally and financially violent as well. I was not allowed friends, and I was not allowed money. When I acquired both of these I was able to leave. But as so many women know, the violence does not end there. I am enduring to this day, in a thousand insidious ways, an ongoing regime of punishment from my ex-husband for the audacity of leaving. And often sons continue this generational entitlement to control women through access to grandchildren. Because they have been taught by their fathers, and the male-oriented, sport-obsessed culture of much of Australia.

When I was an equal opportunities adviser with the South Australian education department, I often asked students to collect articles from major newspapers about men, and about women. It was enlightening, and to some (usually the girls) a distressing awakening. Not simply because of the stereotypes conveyed, but the sheer volume of the number of articles about men’s interests, including sport, as compared to those highlighting women’s interests. That was in the 80s.

It is barely worth stating that nothing major has changed. Male tribalism continues to flourish in a way that still privileges men, and few voices are raised to cry that this is a mistaken and dangerous myth of normality.

. . . .

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/27/our-action-on-domestic-violence-is-like-throwing-popcorn-at-the-taliban

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Our action on domestic violence is like throwing popcorn at the Taliban (but, NO war on women!!) (Original Post) niyad May 2016 OP
K&R. Interesting article. smirkymonkey May 2016 #1
you are, sadly, quite correct. niyad May 2016 #2
. . . niyad May 2016 #3
 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
1. K&R. Interesting article.
Fri May 27, 2016, 03:08 PM
May 2016

Even more interesting comment section, which sometimes seems to illustrate the problem we are up against.

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