FAQs

Why is Maribyrnong City Council undertaking this project?

Maribyrnong City Council wants to publically declare that it and the community of Maribyrnong say yes to respect and equality and no to violence against women. Have Your Say aims to engage the community and ask for their input in forming a range of public statements that will raise awareness of this important issue.

What is gender equity?

Gender equity means equal opportunities and rights in the home, at work, at play and in society as a whole, for women and men. It is about fairness for everyone.

What does gender equity have to do with preventing violence against women?

While there is no single cause of violence against women, the most significant contributing factors have been identified as unequal power balance in relationships between men and women, rigid gender stereotypes and broader cultures of violence. By addressing these main factors we can prevent violence before it occurs.

Why focus on women and not men?

While women can sometimes be perpetrators of family violence, the evidence demonstrates the overwhelming majority of abuse and violence is perpetrated by men against women. ⁽¹⁾

It is shocking to consider in Australia today, more than half of all women experience some form of physical or sexual violence in their life time. As a community, we have a shared responsibility to recognise, challenge and prevent violent and disrespectful behaviour or attitudes toward women.⁽²⁾

I don’t know any women who have experienced violence or inequality, is this really an issue in Australia?

Violence

•     A woman is killed in Australia almost every week by a partner or ex-partner ⁽³⁾

•     In Victoria 89.09% of rape victims/survivors are women and girls ⁽⁴⁾

•     Nearly one in five women have experienced sexual assault in their lifetime ⁽⁵⁾

•     More than one in three (34%) Australian women who have had an intimate partner, have experienced violence from a partner or ex-partner. ⁽⁶⁾

Inequality

•     On average women still only earn 84 cents to the male dollar⁽⁷⁾

•     Women still only make up 10.9% of directors on the ASX 200’s company boards.⁽⁸⁾

Is violence against women just about physical violence?

No, it also includes emotional, psychological and financial violence. It includes sexual harassment and intimidation as well as cultural norms and laws that discriminate against women because of gender.

Violence against women takes many forms, and affects all communities, irrespective of class, religion or culture.

Family violence is a private issue, why should I get involved?

Violence against women is everyone’s business. It is an issue of social justice, social inclusion and human rights. Its impact on women, children and families is deep and shattering.

In Victoria, intimate partner violence is the leading contributor of death, disability and ill health for women aged between 15-44.⁽⁹⁾ This is more than smoking, breast cancer, driving accidents, body weight or anything else you can think of.

All women have the right to live free from violence.

•     In Victoria, 77% of reported family violence victims/survivors are women and girls ⁽³⁾

•     An estimated one in four children and young people have witnessed domestic violence against their mother or step mother ⁽¹⁰⁾

•     Violence effects the mental and physical health and wellbeing of children and young people ⁽¹⁰⁾

•     Violence impacts on the economy. In 2009, violence against women cost the Victorian economy $3.4 billion ⁽¹¹⁾

•     Preventing the experience of violence for one Australian woman can mean avoiding $20,766 in costs per annum. ⁽¹²⁾

What can I do to prevent violence against women and promote equality for women?

·      Start or join a White Ribbon Day working group

·      Consider getting involved in a ‘Not One More’ campaign or promoting days like International Women’s Day in your workplace or local community group

·      Ensure your organisation’s policies and practices support equality and prevent violence against women

·      Make sure your workplace, home and social spaces are free from inequality and violence, talk with your friends and family about it

·      Challenge sexist behaviours or comments you hear

·      Think about your own attitudes, assumptions and use of language. What can you do differently?

·       Challenge sexist representation of women by writing to your local paper/media outlet, contact your local Council member and let them know how you feel.

1. ‘Time for action; The National Council’s Plan for Australia to reduce violence                       7. Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission

against women and their children’, 2009                                                                                     8. WomenOnBoards www.womenonboards.org.au

2. ‘A right to respect: Victoria’s Plan to prevent violence against women’ 2009                       9. ‘A right to respect: Victoria’s Plan to prevent violence against women’ 2009

3. National Homicide Monitoring Program Annual Reports, 2005-2008                                      10. ‘Young people and domestic violence: national research on young people’s attitudes to and

4. Victoria Police Crime Statistics 09/10 Pg. 24-27 & 131                                                                  experiences of domestic violence’, 2001.                

5. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Personal Safety Survey 2006                                                 11. ‘The Costs of Violence Against Women and their Children’, 2009  

6. ‘Women’s Experiences of Male Violence: findings from the Australian component                12. ‘The Costs of Violence Against Women and their Children’, 2009