
Warning: this post deals with themes related to domestic violence and may be triggering for some readers.
Right about now, I think it’s fair to say that Australians are fed up and distraught after hearing about yet another woman’s death at the hands of a man.
It’s also fair to say that nothing appears to be changing for the better. Statistics show violence against women is rising and the figures don’t matter because knowing them isn’t changing a thing.
Women And Violence: The Hidden Numbers. Post continues after video.
I have three daughters and it’s devastating to know that at some point in their lives, my girls will most likely be exposed to some level of abuse or violence toward them at the hands of a man.
How do I know this? Because it’s happened to me. Like most women, I too am a statistic.
Molested by a strange middle aged man in a video store at age 11.
Water thrown over my head at a pub by a random middle aged male who then hurled abuse at me for no reason at age 19.
Kicked in the back by a date I rejected at age 25.
Date raped while under the influence of alcohol at 26.
Intimidated and bullied by a male at age 43.
Not to mention the countless heckles from cars and building sites by random blokes over the years probably thinking it’s harmless and funny.
Listen to Jelena Dokic tell Mia Freedman about what life was like with her father. Post continues after audio.
For years I blamed myself for pretty much all of these incidents, be it my outfit choice, my alcohol intake or my choice in men. It seems to be the innate thing for women to do sadly.
Top Comments
As logical as asking all mother’s to be responsible for Mums that kill their kids. Seems men are the only group we can generalise about. After Muslim terrorism, most media fall over themselves to say not all Muslim’s are bad / we ride with you etc. every aboriginal is not asked to be better in response to elevated indigenous crime. But have an incredibly rare random murder of a women, and somehow millions of good men need to ‘fix’ it somehow. Not a mental health issue - no. Not a substance abuse issue - No. Not a low socio - economic problem - no. Despite these things being much more statistically linked to violence - nope, it is just a men issue. Same old.
I'm sure a multi faceted approach is needed, what we are doing now is just not working. I don't understand why this article has annoyed you, surely asking fathers to model behaviour they want to see in kids is not a bad thing, teaching male kids to respect females is not horrible nor is it judgemental. I would have though it was just basic. Women get told to model behaviour for their kids all the time. I personally don't find it offensive.