Women victims blamed as '50% contributors' to violence against them.

by Nina Funnell May 13, 2015

The Australian public have worked hard to make domestic violence a nationally-recognised issue. And now….? This.

Trigger warning: This post discusses domestic violence and may be triggering to some readers.

The hour has arrived: domestic violence is finally in the political spotlight.

For the first time ever, Australians are having a national conversation about this vital issue.

For victims and their advocates, it is an exciting time, and there is a real sense that if the energy around that conversation can just be harnessed correctly, it could be the game-changer that literally saves women and children’s lives.

So why, at this crucial moment – when we are on the cusp of something huge – has The Age published an article, which claims victims of domestic violence bear fifty percent of the responsibility for the choices and actions of their perpetrators?

Sallee McLaren’s article as it appeared on the site.

And why, when we have such an important opportunity at our fingertips, have those editors squandered valuable column space on outdated, unsubstantiated, and frankly dangerous assertions, which if uncritically accepted, could massively set back the community’s understanding of domestic violence and jeopardize the headway being made in regards to perpetrator responsibility?

In case you missed it, today Dr Sallee McLaren penned an outrageous opinion article claiming that domestic violence victims (including, presumably, the ones who are murdered each and every week) contribute “50:50” to the situation, and are equally responsible for violence that occurs. Her reason? Because female victims don’t try hard enough to “command enough authority to stop [violence] in its tracks.”

McLaren’s logic is as problematic as it is simple: if victims nipped inappropriate behaviour in the bud when they first saw it, then violence wouldn’t happen. Presto! All male violence would magically disappear.

But because domestic violence does continue to happen, then according to McLaren, it must be because women are failing in their responsibility to educate, train, and coach the men around them. See? It’s simple right?

Here is McLaren in her own words:

Actually, no. Not even close.

Not even a little bit.

The woman has not contributed fifty percent to that situation. And any man who smacks a woman’s head into a wall and calls her a “fucking c—‘’ needs to take full – 100 percent – responsibility for his actions.

“The woman has not contributed fifty percent to that situation. And any man who smacks a woman’s head into a wall and calls her a “fucking c—‘’ needs to take full responsibility for his actions.”

You know, what he doesn’t need? A reputable broadsheet that tells him that his victim is equally to blame for the violence because she failed to parent him out of his bad ways.

But even if we ignore the fact that it’s morally repugnant to blame a victim for the violence they experience (and that to do so only further enables and excuses that violence, by shielding the perpetrator from responsibility), McLaren’s argument falls apart the moment you extend it to its logical conclusion: children.

Consider this: Since children are often the victims of domestic violence too, and since (just like battered women) children also suffer from a power imbalance between them and their abuser, should we then also place the onus on to children to educate and train violent fathers not to molest or abuse them? And if a child fails to nip inappropriate behaviour in the bud the first time they experience it, should we also hold them “50:50” accountable for the violence that occurs?

Ah, but adult women have far more agency than children, you say. And adult women have far more power in their relationships, you say. True. In general. Except in cases where a woman’s power is robbed from her through… oh, I don’t know… a subtle and insidious grooming process which she may be invisible to her, perpetrated by a male who has a penchant for undermining and subtly sabotaging people he is in a relationship with?

23 women have lost their lives due to domestic violence or alleged domestic violence. We will not forget them. Post continues after gallery.

The name of a woman murdered in Dallas has not been released. A 49-year-old man has been charged with her murder.

Linda Locke, 51, died in an alleged domestic violence incident on Monday 27 April. Her de facto partner Jamie Walker, 46, has been charged.

On 25 April, an 18-year-old woman was killed in an alleged domestic violence incident in NSW. A man has been charged with murder.

Daniela D'Addario, whose boyfriend Josaia Vosikata has been charged with murder.

Julie Hutchinson, whose husband Michael Hutchinson has been charged with murder.

Salwa Haydar. Her husband has been charged with her murder.

Mai Mach.

Mai Mach. Mai's husband's former mistress has been charged with murder.

June Wallis. Her husband has been charged with her murder.

Sabah Al Mdwali.

Her husband has been charged with her murder.

Jackie Ohide. Her partner has been charged with her murder.

Angela Mackinnon.

Angela Mackinnon. murder.

Kris Deann Sharpley. Her father killed himself and his grandson in a murder-suicide.

Dianne Chi.

Tara Costigan. Her ex-partner has been charged with murder.

Ainsur Isamgul. Her husband has been charged with murder.

Kerry Michael. Her husband has been charged with murder.

Nina Funnell

Author

Comments

No Comments

Be the first to leave a comment