VICTIM BLAMING RIFE IN LATEST STUDY RESULTS

A concerning number of Australians still hold outdated and harmful views about gender equality and violence against women according to a new study.

The National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) led by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), demonstrates that while Australians’ attitudes towards violence against women and gender equality are improving, too many still hold opinions that are at odds with women’s lived experiences and the evidence.

The results show a disturbing downward trend in the percentage of people who recognise that men are more likely than women to use violence in relationships (down 22 per cent since 1995), or that women are more likely to suffer greater physical harm from this violence (down eight per cent since 2009).

Some Australians continue to shift the blame away from men, with 21 per cent believing that ‘sometimes a woman can make a man so angry he hits her when he didn’t mean to’, and one in three believing rape results from men not being able to control their need for sex.

The survey also showed that many people are denying the problem of violence, such as the number of people who think that many women exaggerate the problem of male violence (23 percent), and the fact that almost half (42 per cent) think it is common for sexual assault accusations to be used as a way of getting back at men.

When it comes to consent, 30 percent believe that if a woman sends a nude image to her partner, she is partly responsible if he shares it without her permission.

Furthermore, one in five believe that ‘since women are so sexual in public, it’s not surprising that some men think they can touch women without their permission’.

The continued lack of understanding surrounding the reality of violence against women has led to one in three Australians being unaware that a woman is more likely to be sexually assaulted by someone she knows than by a stranger.

Results show attitudes are fairly consistent across Australia, regardless of location and socioeconomic status and ANROWS chief executive officer Dr Heather Nancarrow said that the discrepancy between many Australians’ knowledge and the evidence was worrying.

“Despite an increase in the number of high-profile cases of sexual violence in the media, such as those involved in the #MeToo movement, it is deeply concerning that so many Australians are still not believing women who come forward with claims of violence and sexual assault,” she said.

“We’re now more likely to understand that violence against women involves more than just physical violence, and to support gender equality – but we need to put this knowledge into action.

“We want people to be empowered to step up and act against abuse, violence or disrespect when they see it. This research shows most people would have the support of their peers if they took a stand against violence against women and sexism.”

Health promotion foundation VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter, which led the NCAS study in 2009 and 2013, said it was unacceptable that many in the community were quick to dismiss or explain away women’s experiences of sexism, violence and abuse.

“There has been a continued decline in the number of people who realise that women are the primary victims of domestic violence, which is ludicrous when we consider that violence against women is still the leading preventable contributor to death and disease in women aged 18-44.”

The full NCAS research report can be accessed at ncas.anrows.org.au.