Domestic violence is increasing due to ‘rigid gender roles'
- 07 Apr
A former governor general has said that domestic violence is getting worse due to ‘rigid gender roles and stereotypes'.
Dame Quentin Bryce has said that everyone must challenge the unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women in order to address domestic violence which she has called an "appalling scourge in our society", reports the Guardian.
In a radio interview in Queensland Bryce said: "Police tell me that they see that as the tip of the iceberg. The figures are so grave, and the very deep concern for all of us is the fact that - after a generation of providing services since we started talking about domestic violence to bring it out from under the carpet about 40 years ago in our country - it's getting worse and it's increasing in gravity and incidence. It's appalling. One can hardly think of words that capture how horrific this breach of human rights around our world is, in every nation and certainly around our country. The truth is that domestic and family violence is caused by unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women, it's about the rigid gender roles and stereotypes that characterise our society, and the culture and the attitudes that support violence against women. It's not just an issue for government, though governments must take leadership, must take action, must provide services and funding. But for all of us, we must be asking ourselves now about our culture, about our attitudes and what can we do as neighbours and family and friends, what can each one of us do about this appalling scourge in our society. It's about all of us speaking up so that we aren't bystanders, so that we don't condone or ignore behaviour."
Whilst Bryce is discussing issues in Australia, do you think this is something that should be thought about globally?
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