“While these positive changes are encouraging, it is important to remember that zero is the only acceptable number of gender-based homicides,” stated Patty Kinnersly.
A recent national report on violence against women shows a 66 percent decrease in women killed by men over the past three decades.
Published on July 26, the report also highlights a reduction in harmful attitudes that fuel violence in the last 20 years.
Patty Kinnersly, CEO of Our Watch, acknowledged the progress made in preventing violence against women despite the 43 women allegedly killed by men’s violence this year.
She emphasized, “These positive changes are a step in the right direction, but our ultimate goal should be to eliminate gender-based homicides entirely. There is still significant work to be done to achieve this.”
The report, available in PDF form, reveals that 90 percent of Australians reject various aspects of violence against women.
Notably, there has been a 13 percent decrease in young men supporting harmful ideas of masculinity in the last five years and a 12 percent decrease in young men feeling pressured to conform to rigid ideals of masculinity.
Ms. Kinnersly highlighted the importance of challenging toxic masculinity cultures that contribute to violence against women and stressed the need to show young men alternative ways of defining masculinity.
Intimate Partner Homicides Increase
Although sexual violence saw a significant rise between 2012 and 2016, there was no significant change from 2016 to 2021-22, as per the report.
The report also noted a decrease in women experiencing intimate partner physical violence but no change in intimate partner sexual violence in 2021-2022.
Furthermore, the report indicated a decline in women experiencing sexual harassment from men from 2016 to 2021-22.
However, intimate partner homicide data revealed an increase from 27 women in 2020-2021 to 34 women in 2022-23.
The report highlighted the disproportionate rates at which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls are murdered compared to non-Aboriginal females.
Embracing Positive Masculinity
A separate study published in the International Journal of Health Sciences emphasized the impact of men’s views on masculinity on their mental well-being.
The authors of the study suggested that helping men appreciate the positive aspects of their masculinity could improve their mental health.
They acknowledged the challenges men face in a world where masculinity is often portrayed negatively but stressed the importance of creating a more realistic and healthy narrative around men and masculinity.
It is crucial to address these issues to promote healthier attitudes and behaviors in society.
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