White Ribbon Australia, the leading movement against men's violence towards women, has unveiled disconcerting findings in its latest study, underscoring the pressing need for increased efforts to address this social issue. The report exposes a concerning lack of awareness and action among Australian men, emphasising that merely abstaining from violence is insufficient.

The key findings fit into four main areas.  

1.  Knowledge Gap and Inaction:

• Over 50 percent of Australian men admit to being unsure where to begin in preventing violence against women.
• Surprisingly, nearly two-thirds believe that merely avoiding being an offender is a satisfactory contribution.

2.  Identification Challenges:

• The study highlights a significant struggle in identifying non-physical forms of violence.
• Only 25 per cent recognise ‘reducing agency’ as a form of violence, illustrating a lack of awareness about restricting women's freedoms.
• Only 30 per cent recognise ‘love bombing’ as abuse. This is a common tactic of narcissists, characterised by excessive attention, admiration, and affection with the goal to make the recipient feel dependent and obligated. 
• Only 60 per cent consider ‘coercion’ as abuse. Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten someone.
• “Disrespect” should need no explanation, yet only 64 per cent regard this as abuse.
• Finally, “shaming,” a term used to describe the act of making negative judgments, comments, or criticisms about a woman, based on their body shape, perceived sexual behaviour, choices, or clothing, and only 69 per cent recognise this as abuse.

These all track well behind the obvious physical forms of violence against women.

3.  Confusion on role: 56 per cent of Australian men express a lack of understanding about their role in preventing violence against women.

4.  Gendered issue misconception: Despite 95 per cent of violence against women being perpetrated by men, Australians mistakenly believe that only 71 per cent of cases are caused by men.

To address these critical issues, White Ribbon Australia launches its annual White Ribbon Day campaign on November 17, aiming to raise awareness and encourage proactive involvement.

White Ribbon Australia introduces a nationwide distribution of a special edition newspaper, The Daily Issue, underscoring the pervasive nature of violence against women. Featuring 500 articles, the newspaper represents just 1 per cent of the 48,000 stories published in 2023, emphasising the urgent need for change.

The campaign calls on men to recognize that change begins with them, urging them to become advocates and allies instead of passive bystanders. Men are encouraged to visit whiteribbon.org.au to educate themselves and others on standing up against violence. White Ribbon Australia supports men and boys in engaging their employers or schools to establish educational programs aimed at preventing violence against women.

Melissa Perry, CEO of White Ribbon Australia, emphasises that there is no room for complacency in the fight against men's violence towards women. The organisation is committed to preventing violence before it starts and building a nation where every woman is free from the threat of men's violence. The urgency of the situation requires collective action and a re-evaluation of societal norms to create lasting change.

“There is no good reason to think we have done enough to prevent men’s violence against women in this country,” said Perry. “We aim to stop violence before it starts and to build a nation where every woman is free from men’s violence.”