fbpx

At Weave we believe we all have a responsibility to create a society where domestic and family violence and abuse is never accepted.

We are committed to continuing to advocate for systemic change and playing our part to end violence against women.

Each year, during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we focus on different aspects of domestic and family violence and abuse through our Be The Change Campaign.

Here you will find evidence-based information about the context and drivers of gender-based violence.

Understanding the actions we must take to prevent violence against women can help us all #BeTheChange

Gender-based violence occurs in all communities right across Australia, but violence against women is preventable

To prevent violence against women we need to understand it.

What is violence against women?

‘Violence against women means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”

– United Nations

Violence against women occurs in all cultures, communities and across all demographics including age, gender and socio-economic status and can be:

  • physical
  • psychological
  • sexual
  • financial
  • spiritual and cultural
  • emotional

Violence against women has profound and long-term impacts on women’s physical and mental health and wellbeing, on their children and on families.

What is often not as well recognised or understood is the impact that violence against women has on communities, the economy and on society as a whole. It is because of these significant, widespread individual and social impacts that investment in prevention – the cultural change required to stop this violence from occurring in the first place – is so critical.


What drives violence against women?

International and national research tells us that gender inequality creates the underlying conditions for violence against women to occur.

There is a strong and consistent link between gender inequality and violence against womenGender inequality is where women and men do not have equal social status, power, resources or opportunities, and their voices, ideas and work are not valued equally by society. It exists at many levels in our society – from how we view and value men and women, to economic factors like the pay gap between men and women, to family and relationship roles and expectations.

The gendered drivers of men’s violence against women are the factors that most consistently predict this violence at a population level, and explain its gendered patterns. 

These factors are termed ‘gendered drivers’ because they arise from gender-discriminatory institutional, social and economic structures, social and cultural norms, and organisational, community, family and relationship practices that together create environments in which women and men are not considered equal, and violence against women is both more likely, and more likely to be tolerated and even condoned.


What is intersectionality?

While the gendered drivers of violence arise from the broader social context of gender inequality, they also intersect with other forms of oppression, discrimination and disadvantage, making an intersectional approach to prevention essential.

Many forms of inequality influence the prevalence, dynamics and experiences of violence against women. Gender inequality intersects with other forms of inequality and oppression including:

  • Racism
  • Ableism
  • Ageism
  • Heteronormativity
  • Cissexism
  • Class discrimination
  • and – for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women – the ongoing impacts of colonialism.

Intersectionality emerged as a theoretical lens developed from Black feminist theory and activism in the 1960s and 1970s in the United States.

It grew out of the realisation that the feminist movement did not represent the experience of all women and, as bell hooks writes, presented a challenge to the idea that ‘”gender” was the primary factor determining a woman’s fate’.

“Legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw wrote about intersectionality as a framework for understanding the ways that different dimensions of identity (specifically race and gender) interact and influence each other and create unique experiences of violence for women of colour.”

  • Safe + Equal – Intersectionality in Primary Prevention

The framework of Intersectionality has developed over time as a way to analyse and change the ways that multiple and overlapping experiences of oppression impact individuals and communities.

In the context of violence against women, an intersectional lens allows us to look at how family and gender-based violence occurs in the context of both gender inequality and multiple other forms of structural and systemic inequality, oppression and discrimination. 

We believe it is critical to take an intersectional approach to preventing violence against women. We must ensure primary prevention programs, systems and policies recognise and address the multiple forms of oppression and disadvantage that exacerbate the experiences of gender inequality and gender-based violence.


Experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience disproportionate rates of violence as a result of intersecting drivers of violence, which include: 

  1. Ongoing impacts of colonisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities
  2. Gendered drivers 
  3. Impacts of colonisation on society

Challenging misconceptions about violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

  • Violence is not part of traditional Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultures 
  • Violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is perpetrated by Indigenous and non-Indigenous men 
  • Alcohol is a contributing factor, and often a trigger for violence, but it is not the ‘cause’

Ongoing impacts of colonisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities

  • Intergenerational and collective trauma
  • Systemic oppression
  • Disempowerment
  • Racism 
  • Destruction/disruption of traditional cultures family and community relationships and community norms about violence 
  • Personal experience of/exposure to violence 
  • Condoning of violence within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Gendered drivers 

  • Men’s control of decision making and limits to women’s independence
  • Stereotyped constructions of masculinity and femininity
  • Disrespect towards women and male peer relations that emphasise aggression 
  • Additional gendered drivers of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
  • Intersection of racism and sexism
  • Impacts of colonial patriarchy on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, gender roles, men, women and relationships

Impacts of colonisation on society:

  • Racialised structural inequalities of power 
  • Entrenched racism in social norms, attitudes and practices
  • Perpetration of racist violence
  • Condoning of, and insufficient accountability for, violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Our Watch’s ‘Changing the picture’ Framework discusses the many complex factors that make up each driver and the interactions between them in more detail.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience violence that is often more severe and more complex in its impacts. 

The probability of violence against women is higher when the consequences of gender inequality intersect with the impact of other forms of inequality and discrimination such as racism, colonisation and dispossession.

Challenging racism and addressing the ongoing impacts of colonisation is critical to ending violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Essential prevention actions 

The intersection between these multiple drivers results in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experiencing disproportionate levels of violence, with particularly severe and complex impacts. Responding to current extreme levels of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women is critical. But to prevent this violence from happening in the first place, we need actions that directly address its three underlying drivers.

Address the legacies and ongoing impacts of colonisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities

  • Heal the impacts of intergenerational trauma, strengthening culture,identity and self-determination
  • Strengthen and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
  • Implement specific initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, boys and men, and children and young people
  • Challenge the condoning of violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Increase access to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Address the legacies and ongoing impacts of colonisation for non-Indigenous people, and across Australian society

  • Challenge and prevent all forms of racism, indifference, ignorance and disrespect towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures 
  • Address racialised power inequalities and amend discriminatory policies and practices
  • Challenge the condoning of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Address the gendered drivers of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

  • Implement intersectional approaches to preventing violence against women across the Australian population
  • Challenge the condoning of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women by challenging both racist and sexist attitudes and social norms
  • Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s participation in leadership and decision making
  • Challenge gender stereotypes, and the impacts of colonisation on men’s and women’s roles, relationships and identities
  • Strengthen positive, equal and respectful relationships between women and men, girls and boys
  • Engage both Indigenous and non-Indigenous men to challenge harmful and violence-supportive ideas about masculinity and relationships

Sources

Our Watch

Change the story. A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women in Australia (second edition).

More info

Our Watch

Change the picture. A national resource to support the prevention of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children.

More info

Safe + Equal

Intersectionality in Primary Prevention

More info

Safe + Equal

What Causes Family Violence

More info

DVNSW

Good Practice Guidelines

More info

Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Status of Women Report Card

More info

Destroy The Joint

More info

Domestic and family violence and abuse is still considered a private domain when it is a public issue. Weave’s Be The Change campaign was created to raise awareness of this issue and educate and empower our communities to be involved, to be vocal, to be true, to be supportive, to be non-judgemental and to be an advocate.

At Weave, we believe we all have a responsibility to create a society where domestic and family violence and abuse is never tolerated or accepted. We are committed to continuing to advocate for systemic change and being part of breaking the cycle of violence. 

Each year, during during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we focus on different aspects of domestic and family violence and abuse with our Be The Change Campaign. These portraits are of 6 men who are connected to Weave and who embody the values of our ‘Be The Change’ campaign – Be Vocal, Be True, Be Supportive, Be Non-Judgemental, Be an Advocate. Read their stories below.

Our hope is that more men will feel empowered to be involved in conversations about this issue and to take action if someone in their life is experiencing domestic violence and abuse. 

We encourage you to reflect on which ‘Be The Change’ values resonate the most with you. How will you commit to being true, being supportive, being non-judgemental, being vocal, being involved and being an advocate? 

Join us, and Be The Change.

Matt | Be Supportive, Be Non-Judgemental, Be Involved. 

Matt Lonegran started a removalist company Moving Against Domestic Violence (Movers) in 2015 and has been supporting Weave clients experiencing domestic violence who have to move to a safer housing option. 

One phone call from a friend was all it took for Matt to open his eyes to the issues of domestic violence and the need for practical help. “A friend called me and asked if I still had my transport business. I said no but I could hook him up. He said not for him but for a friend of his who was in a domestic violence situation and needed to get out urgently. I dropped everything called a mate with a truck and got her out. It all started from there.

Men don’t speak about these topics until they’re invited. Given the chance to have a voice, men will. I feel comfortable talking to men in my life about these issues. What we try and do at Movers is allow men to get involved in making a change. We talk about a safe escape, a sustainable escape. So a safe escape is get the families out, and a sustainable escape is starting to look at helping them stay out. Our Board is all men attempting to drive change how we can, in a practical way.” – Matt

Portrait by Tristan Stefan Edouard.

#BeTheChange

Kobie Dee | Be True. Be an Advocate. 

Kobie, and his daughter Kallie, pictured at home. 

Kobie is a 23 year old Gomeroi man who has been connected to Weave since he was 10 years old. He is a talented music artist with an innate gift for story-telling and connecting with young people. As an artist, he is deeply connected to his community through performance and community work. 

“I’ve been involved with Weave for a long time and I’m now a Weave Advocate. I started out on the Kool Kids program and I have been connected ever since. Weave is a big part of my life and I feel grateful for all the support I have received over the years, and the access to opportunities that have changed my life.

I’m on a journey to becoming a better man and a better father. Some of my friends and I are part of a Cultural Healing Group, and together we’re constantly having conversations about what our responsibility is to our community and younger generations. 

We’ve all experienced trauma in our lives, for me, it’s important to be actively working towards breaking cycles of trauma, especially as I’m a young dad raising my daughter. 

Being true really resonates with me because once I started being true to myself I was able to start being true to others and stand up for what I believe in. Leading by example by actually “being the change” Is the best form of advocacy to stop violence and abuse.” – Kobie

Portrait by Tristan Stefan Edouard

#BeTheChange

Dimitri | Be Vocal.

Dimitri is an experienced carpenter and tradesman who provides support to Weave clients by providing home security upgrades that allow women and children to safely remain in their own homes. A home security upgrade could include installing a custom security door or securing windows and building a safe room. Dimitri’s skill set is broad and allows us to create tailored security upgrades best suited to each unique set of circumstances that our clients face. 

Dimitri has been working with Weave’s Domestic and Family Violence Program for 11 years and brings expertise and sensitivity to each and every situation.

“Be Vocal. It’s important to speak up. Men can be advocates by speaking out and supporting organisations like Weave, which is fantastic. You’re more of a man if you speak out than if you don’t say anything.” – Dimitri

Portrait by Tristan Stefan Edouard

#BeTheChange

Uncle Dean, Aboriginal Community Cultural Leader | Be Supportive. Be Vocal.

“I’ve supported Weave through cultural programs for a number of years now. I recently did a camp with 9 young men from Weave who asked to come and do this cultural stuff and now I’m a Board Member for Weave. I see Weave as a really good organisation who are doing good things in the community so I’ll keep on supporting them. 

We look a lot at self and what we need to do as an individual to become better people and one of our first lessons is about respecting women. If we can learn that stuff pretty early we can make a change and make a difference in what we do. 

Domestic violence is not a topic a lot of men talk about. It’s a closed door thing, a lot of it happens out of sight out of mind. 

I think one of the barriers for men and being able to make change, is for them to deal with their own emotions, to be able to talk and not feel as though they’re being weak because they show emotion. Even to shed a tear is a strength because it shows you that you’re showing those emotions. It’s about men speaking about this stuff, and looking at their experiences, what they’ve seen and what they’ve lived. Once you’ve lived something you tend to never forget it, and then that living research can help others.” – Uncle Dean 

Portrait by Tristan Stefan Edouard

#BeTheChange

Shannon | Be Involved. Be Vocal.

Shannon specialises in the installation of premium security cameras and security lighting for women and children who are experiencing domestic and family violence. Through Weave’s Domestic and Family Violence Program, we work with women to provide home security upgrades, that allow women and children to safely remain in their own homes. 

Shannon’s calm, compassionate and respectful nature creates a sense of ease for each client that we work with which is invaluable in these sensitive situations. 

“Domestic violence is a big issue in society and since having the opportunity to work with Weave, I’ve realised it’s an even bigger issue than what I thought. It’s rewarding to be able to make a difference, big or small. Being supportive and being involved is important. It’s not a general topic that comes up between men, unfortunately. Men can advocate for positive change in this area by speaking out more openly and educating themselves and each other about this issue.” – Shannon

Portrait by Tristan Stefan Edouard

#BeTheChange

Kuyan | Be Vocal.

Kuyan and his younger brother Luis, pictured at the Royal National Park. 

Kuyan is a Wiradjuri man, from Cowra NSW who works as a caseworker at Youth Justice in Sydney. 

“‘Be vocal’ resonates with me as it highlights the important role of men being vocal in our peer groups and wider communities and talking about domestic violence. It’s rare for it to come up as a topic of conversation, but an important part of raising awareness and creating change is feeling confident to speak to your mates about these issues. 

Talking to a perpetrator about behaviour you deem as wrong is always difficult, especially when it’s someone close to you, but we have to call it out. 

Throughout my life, it’s been important to understand what it means to be an Aboriginal man. A strong part of our culture is respect for mother earth and through that respect for women and mothers. The respect for mother earth is at the very core, and that respect passes on to the women we come in contact with in our lives, whether that’s our mum, our grandmothers or any women that we have any type of relationship with. Whether it’s someone we have a passing contact with or someone we have a close relationship with. 

In my life I’ve been privileged to have different men who have been mentors to me and invested in me and I’ve learnt alot from them. I think it’s important to recognise the role and responsibility we have in sharing with men around us, particularly young people. For me that’s through my work and through being a big brother. 

Our mum is a domestic violence caseworker and a strong advocate for women, and my little brother and I feel grateful that awareness of these issues and conversations about this has always been around us.” – Kuyan

Portrait by Tristan Stefan Edouard

#BeTheChange

Join the Weave family, subscribe to our newsletter.

Subscribe

Weave stands on the lands of the Gadigal and Bidjigal people. We recognise that their sovereignty was never ceded.

We acknowledge the numerous Aboriginal community members, clients, staff and Board Members who have guided us over our 45 year history and taught us about how to work alongside them. We honour the resilience and strength of Aboriginal people and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Always was, always will be.


Weave Youth & Community Services is accredited under Australian Service Excellence Standards (ASES).

Weave is proud to be a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

ABN 77 722 376 568

Privacy Preference Center