Thirty years ago, the idea of a public gathering to call for an end to family violence was not unheard of – but such gatherings were of a remarkably different character.
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The women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and 70s pioneered the campaign for women and children to be better protected by our laws, our courts and police and our society.
Women raised this issue in the face of denial and often vicious disagreement.
By the late 1970s, after persistent battles to secure funding for refuges and other services, the issue was squarely on the public agenda.
By the 1980s and 90s, most refuges could feel secure that they would be able to provide a service, even if they had to regularly reapply for funding.
For a while there, it may have felt to many that the tide had turned, that society as a whole had rejected the idea that it was OK to beat your partner.
Then, in recent years, there has been an apparent epidemic of family violence.
Also in recent years there have been major changes to how and when refuges are funded and what their primary task is. These changes have also caused disruption, even as the requests for help have never been higher.
However, there has been a clear positive shift to the better in wider society and that was demonstrated so clearly on Friday at the shire-wide gathering for White Ribbon Day in Narooma.
Police, schools, community groups, survivors of family violence and those who wish to see an end to it came together in showing that could – literally – be seen from the air.
Bravo.
Since those early campaigns for women’s refuges, an understanding has been reached that the whole community – men included – must publicly say NO to family violence. Men are women’s biggest allies in this when they pull their mates up on attitudes that condone violence to anyone.
Research shows that children growing up in families where the male role model is violent are much more likely to be violent adults.
An issue that gets less public attention, but is definitely worthy of it, is the issue of violence in families, full stop. Without detracting from man-on-woman aggression, women who resort to violence against anyone and, ,tragically, against their children are also feeding that cycle.
