Please note that these clips and articles contain information regarding the topics of sexism, gender inequality and violence against women. If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, please visit the our family violence help section for further information and support.
16 practical things you can learn about or do to prevent gender-based violence
This is part of our 2016 campaign for 16 Days of Activism
- Learn about victim blaming
- Learn about unconscious gender bias
- Learn the difference between gender equity and gender equality
- Learn about sexual consent, gender and power
- Reflect on the effect of gender stereotypes on children and young adults
- Pay attention to women’s voices
- Reflect on who does certain chores in your household and why
- Look for gender bias in movies and TV
- Find out why we have a gender pay gap in Australia and tell others about it
- Recognise how violence against women is also a men’s issue, and share this with others
- Recognise sexism and gender stereotypes in the media, and tell others about it
- Recognise myths about violence against women and educate others about them
- Challenge sexism in sport
- Talk with a man in your life about healthy masculinity
- Challenge sexist jokes, comments and attitudes
- Question the advantages men experience because of their gender
1. Learn about victim blaming
What is victim-blaming?
‘Victim-blaming’ is when we make the victim survivor of violence responsible, instead of the violent person.
Research shows that attitudes that justify, excuse or downplay violence against women make it more likely to happen. This includes blaming women for any violence they experience.
Victim-blaming focuses on what women were doing, or not doing. It fails to hold perpetrators responsible. It also makes it hard for women to report violence and seek help.
What can I do?
- Watch this animation, which reveals the nature of victim-blaming.
- Check out the #FixedIt campaign by journalist Jane Gilmore. It highlights and challenges victim-blaming in the media.
- Read the short article, If You ‘Can’t Understand’ Why Telling Women to Take Care Is Victim Blaming, It’s Time to Listen.
You can continue to challenge victim-blaming in your everyday life:
- Never excuse, justify or minimise violence against women.
- Challenge victim-blaming statements if you hear them.
- Listen to and believe women if they disclose experiences of violence to you.
- Let victims survivors know it is never their fault.
Instead of asking, ‘Why does she stay if he’s violent?’ ask, ‘Why is he violent?’
2. Learn about unconscious gender bias
What is unconscious gender bias. Why is it a problem?
Unconscious gender bias is unfair beliefs about a person because of their gender. Often, people are not aware of their own gender bias. It is ‘unconscious’ or automatic.
Unconscious gender bias can make it difficult for women to be involved in leadership and decision-making.
Promoting women’s decision-making and independence is important for preventing violence against women.
What can I do?
Read/watch the following examples of unconscious gender bias, and learn how to challenge it:
- Watch this clip from ABC’s ‘The Drum’. It shows how the Tropfest film competition increased the number of women finalists.
- Watch this clip in which a riddle reveals the unconscious gender biases of people on the street.
- Read these articles written by colleagues Martin and Nicole. They swapped email signatures and noticed big differences in the way their colleagues and clients treated them.
- Read this article about the experience of two women. They struggled to get their internet start-up business off the ground. This changed when they invented a male founder.
Continue to take action to challenge unconscious gender bias:
- Become aware of your own unconscious gender bias.
- Call out gender bias when you notice it in your everyday life.
- Suggest unconscious gender bias training for you and your colleagues.
3. Learn the difference between gender equity and gender equality
What is the difference between gender equity and gender equality. What does this have to do with violence against women?
Many of us have heard the terms ‘gender equality’ and ‘gender equity’. But we may not know:
- what these terms mean
- the difference between them
- how they relate to men’s violence against women.
‘Gender equality’ means equal outcomes for women, men and gender-diverse people. ‘Gender equity’ is the process to achieve gender equality.
Gender equity recognises that women and gender-diverse people are not in the same ‘starting position’ as men. This is because of historical and social disadvantages. Treating women, gender-diverse people and men equally might not actually be fair. In fact, it can create further disadvantage. Gender equity measures are often needed to level the playing field.
Violence against women is serious, widespread and driven by gender inequality.
Many Australians support gender equality. But not so many understand how important gender equity is to achieve it. We now know that gender inequality is the main driver of men’s violence against women. Understanding this will help to prevent men’s violence against women. It also helps to share this understanding with others.
What can I do?
- Watch this clip from Gippsland Women’s Health and this clip from Our Watch. They discuss the link between gender inequality and men’s violence against women. They also talk about the actions we can take.
- Take a look at this guide. It explains the link between gender inequality and violence against women. It also suggests practical ways to take action.
Keep going!
In late 2016, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins travelled Australia. She explored our progress towards gender equality. You can read about what she found, and her thoughts on how we can create more gender equality.
Find out more about gender inequality in Australia on the Australian Human Rights Commission’s web page.
Look at this infographic, which shows what gender equity looks like in everyday life.
4. Learn about sexual consent, gender and power
What’s wrong with this picture?
This picture is of a sailor kissing a nurse while celebrating the official end of World War II. This iconic image is now a 7.5-metre statue called Unconditional Surrender. The image is thought to be romantic and joyful. But this was not the experience of Greta Friedman, the woman in the picture. She said: ‘It wasn’t my choice to be kissed … The guy just came over and grabbed! … That man was very strong. I wasn’t kissing him. He was kissing me … I did not see him approaching, and before I knew it, I was in this vice grip.’ You can read more here.
This shows how our culture often romanticises images and stories that are a problem in terms of gender, power and consent.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found that almost one in five Australian women have experienced sexual violence from the age of 15.
Women are at risk of sexual violence at home, in public and at work. Certain gender roles and stereotypes support unequal power between women and men. This includes the beliefs of some man that they have a right to:
- sex with women
- sexually dominate women
- leave the responsibility for contraception to women
Consent is fundamental to being intimate with someone. Both you and your partner/s need to be enthusiastic, eager and in agreement about any of the sexual or romantic activity you’re having. The only way to know for sure that someone consents, is if they tell you.
Check in with your partner and be mindful of their body language and how they feel. Silence is not consent. Remember that if consent is given for one thing, this does not mean it is given for anything else. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and it is crucial to respect this. Having sex with someone without their consent is sexual assault and it is a crime. There are laws around consent and sex, which you can read more about on the Youth Law website.
What can I do?
Adults and young people are responsible for understanding consent in their relationships and sex lives.
- Watch this simple video. It explains sexual consent by comparing it to asking someone if they would like a cup of tea.
- Read GenWest's resource Affirmative Consent Factsheet
- Download and read GenWest's Consent, Empowerment and Respect zine
Keep going!
- Read about ‘enthusiastic consent’ before and during sex. Listen to this group of New York University students explore what this means to them.
- Share information about healthy and respectful relationships with young people in your life. Here are some great places to start:
5. Reflect on the effect of gender stereotypes on children and young adults
Gender stereotypes are generalisations about women and men. Gender stereotypes reinforce the ideas that women and girls, men and boys:
- should act in certain ways
- should look certain ways
- are better suited to particular roles in society
Gender stereotypes play a key role in producing gender inequality. Gender inequality is the most consistent predictor of violence against women (Our Watch).
Research shows that ‘levels of violence against women are significantly and consistently higher in societies, communities and relationships where there are more rigid distinctions between the roles of men and women’.
It also reveals that ‘men who hold traditional, hierarchical views about gender roles and relationships are more likely to perpetrate violence against women’ (Our Watch).
According to Our Watch, preventing violence against women requires:
- encouraging positive personal identities
- challenging gender stereotypes and roles.
Gender stereotyping affects the hopes and ambitions of children, and how they see themselves. Gender stereotypes can prevent children from:
- exploring their interests
- developing their talents
- reaching their potential.
Gender stereotypes shape and limit children from a very young age.
Gender stereotypes affect everyone, but they are particularly harmful for girls and women. We live in a society that values characteristics associated with men more than characteristics associated with women. Gender stereotypes support gender inequality by creating different statuses for boys and girls.
Gender stereotyping affects the hopes and ambitions of children, and how they see themselves.
Take action to avoid gender stereotyping when you are with children and young adults!
What can I do?
Check out two of the following items. Reflect on the effects of gender stereotypes on children, and what we can do to challenge them:
- Watch this video to understand the effects on boys and young men.
- Reflect on this video. It shows how adults can reinforce gender stereotypes to young children without necessarily meaning to.
- Check out this video of primary school children doing a creative drawing activity. Reflect on how gender stereotypes can limit children’s ambitions, and the way they see the world and their place in it.
Keep going!
- Avoid gender stereotyping when you are with children and young adults. This list provides some tips.
- The Level Playground website provides caregivers and educators with information and resources to raise children free from gender stereotyping.
- Browse this guide for children’s picture books that promote gender equality and challenge gender stereotypes.
Learn more
- Did you know that pink was once considered a masculine colour? Read this article to find out more.
- In this video, Elizabeth Sweet discusses her research on the effects of gender stereotypical toys on boys and girls. Take some time to reflect on the possible consequences of this blue versus pink world of toys.
6. Pay attention to women’s voices
Commit to paying attention when women speak during meetings and conversations. Encourage women to offer their ideas and opinions at meetings you attend.
Silencing, ignoring or minimising women’s voices is part of sexism and gender inequality. Men are socialised to be decision-makers and voices of authority. Women are socialised to be submissive listeners and collaborators.
What can I do?
- Keep a ‘talked over tally’. During meetings or conversations, note the number of times you witness men interrupting or talking over women. This handy tool can help. At the end of the Challenge, share your tally and observations with friends, family or colleagues.
- Take the approach of women staffers of the Obama administration to ‘amplify’ women’s voices whenever possible.
- During conversations, be aware of the types of interruptions made by men (and women). Joanna Richards’ recent study of the Australian Senate found that women actually interrupted more times than men. But their interruptions were usually defending or positively supporting another female speaker, or a less powerful speaker. Almost 75 per cent of the male interrupters were trying to take power or take the floor.
Keep going!
Keep supporting and paying attention to women’s voices:
- Consider your bookshelf or university reading list. Are women well represented? If not, ask for more women authors in course materials. Include more women’s voices in your own reading.
- Acknowledge women’s contributions and ideas.
- Suggest a ‘no interruptions policy’ in meetings at your workplace or during classes.
- Call it out when women are interrupted in front of you.
7. Reflect on who does certain chores in your household and why
Think about how your household or family shares household duties such as cooking, repairs, cleaning, childcare, grocery shopping, laundry, or taking children for extracurricular activities or appointments.
- Reflect on who does these duties and why. How was it decided?
- How are the different tasks valued, rewarded and acknowledged in your house?
- Watch this video about how Australian women and men divide household work and unpaid caring duties.
- Take a look at You Should’ve Asked. This comic by French artist Emma shows the pressure placed on women who often carry the ‘mental load’ of managing the household.
- Read this article by Rob Sturrock. He discusses how men and fathers can actively support equality in their home.
- Read this short piece by John Hoxie who explains why he doesn’t ‘help’ his wife with household duties.
Rigid gender roles and stereotypes label household and caring responsibilities as ‘women’s work’. This work is unpaid and undervalued. In Australia, women still do the majority of unpaid work. This affects their participation in the workforce, economic security, free time, and health and wellbeing.
Keep going!
You can continue to support gender equity in how your family or household divides tasks. Make sure that:
- you discuss with your household who does what unpaid work, why, and how it can be equitably shared
- women aren’t unfairly carrying the ‘mental load’ of managing the household
- all unpaid work is acknowledged, particularly caring and domestic work
- organising and performing your weekly routine, children’s extracurricular activities and special events such as birthdays, is shared equitably
- children’s tasks are distributed equitably
- caring responsibilities are distributed equitably, including weekends and school holidays.
8. Look for gender bias in movies and TV
Reflect on the last movie or TV show you watched. How many female characters with names were in it? Did they talk to each other? Was it about something other than a man? These questions form the Bechdel Test.
The Bechdel Test draws attention to gender bias and sexism in movies and TV. This includes:
- showing few fully formed female characters
- the harmful ways women are often shown.
Many films and TV programs stereotype, sexualise and objectify women. This reinforces gender roles, gender stereotypes and gender inequality. International research shows that gender inequality is the main driver of violence against women.
What can I do?
- Watch this clip about the Bechdel Test. Watch a film. Then tell a friend or colleague why you think it did or did not pass the test!
- Take a look at this article exploring how some of our favourite films represent women.
- Read this article about other ways to measure gender bias (and other biases) in film.
- Watch this video about how gender stereotypes in movies and TV affect children and young adults.
Keep going!
There are lots of ways you can continue to challenge gender bias in movies and TV:
- Boycott films and TV programs that show gender bias and gender stereotypes.
- Support films made by women and about women.
- Read this report by Screen Australia to learn about gender bias in Australian film and TV. Read about the steps to improve it.
- Sign up to the email bulletins from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender and Media. This will keep you up to date about gender inequality in the media.
9. Find out why we have a gender pay gap in Australia and tell others about it
Many of us know that there is a gender pay gap in Australia, but don’t understand why. The Australian Government has identified five key factors that contribute to it.
International research shows that the unequal distribution of power and resources between women and men is one of the main drivers of violence against women. The gender pay gap contributes to unequal power between women and men. This includes economic resources, social status and participation in decision-making. It also makes it more difficult for women to leave a violent partner.
What can I do?
- Visit this web page to find out more about these factors and other aspects of the gender pay gap. Then talk to a friend, colleague or family member about it.
- Check out Australia’s Gender Equality Scorecard. See how we are tracking in closing the gender pay gap and creating equality at work.
Keep going!
You can continue to take action about the gender pay gap:
- Break down some of the misconceptions around the gender pay gap with this video. Be prepared when people say the pay gap isn’t real!
- Learn about the ways gender pay equality also benefits men in this article.
- Suggest a gender pay audit at your workplace to ensure pay equity.
- Read this checklist that describes pay equity practice.
10. Recognise how violence against women is also a men’s issue, and share this with others
In Australia, 39 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from a man. Thirty-four per cent have experienced this violence from someone they know (Cox 2016). Clearly, violence against women is a men’s issue too.
International research recognises that working with men and boys is essential for ending men’s violence against women. This requires men to:
- recognise that violence against women affects us all
- recognise that gender inequality drives violence against women
- commit to ending it.
What can I do?
Watch this video by Jackson Katz, an expert in preventing men’s violence against women. Then share it with a male friend or colleague.
Keep going!
You can continue to support men’s role as allies in ending violence against women:
11. Recognise sexism and gender stereotypes in the media, and tell others about it
In this challenge, we encourage you to learn more about the impact of sexism and gender stereotypes in the media.
Research shows that being regularly exposed to media that sexually objectifies women contributes to sexist attitudes and gender stereotypes. In turn, this increases the likelihood of men’s violence against women.
Media, marketing and advertising can strengthen or challenge the attitudes that create gender inequality and enable violence against women.
Evidence shows that changing and challenging harmful and sexist media messages can help to prevent violence against women. This is because it promotes gender equality and diversity, and challenges gender stereotypes.
What can I do?
Watch the trailer for Miss Representation. It explores the effects of gender stereotyping in the media. Send it to a colleague, friend or family member. Share the main message you took from it about violence against women.
You might have heard of the term ‘sexual objectification’. This guide includes five easy questions that can help you recognise it. Caroline Heldman created these questions. She discusses the topic in more detail in this TedX talk.
Keep going!
Keep taking action to recognise and challenge gender stereotypes in the media:
- Boycott films and TV shows that show gender bias and stereotypes.
- Make sure that the images and posters at your workplace/sports club/community group do not encourage gender stereotypes. If they do, say something about it!
- Challenge sexism in advertising.
- Check out Collective Shout. This grassroots Australian organisation challenges how women and girls are objectified and sexualised in media and advertising.
12. Recognise myths about violence against women and educate others about them
There are many myths that exist about men’s violence against women in Australia.
Many myths exist about violence against women. These include what causes it, who is affected by it, and who is responsible. Busting these myths helps end men’s violence against women and promote gender equality. You can take action by raising awareness and increasing understanding in your networks.
What can I do?
Read this list by The Line to get the facts. Find the myth that speaks to you the most. Share it with friends, colleagues or family on social media or by email.
Keep going!
You can keep recognising and challenging myths about violence against women:
- Check out this resource about how to respond to common ‘curly questions’ about violence against women.
Challenge myths about violence against women when you hear them.
13. Challenge sexism in sport
Recent research shows that women and girls are keen to build their talent and improve their health and fitness through sport. But it remains difficult for women and girls to participate equally. Many women and girls struggle to find support to pursue it. Also, the sporting skills and ambitions of girls and women are often not taken seriously.
Through sports we can all learn more about fairness, inclusion, camaraderie and respect.
Sport offers health and community-strengthening benefits. It can also influence social attitudes and challenge gender stereotypes, roles and expectations.
By challenging sexism in sport, we can create inclusive, equitable, healthy and safe environments for women and men, girls and boys. This helps to prevent violence against women (Our Watch, 2015).
What can I do?
- Watch this example which shows coverage of women’s sport is frequently sexist. This example shows that there is also often a greater focus on what women look like than what they can do.
- Watch this clip about the challenges girls and women face when pursuing the sports they love.
Keep going!
Find out more about what you can do to make sure that girls and women get a sporting chance, and to prevent violence against women through sport:
14. Talk with a man in your life about healthy masculinity
Have a conversation with a male friend, family member or colleague about being a man and healthy masculinity.
Men and boys regularly receive messages that to be a man or ‘manly’ they need to:
- be physically strong, tough or aggressive
- be dominant and in charge
- show no emotions, particularly fear, hurt or pain
- achieve sexual conquest over women.
Research shows that ‘levels of violence against women are significantly and consistently higher in societies, communities and relationships where there are more rigid distinctions between the roles of men and women’ (Our Watch, 2015: 25).
Research also shows that ‘men who hold traditional, hierarchical views about gender roles and relationships are more likely to perpetrate violence against women’ (Our Watch).
Promoting healthy, alternative and diverse masculinities is important for preventing men’s violence against women.
Some ideas to get you started
- Watch Tony Porter’s TED Talk A Call to Men together, and discuss what resonates with you.
- Discuss how the media portrays the ideal man as someone who is rewarded for fighting, and who wins a woman as the prize. Reflect on how this might affect the health and wellbeing of both men and women.
- Identify men who you think show a healthy masculinity. They might express emotions, be nurturing, be active fathers, take on non-traditional roles or tasks, have sex lives that are based on consent and mutual enjoyment. Discuss why you admire these men.
Keep going!
Keep the conversation going about healthy masculinity with the men in your life:
- Watch the film The Mask You Live In about harmful masculinity and gender stereotypes for men. Share this with male friends, family members or colleagues.
- Call out statements from men that support harmful, aggressive or controlling ideas about masculinity.
15. Challenge sexist jokes, comments and attitudes
When people make sexist or degrading comments or jokes about women, it can be hard to speak up. We might tell ourselves that it is ‘just words’ or ‘just a bit of fun’. But research shows that these jokes, comments and attitudes actually drive violence against women.
The people who make these comments may not be violent. But this kind of disrespect still contributes to gender inequality.
Evidence shows that disrespect towards women is a key driver of men’s violence against them. It also tells us that to prevent men’s violence against women, we must:
- challenge sexist or gendered stereotypes
- strengthen equal, respectful and positive relationships between men and women.
Challenging everyday sexism is essential to create the cultural change needed to end violence against women.
Here are some actions you can take to learn more and to challenge everyday sexism
- Try this informative quiz, How Would You Call Out a Mate?
- Laura Bates is the founder of the Everyday Sexism Project. Listen to her talk about how important it is to recognise and redress sexism.
- Check out Respect Victoria’s Respect Women: Call it Out campaign. This campaign is designed to bring all Victorians into the conversation around sexual harassment by providing the tools to call out inappropriate behaviours.
Keep going!
You can use these video resources as a conversation starter in your workplace or organisation about bystander action.
16. Question the advantages men experience because of their gender
As a group, men receive various advantages because of their gender. This is called ‘male privilege’. Read this checklist and reflect on how men benefit from gender-based inequality.
Male privilege is a key aspect of gender inequality, and relates to men’s violence against women. Men have been socialised to expect certain things from women, and to have the right to control them. Male privilege justifies and enables men’s violence against women.
Keep going!
You can continue to reflect on and challenge male privilege:
- Read more about male privilege.
- Read this article from Billy Doidge Kilgore. He says that his own male privilege was invisible to him until he became a parent.
- Read through this checklist of actions to challenge male privilege.
- Commit to these actions to challenge men’s sexist entitlement in public spaces.
