National Survey Reveals 'Concerning' Views About Domestic Violence And Gender Equality
Claims women 'exaggerate'
A comprehensive study of domestic violence and gender in Australia has revealed some startling facts about the nation's understanding of consent and violence.
The National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) shows that while attitudes towards violence against women and gender equality are improving, there are still many outdated and harmful views held on the issue.
32 per cent believe that a female victim who does not leave an abusive partner is partly responsible for the abuse continuing- NCAS
According to the research, one in five Australians believe domestic violence happens because the woman has made the man so angry that he hits her when he doesn't mean to.
40 per cent think women exaggerate how unequally women are treated and 36 per cent believe many women fail to appreciate all that men do for them- NCAS
One in three people also believe that rape results from men not being able to control their need for sex.
On the topic of violence, 23 per cent believed that many women exaggerated the problem of male violence, while 42 per cent viewed it as common for sexual assault accusations to be used as a way of getting back at men.
Half believe that women mistakenly interpret "innocent" remarks or acts as being sexist- NCAS
"There is still some work we need to do, not to be making excuses for the perpetration of violence and that are supporting victims and encouraging them to be able to seek help and support, rather than seeing them as somehow responsible or to blame for this violence," RMIT Justice and Legal Studies associate professor Anastasia Powell told the Hit Newsroom.
"We also found that one in ten believed that if a woman has started kissing a man but has then pushed him away, that a man would be justified in continuing to have sex with her."
On the issue of consent, 30 per cent believe that if a woman sends a nude image to her partner, she is partly responsible if he shares it without her permission.