Gender inequality is the major driver of violence against women.
The major underlying cause of violence against women is gender inequality.
Gender inequality is discrimination on the basis of sex or gender, resulting in unequal treatment, privilege and prioritisation of a sex or gender.
Violence against women is preventable and we have the power to make change.
We must create a society of equality for all people, regardless of gender.
Together, we can make a difference.
Watch this video created by Our Watch (2015) for great insight into the relationship between gender inequality and violence against women.
(Our Watch, 2015)
Violence against women in a growing epidemic in Australia.
One woman is killed each week by their current or former partner.
1 in 3 Australian women have experienced physical violence from a current or former partner (DVV, 2015).
1 in 4 Australian women have experienced emotional abuse from a current or former partner (DVV, 2015).
Check out Australia's facts and figures on domestic violence here:
Domestic Violence Victoria
(Our Watch, 2014)
Gender inequality is learned at a young age and subtly reinforced through our society.
Our assigned gender at birth dictates how we are raised to behave and look. Rigid gender stereotypes creates harmful attitudes of what it means to be a 'boy' or to be a 'girl'.
You can watch the following videos to see how negative gender stereotypes propel harmful attitudes and behaviours.
(Sut Jhally, 2007)
Gender inequality harms everyone
Gender inequality in our society results in high rates of violence against women, a gender pay gap and many other measurable inequalities. However, the the harm gender inequality has on men and boys can often be overlooked.
Men are three times more likely to commit suicide in Australia than their female counterparts (Lifeline, 2016). Pressure to "be a man" and "man up" not only creates a society where violence against women kills one woman a week, it is also killing men.
Contact Lifeline if you need support - 13 11 14
(The Representation Project, 2013)
Ukosefu wa usawa wa kijinsia ni kichocheo kikuu cha vurugu dhidi ya wanawake. Sababu kuu ya msingi ya vurugu dhidi ya wanawake ni ukosefu wa usawa wa kijinsia. Ukosefu wa usawa wa kijinsia ni ubaguzi kwa msingi wa jinsia au jinsia, na kusababisha matibabu yasiyo sawa, upendeleo na kipaumbele cha jinsia au jinsia. Jeuri dhidi ya wanawake inaweza kuzuiwa na tuna nguvu ya kufanya mabadiliko. Ni lazima tufanye jamii ya usawa kwa watu wote, bila kujali jinsia. Pamoja, tunaweza kufanya tofauti. Tazama video hii iliyoundwa na Our Watch (2015) kwa ufahamu mkubwa juu ya uhusiano kati ya ukosefu wa usawa wa kijinsia na vurugu dhidi ya wanawake. (Mwanzo wa 2015, toleo la Kiingereza) Ukatili dhidi ya wanawake unaongezeka sana nchini Australia. Wanawake wanauawa kila wiki na mwenzi wao wa sasa au wa zamani. Wanawake 1 kati ya 3 nchini Australia wamewahi kukabiliwa na unyanyasaji wa kimwili kutoka kwa mwenzi wao wa sasa au wa zamani (DVV, 2015). Wanawake 1 kati ya 4 nchini Australia wamewahi kutendewa vibaya na mwenzi wao wa sasa au wa zamani. "Kama unavyoona, idadi ya watu wanaotumia nguvu za kijinsia nchini Australia ni ya chini kuliko idadi ya watu wanaotumia nguvu za kijinsia nchini Australia, ""Hakuna mtu anayejaribu kuimarisha haki za kijinsia katika jamii yetu." Jinsia yetu ya kuzaliwa huamua jinsi tunavyojifunza kujiendesha na kuonekana. Mifano ya kijinsia ngumu huunda mitazamo mbaya ya nini inamaanisha kuwa'mvulana' au kuwa'msichana'. Unaweza kutazama video zifuatazo ili kuona jinsi mitazamo hasi ya kijinsia inavyoendesha mitazamo na tabia zenye madhara. """Usawa wa kijinsia katika jamii yetu unasababisha viwango vya juu vya vurugu dhidi ya wanawake, tofauti ya malipo ya kijinsia na ukosefu mwingine mwingi wa usawa." Hata hivyo, mara nyingi madhara yanayotokana na ukosefu wa usawa wa kijinsia kwa wanaume na wavulana hupuuzwa. Wanaume wana uwezekano mkubwa wa kujiua mara tatu kuliko wanawake (Lifeline, 2016). "Msukumo wa ""kuwa mtu"" na ""mtu"" sio tu huunda jamii ambapo vurugu dhidi ya wanawake huua mwanamke mmoja kwa wiki, pia huua wanaume." "Kama una mahitaji ya msaada, wasiliana na ""Lifeline"" (13 11 14), ambayo ni moja ya huduma za huduma za afya za umma."