At a family violence forum in 2013, former police commissioner, Ken Lay noted that when violence towards women is unchallenged, such violence is normalised. There are myriad reasons why women who experience violence do not report this violence. Among other things we fear losing our job, not being believed and escalating the violence. The reason men who witness violence against women do not report this violence is less clear. Are they also afraid of losing their jobs?
Men who say it’s not my responsibility, or I don’t want to get involved are more than mere bystanders. Men who turn a blind eye to violence against women are complicit in the violence. It is everyone’s responsibility to challenge violence against women.
First published as a letter to The Age on 9 January 2018