what you need to know

As a community member

Preventing family violence is a community responsibility.

Ending family violence is long-term work that everyone must be a part of. This involves understanding the social conditions that drive it, and preventing the violence before it occurs.

The realities of family violence in Australia

Family violence is alarmingly prevalent in Australia, with certain communities disproportionately affected. The statistics below come from a Safe and Equal’s Fast Facts on Family and Gender-based Violence, published in 2023.

Family violence is extremely common:

Every 9 days a woman in Australia is killed by her current or former partner

Police respond to a call about family violence every 6 minutes in Victoria

While many people experience family violence, prevalence is clearly related to gender:

1 in 4 women have experienced family violence by age 15

1 in 14 men have experienced family violence by age 15

1 in 5 women have experienced sexual assault by age 15

1 in 20 men have experienced sexual assault by age 15

However, we know that overlapping social factors drive family violence, alongside gender:

3 in 5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have experienced physical or sexual violence from a male intimate partner

Almost 2 in 5 women with disabilities have experienced intimate partner violence by the age of 15

1 in 3 refugee and migrant women living in Australia have experienced domestic and family violence

More than 2 in 5 LGBTQIA+ people reported ever being in an intimate relationship where they were abused in some way by their partner/s

Causes of family violence

The causes of family violence are complex and layered. As women are so disproportionally affected, a key factor is gender inequality. According to Our Watch, gender inequality sets the underlying context for violence against women.

There are 4 factors that consistently predict or ‘drive’ violence against women:

Driver 1

Condoning of violence against women

When we support or condone violence against women, levels of violence are higher. Condoning violence against women occurs in many ways, such as when we justify, excuse or trivialise violence – ‘boys will be boys’ – or blame the victim – ‘what did she expect, going out dressed like that?’

Driver 2

Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life

Violence is more common in relationships where men make all the decisions, feel they ‘own’ their partners or hold rigid ideas about how women should behave. In the public sphere, when women have less independence and power, this sends the message that women are less valuable or worthy of respect – making violence against them more likely.

Driver 3

Rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity

Gender stereotyping is when we promote the idea that there are natural or innate ways for women and men to behave – such as that men are naturally aggressive and dominant, and women are naturally passive and submissive.

This drives violence against women because it can result in punishment for women, men and people of other genders when they don’t conform to expected roles. It also contributes to the idea that men should have more power than women and others in public, and in their relationships.

Driver 4

Male peer relations and cultures of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control

Men’s relationships with other men can be a source of support and comfort for men. But, when they are used to promote aggression, dominance, control or ‘hypersexuality’ (through things like sexual boasting), they are associated with higher levels of violence against women.

In addition to these four gendered drivers, Our Watch identifies four reinforcing factors that influence the prevalence and dynamics of violence:

Reinforcing Factor 1

Condoning of violence in general

This can lead to the ‘normalisation’ of violence.

Reinforcing Factor 2

Experience of, and exposure to, violence

Particularly during childhood.

Reinforcing Factor 3

Context that can weaken prosocial behaviour

This might include stress, environmental/ neighbourhood factors, natural disasters and crises, male-dominated settings and heavy alcohol consumption. These factors can reduce empathy, respect and concern for women.

Reinforcing Factor 4

Backlash and resistance to prevention and gender equality

Actions that seek to block change, uphold the status quo of gender relations, or re-establish male privilege and power, which creates an environment in which there is a heightened risk of violence.

Along with the drivers and reinforcing factors listed above, underlying social context and overlapping forms of oppression influence experiences of family and gender-based violence. Examples include:

Social context

Racism and the effects of colonialism

In order to prevent family violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, we must address the ongoing impacts of colonialism and racism, alongside gender inequality.

Social context

Ableism

In order to prevent family violence towards people with disability, we need to challenge ableism, and how this overlaps and interacts with gender inequality.

Social context

Rigid gender norms, alongside heteronormativity and cisnormativity

In order to prevent family violence towards LGBTIQ+ communities we must work together to challenge rigid gender norms, alongside heteronormativity and cisnormativity.

Social context

Racism and discrimination

In order to prevent family violence towards migrant and refugee people, we must address racism and discrimination based on myths and misconceptions about cultural differences, to create an inclusive and gender equal society.

Family violence is preventable

While it is valuable to understand the drivers of family, violence, it is more important to understand ways that you can take action against them within your own community. Safe and Equal have outlined ways to tackle each driver:

Take action against

Condoning violence against women

Taking action against the first driver of family violence involves challenging the condoning of violence against women. This might look like:

  • Believing victim-survivors and publicly supporting their stories, shifting the blame squarely onto those who use violence;

  • Building organisational cultures that normalise consequences for perpetration, and embracing and supporting victim-survivors;

  • Shifting attitudes that minimise violence or excuse 'perpetration based on gender (ie: “boys will be boys”)

    Find more ways to take action from Safe and Equal.

Take action against

Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life

Taking action against the second driver of family violence involves promoting women’s independence and decision-making in public life and relationships. This might look like:

  • Proactively addressing the representation of women in leadership positions and male-dominated industries

  • Ensuring equal gender representation in public forums and meeting facilitation so that all voices and expertise are heard and valued

  • Ensuring the rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies

  • Improving economic security and independent control of finances for women

    Find more ways to take action from Safe and Equal.

Take action against

Rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity

Taking action against the third driver of family violence involves building new social norms that foster personal identities not constrained by rigid gender stereotypes. This might look like:

  • Teaching children about the harms of gender stereotypes and encouraging them to be themselves

  • Changing gendered dress codes and uniforms so people can wear what’s most comfortable for them

  • Encouraging women’s and girl’s equal participation in sport, and valuing sporting achievements equally

  • Checking ourselves for double standards at work – do we label the same behaviour ‘assertive’ for one gender but ‘bossy’ for another?

  • Encouraging young men and boys to explore a range of positive and individual expressions of masculinity, or whatever sort of gender definition and identity suits them

    Find more ways to take action from Safe and Equal.

Take action against

Male peer relations and cultures of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control

Taking action against the fourth driver of family violence involves supporting men and boys in developing healthy masculinities and positive, supportive male peer relationships. This might look like:

  • Teaching boys and men to recognise harmful expressions of masculinity, and challenging their peers to do better

  • Ensuring workplace programs promote awareness of power differentials and building cultures that break down ‘boys clubs’ by actively welcoming and encouraging equal contributions for staff of all genders

  • Breaking down double standards of behaviour between men – if it isn’t ok to act that way in front of women, then don’t do it

  • Challenging homophobia in male sporting environments, and valuing gay role models who are living life positively and proudly

  • Promoting positive media depictions of a range of male relationships – as caring friends, fathers and partners – modelling behaviours and interactions with women that involve care, respect and equality

    Find more ways to take action from Safe and Equal.

You can be part of making your community safer.

By knowing the main drivers of family violence along with how to take action against them, we can all be part of a future that is safer for everyone.