Preventing Domestic Violence by Changing Australian Gender Relations: Issues and Considerations

ABSTRACT

In recent years Australian governments have significantly refocused domestic violence policies to prioritise primary prevention strategies. The objective of such strategies is to change how Australians perceive, acknowledge, and respond to domestic violence as a gender-based problem. Recognising the value of these efforts to address oppressive cultural practices, we draw attention to limitations inherent in shifting culture as a means to prevent domestic violence. We demonstrate how governments may improve policy approaches by addressing the structural inequalities that have historically forced women into positions of subordination. This will help us move toward more effective and long-term solutions to domestic violence.

IMPLICATIONS

• Australian domestic violence policy must include structural and systems changes prioritising women’s equal rights in addition to equal opportunities.

• To change cultural attitudes and behaviours, we must alter the environment in which oppressions and opportunities are located.

• Social workers can shape the debate to ensure that changing culture to prevent domestic violence is conceptualised as part of a wider social and policy change agenda.

澳大利亚政府今年调整了家暴政策，把初期干预策略放在了首位。该策略的目的在于改变澳大利亚人对作为一种性别问题的家暴的认识和反应。笔者承认解决压迫性文化实践的努力非常有价值，但也指出用文化转移来防止家暴的做法有其局限性。政府可以通过解决长期视女性为从属的结构性不平等来优化政策。这是家暴问题的有效长期解决之道。

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic Violence
• Gender
• Social Policy
• Cultural Change
• Structural Change
• Australia

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Ella Kuskoff http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4124-6755

Cameron Parsell http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0785-3896

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.