MairiVoice » mairivoice

18Nov

Feminism – catchword of the moment!

NOBODY GAVE US ANYTHING – Gerda Lerner

Our Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, who is also our Minister for Women, is a feminist.

(He claimed his daughters helped him become one – https://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/tony-abbott-is-a-feminist-because-daughters-20140305-3467l.html)

Yes he is male and he is the one our first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard aimed her famous misogyny speech – at – because he undoubtedly behaved like one.

But he has three daughters and a wife – so he must be a feminist, mustn’t he?
However, our Foreign Minister – who is female – is not a feminist. After all she has enough white, upper class privilege to get her into the boys club.
And neither is our female junior minister assisting the Minister for Women – she doesn’t want to be labelled as a whinging feminist either.
But lots of famous people are coming out as feminists. Even some men want to be feminists too.
It is nice to see that feminism is getting airplay again – that feminism is being noticed.
Feminism has become mainstream!

But be aware – be very aware.

We do not want feminism to be captured by patriarchal, capitalist system – the very system that is at the core of the oppression of women.

“Because the mere presence of our language in the mainstream, does not mean that it is correctly used, much less widely understood, sometimes the very opposite. Our language is often used against us, as Feminism is turned into a brand, as our complex political theory centuries in the making is reduced to catch phrases and slogans, manipulated to sell us everything from trainers to gym membership, manipulated to sell us lies; lies about our bodies, lies about our selves, lies about our potential, lies about our power.” Finn Mackay

As feminists we need to be aware of what feminism means for us. Just having the word in regular usage does not mean that the revolution is on its way. In fact it can mean that feminism and women’s oppression becomes diluted and meaningless. And of course that is what patriarchy would really like. It then becomes part of the backlash against feminism.

“And in such a culture, everything becomes Feminist; and anything can be Feminist, and as a consequence Feminism becomes nothing, becomes meaningless.” Finn Mackay

Feminism is about resistance to male dominance.

Language is important.

Some have framed feminism as about prejudice, hatred or fear.
But this individualizes the issue and hides the patriarchal nature of subjugation of women.
Describing violence against women as “hate crimes” makes invisible the structural and systemic nature of oppression.

“In the radical framework, prejudice is not the cause of systemic oppression but a consequence or by-product of it.” Debbie Cameron

She cites Liz Kelly:

“Domestic violence, child sex abuse and rape are not rooted in fear and loathing of women or children as a group, but have more to do with men’s feelings of superiority and entitlement, their assumption that women and children exist for their benefit and may be controlled, exploited and abused with impunity. These are not crimes of hate, they are crimes of power and domination; but that in no way diminishes their impact on the lives of those who are or may become their victims.”

Some would argue that feminism is about equality.
But feminism isn’t just about equality – as Karen Ingla Smith so aptly puts it:

“Equality is a condition of a just society, not a cure for an unjust one. So when I say feminism isn’t about equality, it’s about women’s liberation from men’s oppression, this is what I mean. Ending inequality is a big part of feminism, of course it is. But equality is impossible in the society that we have. That’s why feminists talk about smashing patriarchy because we need to think bigger.”

The importance of language and how we use it.
The importance of how feminism is framed and defined.
Equality; choice; empowerment; agency – all words which have been usurped by patriarchy.

Pornography and sexual violence is now about empowerment.
Prostitution is about choice.
Sex trafficking is liberating for third world women.

And now we hear the call to include men in our feminism – to “invite men to be part of the solution”.
Because “Not all men” movement has to be appeased.

Because men have always been important.

Because we live in patriarchy.

‘But it is also ludicrous to ask a liberation movement to frame itself in ways that will please or appease the beneficiaries of oppression. All men do and have benefited from patriarchy and the systemic oppression of women, whether they wanted to or not. Being unwilling to accept this is a serious obstacle to social change.” Michael Laxer

“The silencing of women by men in the public sphere is deafening; the habit of overlooking and failing to respond to women’s subordination is entrenched, structural and serves men as a class. By insist on inclusion in feminism, once again, men’s wants and needs are prioritised over women’s and women’s subordination is reinforced.”Karen Ingala Smith

Feminism is not about or for men; it is not about what they think.

It is about giving women a voice.

“The fact that the dominant culture has shifted from denying our existence and telling us our movement is dead to trying to tell us what our movement is and should be, is a sign of our success, is a sign of our momentum. We cannot be ignored any more, so now a new tactic is to acknowledge and incorporate, to celebrate and saturate, to dilute and water down our Movement and attack it at its radical roots all the while claiming to accept it – or at least a certain version of it. But ask yourselves what our Movement has to look like in order to be accepted by a culture that looks like this. Ask yourselves why we would ever want to fit in with a brutal, violent, compassionless system. Ask yourselves what truly revolutionary movement is ever going to be anything but threatening.” Finn Mackay

Articles worth reading:
Don’t blame Emma Watson’s speech for liberal feminist failures. Laura McNally
Part of the problem: Talking about systemic oppression. Michael Laxer
I would be ok with sticks and stones: Rebecca Mott.
What does it look like, this equality that you speak of? Karen Ingala Smith
Thanks and all, but no thanks: I don’t want men in my feminism. Karen Ingala Smith
It’s time for feminists to Get In, not Lean In. Finn Mackay
Minding our language. Debbie Cameron
The Trouble with “Hate” Liz Kelly

Permalink Filed under: Patriarchy Tags: feminism, misogyny No Comments
07Nov

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

I have just finished reading this moving and absorbing book.

My immediate impressions were that of loneliness, alienation, confinement and oppression. Kate Chopin reflects women’s oppression and alienation in their roles as mothers and wives at the end of the 19th Century.

But sadly it is far too familiar for women in the 21st Century. It is a battle that women still struggle against.

Interestingly, Kate Chopin’s original title was A Solitary Soul, which highlights the loneliness of women recognising that the role they are confined to, not only does not fit but is oppressive.

The book is about Edna Pontellier‘s awakening to her authenticity as a woman and her inability to continue in her restrictive and false life as a mother and wife.

“As the critic Per Seyersted phrases it, Kate Chopin “broke new ground in American literature. She was the first woman writer in her country to accept passion as a legitimate subject for serious, outspoken fiction. Revolting against tradition and authority; with a daring which we can hardy fathom today; with an uncompromising honesty and no trace of sensationalism, she undertook to give the unsparing truth about woman’s submerged life. She was something of a pioneer in the amoral treatment of sexuality, of divorce, and of woman’s urge for an existential authenticity. She is in many respects a modern writer, particularly in her awareness of the complexities of truth and the complications of freedom.” Rosemary F. Franklin

It is interesting to compare this with the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Both address the issue of women’s oppression and alienation within patriarchy. Both of the women central characters find that their only option is to rail against this oppression.
I was discussing “The Yellow Wallpaper” with two other women who had different interpretations of the ending. One thought that Jane finally went crazy; the other saw her as committing suicide. I saw Jane as finally being able to liberate herself.

Edna Pontellier finds her only solution is to commit suicide – to swim into the ocean, naked. This is her liberation.

“She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before.”

Permalink Filed under: My Favourite Books, Patriarchy, Recent reading, Uncategorized, Women and Madness Tags: feminism, misogyny, motherhood, Women's literature No Comments
05Nov

“From Little Things Big Things Grow”

I was 20 years old when Gough Whitlam became Prime Minister of Australia.
It may therefore be seen that this post reflects my memories of youth – of naive hope, optimism and the enthusiasm of youth.
It was also the 1970’s when change was in the air.
But I do think Gough Whitlam’s time as Prime Minister was monumental in Australian politics. And this definitely has borne out in the past few weeks as Australia has reflected on his life and his contribution to Australia.
I was very keen to watch his memorial service on television this morning.
And I must firstly reflect on the reaction of the crowd outside the town hall as the dignitaries arrived.
It was obviously a Labor crowd, as they cheered resoundingly for the past Labor Prime Ministers on their arrivals such as Hawke and Keating.
And the boos for Howard – and also our current Prime Minister Abbott.
But I was most pleased with their response to Julia Gillard. The crowd loudly showed their pleasure with her – and most impressive was the standing ovation she received when she walked into the hall.
The contrast between the response she received and the one Kevin Rudd was received was palpable.

As Katherine Murphy from the Guardian commented:

“The mourners roared for Julia Gillard, and mumbled ambivalently for Kevin Rudd.”

The blue ties might have won the round but Julia will be the historical winner.

The memorial to Gough Whitlam was definitely powerful and emotive. The speakers were awesome. They reminded us of all that Whitlam achieved in his relatively brief period of office.

Cate Blanchett reminded us eloquently of some of what he worked on
– Free tertiary education
– Healthcare
– Equal pay for women
– Supporting mothers benefit

And the establishment of the Women’s Advisor to the Prime Minister and Office for Women.

Mr. Whitlam discusses International Women’s Year with two members of the National Advisory Committee, Ms. Elizabeth Reid and the Secretary of the Australian Government’s Department of the Media, Mr James Oswin (National Library of Australia nla.pic-vn3510683, photo: Malcolm Lindsay)

Noel Pearson’s speech was also passionate and commanding.

“Without this old man, the land rights of our people would never have seen the light of day,” Mr Pearson said. “He truly was Australia’s greatest white elder…”

“I can scarcely point to any white Australian political leader of his vintage and of generations following of whom it could be said without a shadow of doubt, he harboured not a bone of racial, ethnic or gender prejudice in his body.”

It was heartening to see the emphasis on Indigenous Australians in this memorial. For of course one of the most iconic images we have of Whitlam is him pouring the earth into Vincent Lingiari’s hands.

Paul Kelly and indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Kev Carmody performed “From Little Things Big Things Grow” written by them in 1991 telling the story of the Gurindji people’s struggle for equality and land rights.

I understand that real power is not invested in our parliament but that it only operates within the parameters set by the patriarchal, capitalist machine. No real change can occur without dismantling patriarchal capitalism.

But the optimism and enthusiasm, the inclusiveness and the tolerance which the Whitlam government brought to Australia is a time worth honouring.

“He touches, still, the millions who share his vision for a more equal Australia, a more independent, inclusive, generous and tolerant Australia, a nation confident of its future in our region and the world,”

Graham Freudenberg, Whitlam’s speech writer.

It is a stark contrast to the current neo-conservative politics when fear is used to win votes; when winning the next election is the force behind governments, rather than bringing about change;when three word slogans are deemed to be enough, we are right to remember how sometimes some good can happen. And that sometimes courageous politicians can make positive differences in our everyday lives.

“This was the politics of real people: the people who remain engaged, the people who believe, and persist, and endure all the failings and the disrespect and the daily manipulation to insist that politics is and must be a noble cause, periodically inhabited by people of courage.”

Katherine Murphy

Permalink Filed under: Australian Politics, First Nation Issues Tags: Australian politics, Australian women, first nation No Comments
23Oct

Men’s Rights Activism: A Tale Of Rampant Misogyny And Powerful Insanity by Chris Cadaver

Now I know this isn’t my post – and it is by a man – but it is very good and I strongly recommend having a look at it.

Men’s Rights Activism: A Tale Of Rampant Misogyny And Powerful Insanity

He raises a number of issues about men’s rights activism and its misogyny.

“The Men’s Rights movement seems to be born from the idea that feminism has turned all males everywhere into victims. As we all know, being a man is tough these days. Sure you get paid way more, have lower costs for health insurance, don’t need to worry about being attractive during a job interview, and can play whatever sports you like without needing a court case, but that certainly evens out. I mean, can a man show cleavage to get out of a speeding ticket? Nope! Take that, feminists!”

He then goes on to talk about their activism around divorce and custody issues:

“One branch of the Men’s Rights movement is an activist group of divorced dads called Fathers 4 Justice. Their aim is to stop courts from both making them pay child support, and keeping them from having custody of their children. The idea that their group’s cornerstone is wanting to see their kids and simultaneously not wanting to pay for their care is left suspiciously unmentioned. That said, who wants to pay for all the things they want? Wouldn’t everything be better if all the cool stuff in life was just free for everyone, all the time?”

And then about male violence and rape:

“They make the weak point that it’s sexist to frame rape as a male crime, but considering the fact that the overwhelming majority of rapes are committed by males, that’s kind of the equivalent of getting mad about someone saying all men who procure prostitutes just want sex. Some of them might very well just want to play a rousing game of Yahtzee with their hooker, but you’re only making yourself look like a dipshit for getting bent out of shape about it.”

A worthwhile read.

https://www.eyeballcircus.com/2014/03/02/mens-rights/

Permalink Filed under: Patriarchy Tags: family law, misogyny, violence against women 6 Comments
21Oct

The Fault that is Family Law – Part 3

Update:

“The up-to-date research and information now available makes it clear that the present practices can no longer be justified and the custody court system must create the necessary reforms to protect the safety of children and protective mothers in domestic violence custody cases. This article will discuss ten reasons we know the custody court system is broken and must be reformed.”

https://www.nomas.org/node/168

Parental Alienation

If there is one symbol of misogyny and patriarchy within family law it must be the use of the concept of parental alienation.
Parental alienation epitomises how the patriarchal legal system has viewed women within our western civilisation.
It views women as vindictive liars – out to destroy men and fatherhood. It deems women as pathological – not the norm; not male.
And the intended result is to negate and trivialise male abuse of women and children. It denies and minimises the impact and severity of domestic violence and child abuse.

(Taken from https://www.facebook.com/shoutoutaustralia)

In basic terms, parental alienation takes the position that when a mother raises concerns about child abuse and domestic violence following separation – in a bid to protect her children from exposure to further abuse – that her allegations are likely to be false. That her motivations include revenge and vindictiveness against her ex-partner.
And most importantly it is seen as an effort to deny men/fathers the inalienable right to their children.

It is about male ownership and control.

The parental alienation syndrome was originally developed by Richard Gardner (1931-2003). It was based solely on his own (biased) clinical experience with little objective basis and lacks any empirical basis.
Gardner also had bizarre beliefs about sexuality. He is quoted as stating that:

“adult-child sex need not be intrinsically harmful to children.”

Parental alienation syndrome is grounded in misogynistic views and reflects a mother-blaming ideology.

ALIENATION AS A DYNAMIC OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

What we do know – and there is empirical evidence – is that alienation is a pattern of control used by male abusers in domestic violence and child sexual abuse.
The use of denigration of mothers is part of the pattern of both child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
And then when the mother separates from the abuser, perpetrators of domestic violence use custody litigation as a form of ongoing harassment and abuse of mother.

Alienation theory and its continued use reflect historical and societal denial of the extent of male violence within the family.

I would highly recommend Liz Library – lots of useful information about child custody, family law and parental alienation.

Other websites: Women’s Safety After Separation

WEAVE Inc

And another useful book which examines how perpetrators use of controlling tactics:

Permalink Filed under: Child Sexual Abuse, Family and Family Law, Uncategorized, Violence Against Women Tags: Child Abuse, family law, misogyny, violence against women No Comments
16Oct

Muriel Matters Suffragist 1877-1969

Update: ABC television did a programme on Muriel Matters on Sunday: https://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/muriel-matters/

This information comes directly from the Muriel Matters Society

Muriel Lilah Matters (November 12, 1877 – November 17, 1969) was an Australian born suffragist, lecturer, journalist, educator, actress and elocutionist.
Matters was an extremely prominent member of a critical mass of people agitating for women’s suffrage in London.
Matters is most recognised for chaining herself to the grille of the Ladies’ Gallery in the British House of Commons on 28 October 1908. The ‘grille’ was a piece of ironwork placed in the Ladies’ Gallery that obscured the women’s view of parliamentary debates. A symbol of the oppression of women in a male-dominated society, it was her firm conviction the grille should be removed.

Her non-violent solution to chain herself to the grille was the centre-piece of a larger protest conducted by the Women’s Freedom League. While attached to the grille Matters, by a legal technicality, was judged to be on the floor of Parliament and thus, the words spoken by her that day are still considered to be the first delivered by a woman in the House of Commons.

Matters is also identified with attempting to shower King Edward VII and the British Houses of Parliament with handbills dropped from an airship on 16 February 1909.
The South Australian Parliamentary Library Reading Room has been named in honour of Muriel Matters on 5 August 2014.

A docudrama Muriel Matters!, featuring the suffragette’s story, premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival on Sunday, 13 October, 2013 and screened on ABC1 .

Photo from The Guardian

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/murielmatterssociety
https://twitter.com/MurielMattersSA

Permalink Filed under: Australian Women of History, Uncategorized, Women's History Tags: Australian women, feminism, women's history No Comments
15Oct

Rape is about Power

Sexual assault, rape, child sexual abuse – whatever it is called is about power not sex.

(From Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young)
And nowhere can this be exemplified but at Nauru where reports of sexual abuse of children in the Detention Centre have come to light.

“The claims included that women inside the centre were being forced to strip and exchange sexual favours with guards so they could have access to the showers.
There were also claims that children were being forced to have sex in front of guards at the centre.”

Vulnerable and traumatised women and children.

Refugees who have escaped horrific situations – war, torture and civil conflict – who have often spent years seeking refuge and safety.

The most vulnerable of humanity. Locked up in concentration camps (detention centres) on a foreign, alien remote island.
And those charged with their ‘care’. Working in an organisation whose structure is developed under an ideology of racism and misogyny which attempt in every way to dehumanise these vulnerable people.

Every aspect of the detention of these people has been designed to humiliate and demean.
So it is no surprise that in such an environment those in charge will abuse their power and sexually abuse women and children.
And Scott Morrison, on behalf of the Australian government has responded in a typically patriarchal pattern.

“The public don’t want to be played for mugs with allegations being used as some sort of political tactic in all of this.”
“However, we note that the allegations by Senator Hanson-Young have been made publicly and in the context of broader political statements to discredit the government’s involvement in offshore processing.”

For centuries women’s and children’s claims of male sexual violence have been met with suspicion, disbelief and contempt.

When women and children have raised concerns of rape and sexual assault they have been dismissed, demonised and vilified.

Called liars. Blamed for asking for it.
This is a culture where the most vulnerable of women and children are dehumanised, called illegals, their human rights ignored.
Treated with such inhumanity.
It is therefore believable that those charged with “guarding” them would abuse their power to rape women and children – to treat them as less than human.
This is patriarchy at its worst – misogynistic, racist and inhumane.
When will this stop?

Permalink Filed under: Child Sexual Abuse, Patriarchy, Violence Against Women Tags: Child Abuse, misogyny, Racism No Comments
11Oct

Latest News and Campaigns

This is a list of new campaigns. If you are involved or aware of a campaign please message me or leave a comment and I will add it to this list. Thank you.

Australian campaigns

SOSwomenservices

Changes to NSW Government funding are resulting in the closure of many women’s refuges. Women and children need women’s refuges.

SOS Save Women’s Services represents women’s services in NSW concerned about the impact of the NSW Government’s Going Home Staying Home reforms on vulnerable women and children. We are from the community and are non-partisan.

https://www.soswomensservices.com/

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Defending Women’s Refuges in NSW

No Shelter! is a Sydney based collective that is participating in the community campaign against the Going Home, Staying Home reforms by the NSW government. These reforms opened the sector to competitive tendering for the first time, resulting in the closures of at least 30 Independent women’s and youth refuges, as well as Aboriginal homelessness services across NSW. The majority of refuges, such as Elsie’s in Glebe, have been handed over to the major faith-based NGOs. No Shelter! is organising to stop further refuge closures and shift the Government’s agenda from making welfare and health a business that no longer seeks to address the systemic causes of poverty and inequality.

website www.noshelter.com.au

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Photograph by Babary McGrady

Gunnedah grandmothers fight against the removal of Indigenous kids

The group Grandmothers Against Removals (GMAR) was formed in January in an effort to highlight the process of removal used by the New South Wales Department of Children’s Services.

With around 6,000 Aboriginal children currently in out-of-home care in New South Wales, the Grandmothers Against Removals refuse to remain silent.

They say it’s time to be a voice for other families and children who feel unable to speak against the system being accused of creating a new stolen generation.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reclaim the Night Australia

Connecting the many diverse, amazing, inspiring collectives and groups which organise Reclaim the Night rallies and marches each year around Australia.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

United Kindgom Campaigns

Focus E15 Mothers

We are originally a group of mothers from a hostel in east London Stratford called focus E15. Focus E15 is a hostel run by East Thames housing association to accommodate young people under 25 many with support needs due to homelessness, suffering from domestic violence coming out from social services care etc.

On 20th august 2013 mothers were issued eviction notices from the housing association east Thames to be out of our flats by 20th October 2013.

We began occupying the housing association and council office demanding local social housing.

Since the campaign began in September 2013 mothers have had victory. We have all been rehoused in the borough. We are in fact in private rents soaring high and only in 12 moth contracts very insecure for both us and our children.

But as I’m sure you know this issue is much wider than us mothers it is effecting many people on a low or average wage or on benefits. Social cleaning needs to stop! Social housing needs to be renovated and rebuilt! We all need to unite and fight together! Stand side by side and say SOCIAL HOUSING
IS A RIGHT WE ARE HERE TO STAY AND HERE TO FIGHT!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

International Campaigns

#BeenRapedNeverReported Gives Women Space To Share Stories Of Sexual Assault

(Huffington Post Canada)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPACE stands for ‘Survivors of Prostitution-Abuse Calling for Enlightenment’. We call for enlightenment because before we can expect social change, prostitution must be recognised for the abuse that it is. SPACE is committed both to raising the public’s consciousness of the harm of prostitution and to lobbying governments to do something about it.

SPACE is an international organisation, formed to give voice to women who have survived the abusive reality of prostitution. SPACE includes members from France, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Canada, the US and the UK. We press for political recognition of prostitution as sexually abusive exploitation, and, as a response, for criminalisation of the demand for paid sex. We advocate for the implementation of the Nordic Model, which decriminalises prostituted persons, criminalises those who buy them, and provides viable exit strategies including education and training.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CODEPINK

– a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end U.S. funded wars and occupations, to challenge militarism globally, and to redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. The name CODEPINK satirized the Bush Administration’s color-coded, fear-mongering “security” alert system that has since been phased out. CODEPINK is a lively call for the people of the world to “wage peace.”

Website: https://www.codepink.org/

Permalink Filed under: Latest News and Campaigns No Comments
09Oct

Loss of Women’s Services – it’s happening everywhere

Women’s House Brisbane recently highlighted their concerns about the potential loss of women’s only services in Queensland.

“Women’s House is outraged at the recent loss of many valuable services for women and children, in particular, domestic violence refuges in New South Wales. Staff at Women’s House believe that women’s refuges in Queensland will be put out to tender next year.”

This issue was raised in my previous post on this, where Women’s refuges were put out to tender earlier this year in NSW.

This has led to smaller specialist domestic violence refuges losing their funding to larger generic welfare organizations – many of them religious. And as the article points out, they “have an appalling record in relation to survivors of violence” – just take a look at Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Over 20 refuges in NSW have been de-funded. Larger generic organizations are able to offer cheaper services by cutting specialized services for women and children.

Australia is not alone in this backlash against feminist services.

Karen Ingala Smith has been interviewed by Socialist Resistance.

Karen is the chief executive of nia, a charity with a feminist ethos supporting women who have suffered sexual and domestic violence in the U.K.

“We’ve lost too many specialist women’s organisations and it is continuing. It’s harder and harder for independent women-led organisations to survive, and the fight to survive takes away energy that we should be spending on supporting women, girls and children and campaigning for change.”
Tenders are going to large organizations that aren’t specialist women’s organizations. She gives an example:

“The local area did not lose refuge spaces but in order to meet the lower contract value, the new organisation managed to circumvent employment protection laws and made all the existing staff team redundant, offering them new contracts at lower rates, more hours per week and less annual leave. Most accepted. Since then, as staff left and new ones were recruited, salaries were offered at lower rates. With this sort of contracting the central focus becomes not ‘What could we do for women and children with this money?’ but ‘How could we deliver the specification outlined in this contract – and nothing more – for the least possible cost?’”

Both articles point out the importance of feminist, women’s specialist and women-only services.

“It means that our work names male violence and that services are provided in a framework which recognises that there are inequalities between women and men in society, and that male violence against women and girls is both a cause and a consequence of inequality. That we don’t see male violence against women as reducible to individual acts perpetrated by individual men, but as a key instrument of men’s domination of women, supported and normalised by patriarchal institutions, attitudes and social norms and values.”

It is not just about delivery of services but about activism and awareness-raising about male violence against women and children. It is about recognizing that male violence against women and children is not about individual pathology – it’s a social problem embedded in our patriarchal society.

“Women’s refuges in Australia have a proud legacy and wealth of experience and skills in working with women and children who have experienced violence and abuse. Refuge workers have a well-developed understanding of the nature and impact of violence against women and children. They understand that women are not to blame for the violence perpetrated against them and that rather, it is part of a much wider systemic problem.”

“For the sake of women and their children who are desperate to break free from abuse, Women’s House urges the Queensland government not to follow the course taken by NSW. It is essential that the Queensland government funds refuges that have a specialised focus on women and children and a diversity of services which meet the variety of needs required by those affected by violence.”

Women’s House opened the first domestic violence refuge in Queensland in 1974. It has a public office in Woolloongabba and provides services for women who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault.” .

Woollongabba Womens House is a cooperative that runs Women’s Shelters in and around Woollongabba in Brisbane’s inner South.

Karen also runs a blog which counts women who have been killed.

And here is the updated number from Australia’s Destroy the Joint

Good enough reason one would think!

Permalink Filed under: Violence Against Women, Women's Services Tags: feminism, violence against women No Comments
01Oct

The Fault that is Family Law – Part 2 Child Abuse and the Family Law System

Update:

chief-justice-warns-lawyers-against-custody-case-pressure

Chief Justice is asking that lawyers not pressure women into making agreements where there are concerns about violence and abuse.
Of course what she is doing is deflecting responsibility from the court which we know is just as likely to order unsafe arrangements for women and children.

And women face the possibility of punitive measures by the Family Court for raising allegations of abuse and violence.

Abbey’s mother said this in response:

“However, Abbey’s mother said she had spent 11 years navigating the family law and child-protection systems and did not give her consent willingly.

She said she could not afford to challenge final orders in court, especially when she would have to fight the recommendations of the psychologist.”

In May last year, Abbey (surname withheld) disclosed to her mother that her father sexually assaulted her repeatedly between the ages of three and seven.

At 17 this Western Australian girl took her own life.

Her father had just been released from jail after having been convicted of abusing her friend during sleepover visits. He was granted access visits to his children upon release from prison.

“In my attempts to protect my children, I was treated as a hysterical woman by the Family Court, even though [the father] had been charged with child sexual offences at the time,” Abbey’s mother said.

“I was made to look like a vindictive wife instead of what I was, a protective mother.”

“Every week in Australia, the Family Courts are ordering children into contact with, and even into the custody of. parents who are dangerous, toxic and abusive because Family Courts do not have the powers, expertise, and resources to competently investigate allegations of child abuse,” Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston

Tragically there exists within the family law system, within child protection systems and in our community more broadly the belief that women vindictively make allegations of both domestic violence and child abuse, either to punish their ex-partner or to gain some kind of advantage in the family court.

This has consistently been disseminated widely – at the time of the Federal Parliamentary Inquiries into Family Law in 1996 and 2006.

It is not based on reality.

Numerous studies, both in Australia and overseas have unswervingly found that false allegations of child sexual abuse are rare indeed. (See also ‘Child Sexual Abuse Allegations and the Family Court‘)

Let us look at some of the reasons why child sexual abuse allegations may arise following separation.

1. Sexual abuse occurs after separation.

Sexual abuse may occur when an abuser has unconstrained access to children, without the restrictions of the mother being present.
The abuser may also sexually abuse children in order to punish the mother – as a result of his anger at the separation and loss of control over the mother.

2. Disclosure of abuse following separation

There are several reasons abused children may be more likely to disclose abuse and to be believed by the other parent.
Children who are sexually abused sometimes experience a sense of responsibility for keeping the family together, and can be coerced to do so by the offending parent. This pressure lessens when the family splits.
There is also diminished opportunity for the abusing parent to enforce secrecy, and increased opportunity for children to disclose abuse separately to their mother. The child may feel safe to report because the perpetrator is out of the picture and no longer able to punish her for disclosure.
A child may disclose abuse when she realises that despite the separation she will continue to have unsupervised contact with the abuser during contact visits.

3. Disclosure leads to separation

A significant proportion of mothers on learning that their partner is sexually abusing the children will separate from him.
It is likely that the sexual abuse, for a number of reasons, will not be revealed to any authorities, and it is only when the offender seeks contact with the child that the mother discloses the sexual abuse.

The structure of the patriarchal family can be a perilous place for women and children.

And the patriarchal systems – our legal systems and our child protection systems – are not going to seriously address this. Dealing with the reality of child sexual abuse confronts the whole ideology of patriarchy, the institution of the family, and male control.

Bravehearts has launched a privately funded inquiry titled Abbey’s Project to uncover and reflect the experiences, testimony and outcomes for families and other stakeholders in their dealings with the Family Courts (and related child protection agencies) to better protect children against child sexual assault.

“The community has had enough of these courts ignoring the testimony of children, banning access to all support to the families and children making allegations of harm for fear of the courts retribution, demonising the credibility of protective parents and destroying the lives of children. “

“We have seen the courts continually put the rights of repeat, dangerous and /or violent offenders and child sex predators above the safety of the most vulnerable members of the community.”

For information on Abbey’s Project and how to make submissions to the royal commission, visit www.bravehearts.org.au

Permalink Filed under: Child Sexual Abuse, Family and Family Law, Patriarchy Tags: Child Abuse, family law, misogyny 1 Comment

NOBODY GAVE US ANYTHING – Gerda Lerner

But be aware – be very aware.

Language is important.

I understand that real power is not invested in our parliament but that it only operates within the parameters set by the patriarchal, capitalist machine. No real change can occur without dismantling patriarchal capitalism.

Update:

Parental Alienation

It is about male ownership and control.

ALIENATION AS A DYNAMIC OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Alienation theory and its continued use reflect historical and societal denial of the extent of male violence within the family.

Update: ABC television did a programme on Muriel Matters on Sunday: https://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/muriel-matters/

This information comes directly from the Muriel Matters Society

This is a list of new campaigns. If you are involved or aware of a campaign please message me or leave a comment and I will add it to this list. Thank you.

Australian campaigns

United Kindgom Campaigns

International Campaigns

Good enough reason one would think!

Update:

Chief Justice is asking that lawyers not pressure women into making agreements where there are concerns about violence and abuse. Of course what she is doing is deflecting responsibility from the court which we know is just as likely to order unsafe arrangements for women and children.

And women face the possibility of punitive measures by the Family Court for raising allegations of abuse and violence.

Abbey’s mother said this in response:

“However, Abbey’s mother said she had spent 11 years navigating the family law and child-protection systems and did not give her consent willingly.

She said she could not afford to challenge final orders in court, ­especially when she would have to fight the recommendations of the psychologist.”

In May last year, Abbey (surname withheld) disclosed to her mother that her father sexually assaulted her repeatedly between the ages of three and seven.

At 17 this Western Australian girl took her own life.

1. Sexual abuse occurs after separation.

2. Disclosure of abuse following separation

3. Disclosure leads to separation

The structure of the patriarchal family can be a perilous place for women and children.

For information on Abbey’s Project and how to make submissions to the royal commission, visit www.bravehearts.org.au

Categories

Tags

Meta

Linkshttps://thesmilestrike.wordpress.com/2017/02/14/what-has-theory-ever-done-for-us-the-case-for-feminist-theory/

Visits

Chief Justice is asking that lawyers not pressure women into making agreements where there are concerns about violence and abuse.
Of course what she is doing is deflecting responsibility from the court which we know is just as likely to order unsafe arrangements for women and children.

She said she could not afford to challenge final orders in court, especially when she would have to fight the recommendations of the psychologist.”