In a powerful call to action, Jessica Stojkovski has outlined the essential part men must play if Australia is to finally eradicate the scourge of family and domestic violence. This is not a women's issue to solve alone, but a societal crisis demanding responsibility and proactive engagement from everyone, especially men.
The Stark Reality of a National Crisis
The statistics paint a horrifying picture of a nation in crisis. On average, one woman is killed by an intimate partner every nine days in Australia. Furthermore, police across the country respond to a shocking one domestic violence matter every two minutes. These are not just numbers; they represent shattered lives, traumatised children, and communities living in fear. The economic cost is staggering, but the human cost is immeasurable.
Stojkovski argues that while support services for victims are critically underfunded and in desperate need of bolstering, a lasting solution requires going beyond crisis response. We must confront the root causes embedded in our culture, attitudes, and behaviours. This is where the role of men becomes not just important, but indispensable.
Moving Beyond Bystanders to Active Allies
The traditional approach has often placed the burden of prevention and escape solely on women. Stojkovski challenges this dynamic, urging men to step out of a passive bystander role and become active allies in creating change. This means more than just not being violent oneself. It requires positive, consistent action.
Men are called to challenge the sexist jokes, the derogatory language, and the harmful stereotypes that form the bedrock of a culture which tolerates violence against women. This intervention needs to happen in everyday spaces: at the pub, in the workplace locker room, during family gatherings, and in online forums. Silence is complicity.
Furthermore, men must engage in conversations about respectful relationships, consent, and healthy masculinity with their sons, nephews, and younger male friends. Modelling equality and respect in their own relationships is a powerful teaching tool. It's about fostering a generation of boys who see women as equals and understand that strength is never demonstrated through coercion or control.
A Collective Responsibility for a Safer Future
Ending family and domestic violence is a collective national responsibility. Stojkovski emphasises that this is not about blaming all men, but about empowering those who abhor violence to be part of the solution. Governments must adequately fund frontline services and implement effective prevention strategies. The community must support victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
However, men hold a unique power to influence other men and dismantle the structures that enable abuse. By actively rejecting toxic behaviours and promoting respect, they can create peer cultures that make violence unacceptable. This involves listening to women's experiences, believing survivors, and advocating for policies that protect the vulnerable.
The path forward is clear. It demands a unified effort where men stand shoulder-to-shoulder with women, not as saviours, but as partners in creating a safer Australia. The time for passive concern is over. The time for active, courageous allyship is now. As Stojkovski's argument makes clear, men must play their part—our future depends on it.
