How are gender inequality and violence against women related? Findings from a population‐level community attitudes survey

Abstract

Low support for gender equality (GE) predicts attitudes supporting violence against women (VAW). However, little is known about the influence of attitudes toward different manifestations of GE. This study extends knowledge by assessing the relative strength of attitudes to GE across seven theoretically derived dimensions, and their association with attitudes toward VAW. 17,542 Australians participated in the 2017 National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey. Population means were calculated for the following scales formed from survey questions: the Community Attitudes Supportive of Violence Against Women Scale (CASVAWS), the Gender Equality Attitudes Scale (GEAS) and measures within the GEAS representing the theoretical dimensions. There was variation in support for GE between the measures. The lower the support for GE, the higher the support for VAW. Although all GEAS measures included in regression modelling contributed to variance in the CASVAWS, two accounted for more than half. The study suggests benefits in using a multidimensional model of GE to mitigate cultural | 375 WEBSTER ET al.

Personal Safety and Fear of Sexual Harassment among Female Garment Workers in Bangladesh

“…Workplaces have been identified as social spaces where change that addresses and seeks to eliminate sexual violence perpetrated against women can be implemented and enforced through gender equity measures [ 36 ]. Yet this form of violence remains rife and poorly addressed, despite legal interventions that have made sexual violence a criminal offense, and the widespread implementation of diversity management and training [ 37 ].…”

286. Australian Young Women's Perceptions of Dating and Dating Violence

“…There is also an economic burden associated with men's violence against women, which includes dating violence, and conservative estimates show that gendered IPV cost the Australian economy about $22 billion for the year -16 (KPMG Australia, 2016. Despite the social and health impacts of dating violence, Australian research has shown that public attitudes supportive of gendered violence against young women are rife (Hall and Partners Open Mind, 2015;Politoff et al, 2019;Webster et al, 2018), but there is little research exploring the issue from the perspective of the young women who experience this injustice.…”

“…Dating violence is a prevalent and important public health concern with numerous health and social impacts. However despite these burdens, there is varied understanding and awareness of dating violence by young women and the general public in Australia (Hall and Partners Open Mind, 2015;Politoff et al, 2019;Webster et al, 2018). An Australian study exploring over three thousand young people's attitudes towards men's violence against women revealed that most participants were unable to articulate what a healthy and respectful relationship encompassed (Hall and Partners Open Mind, 2015).…”

“…The latest National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS), which surveyed 1761 young Australians aged 16 to 24 years, has shown that Australian young people are knowledgeable about key issues concerning men's violence against women and support gender equality in theory (Politoff et al, 2019). Encouragingly it has also been demonstrated that there has been an improvement in attitudes of all Australians concerning gender equality and men's violence against women between the years 2013 and 2017 (Politoff et al, 2019;Webster et al, 2018). However, young people were unaware that violence against women is usually gendered, perpetrated by men towards women (Politoff et al, 2019).…”

Understandings and Perceptions of Domestic Violence Among Newly Arrived Afghan Women in Australia

“…The Australian National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Surveys (NCAS) found a significant difference between Australians and migrants from non-English-speaking countries regarding attitudes toward violence against women (Taylor & Mouzos, 2006; Webster et al, 2014, 2019). People from non-English-speaking countries were significantly less likely to view stalking or harassment by telephone or email as violence.…”