Report Released: ŒAustralians' attitudes to violence against women'

REPORT RELEASED: 'AUSTRALIANS' ATTITUDES TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'

The findings of the recently released National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) are disturbing and suggest there has been minimal progress over the past 5 years in addressing gender inequality and violence against women in Australia. Just some of the key findings include:

• Most Australians see violence against women as being primarily due to some men being unable to manage their anger.

• 4 in 10 Australians believe that rape results from men not being able to control their need for sex.

• Substantial numbers of Australians believe that the victim can be blamed for violence in certain circumstances. One in five (19%) believe that the woman bears some responsibility if raped while she is affected by alcohol and drugs, while 16% agree that women often say 'no' when they mean 'yes'. 12% believe that if a woman goes into a room alone with a man at a party, it is her fault if she is raped. 

• 2 in 5 Australians believe that 'a lot of times, women who say they were raped had led the man on and then had regrets'.

• 1 in 10 (10%) Australians agree that 'if a woman doesn't physically resist – even if protesting verbally – then it isn't really rape'.

• Only 4 in 10 Australians are aware of the greater risk of violence experienced by women with disabilities.

• Up to 28% of Australians endorse attitudes supportive of male dominance of decision-making in relationships.

• More than 50% of Australians believe that women often fabricate cases of domestic violence in order to improve their prospects in family law cases.

• Sizeable proportions of Australians believe there are circumstances in which violence against women can be excused. 

• Fewer than half of Australians (42%) are aware that women with disabilities reporting sexual assault are less likely than other women to be believed. 

• Men with disabilities are more likely than those without disabilities and women with disabilities to endorse violence-supportive attitudes.

• Most Australians have a poor understanding of the barriers women experience to seeking safety from violence.

• Many Australians say that they would not know where to go for help about a domestic violence problem.

• 1 in 10 Australians agree that 'when jobs are scarce men have more right to a job than women' (12%) and that 'discrimination against women is no longer a problem in the workplace in Australia' (13%).

The Report: 'Australians' attitudes to violence against women: Findings from the 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS)' is available for download from the VicHealth website at:

http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Publications/Freedom-from-violence/2013-National-Community-Attitudes-towards-Violence-Against-Women-Survey.aspx