OPINION

As I sat watching part one of Sarah Ferguson’s incredibly compelling Hitting Home last night, the ABC’s series on domestic violence, I felt angry.

I simply could not fathom that two women a week are being killed in this country, my country, your country, due to domestic violence. Not to forget the countless others being seriously injured and displaced from their homes.

Domestic violence is a national crisis, one that we all need to take responsibility for and act upon. The majority of women killed in Australia this year had their lives taken by their partners or ex partners.

Is that sinking in for you?

The. Majority.

Hitting Home- Promo In a year dominated by headline stories of domestic violence, award-winning journalist Sarah Ferguson has spent five months on the frontline of our national crisis. #HittingHome Courtesy: ABC TV

Today is White Ribbon Day. And let me preface the rest of this piece by saying that White Ribbon do an incredible job of raising awareness and funds to prevent men’s violence against women. They are obviously to be applauded and supported for their efforts.

But when I saw these photos and read the following headline from a press release about an event that happened today, I felt a fire start in my gut. And as I read on, I became increasingly cross.

“Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” it read.

In support of White Ribbon Day, a group of dudes who work for DFAT decided to put on high heels and go for a bit of a trot.

They were lead by Deputy Secretary Ewen McDonald, and well, I think it’s breathtakingly disappointing for a few reasons.

This particular stunt seems to be saying that the summation of a women’s experience is high heels. That men teetering around in nine inch pumps, having hilarious walking issues and aching feet for 25 minutes has some resonance with all the profoundly complicated and troubling issues associated with domestic violence.

It seems flippant, condescending and in no way honours the actual experiences of the victims of domestic violence in this country. It could also be perceived as saying that acting feminine in public in any way is a HUGE concession for these men. And the thing is; seeing women as ‘separate’ or ‘the other’ or ‘lesser’ is a big part of the problem.

I don’t want to discourage or attack White Ribbon; they’re the good guys. And DFAT has raised more than $40,000 as part of this event this year, all of which will be donated to White Ribbon Australia. The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes initiative began in the US in 2001. It has become a worldwide movement with tens of thousands of men raising millions of dollars for local rape crisis centres, domestic violence shelters and other sexualised violence education, prevention and remediation programs.

Despite this, I think the organisers have missed the mark on this particular occasion by a country mile.

If I’d heard that someone asked the Footy Show to come up with an idea to raise awareness and this was the outcome, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. But this just isn’t good enough from one of our leading anti-domestic violence organisations.

Do you know what would have been a powerful statement? A large group of men wearing white ribbons walking in solidarity with the victims of domestic violence.

That would have been more than enough.

Let’s not make light of what is a terrible epidemic in this country. The women who have lost their lives, or who are currently enduring or escaping intimate partner violence deserve far better than that.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au In an emergency call 000.