Global leader in prevention of gendered violence Jackson Katz in Australia to discuss ‘men’s issues’

Global leader in prevention of gendered violence Jackson Katz is in Australia to talk about domestic violence and sexual abuse being a men’s issue.

As Australia confronts horrifying levels of family violence, global leader on the issue Jackson Katz says it is no longer acceptable for domestic or sexual abuse to be seen as a women’s issue that some good men help with because that is part of the problem,

“These are men’s issues,” he said as he kicked off his Australian tour in Perth by speaking at a White Ribbon function.

Global leader in the prevention of gendered violence Jackson Katz at a White Ribbon function on Making Women’s Safety a Men’s Issue Too with a student from Aquinas College and Communicare chief executive officer Melissa Perry. Picture: Supplied

He said three things needed to change to end gendered violence across the globe, including the use of passive victim blaming language, for men not to be confused between guilt and responsibility about who they are, and for men to take leadership in all corners of society by shutting down inappropriate jokes or conversations.

Once that happened the paradigm shifted, Mr Katz said, and the world would move quickly.

“Everybody is affected by men’s violence, it affects everyone,” he said.

Jackson Katz is the author of multiple books on ending gendered violence. Picture: Supplied

“Saying it is a women’s issue is victim blaming. Men commit the vast proportion of violence, but it’s their behaviour that has to change.

“We need to get to a new paradigm and understand (domestic and family violence) as a men’s issue.

“Violence against women, who is doing it?

“Men’s violence against women is more honest.”

Each week in Australia thousands of women are turned away and cannot access urgent services they need to deal with the consequences of family and domestic violence.

Every four days a man kills a woman in Australia — usually their current or former partner — and it is a big problem happening all across the world.

As Australia confronts the horrific rates of family and domestic violence in the wake of recent tragedies, Mr Katz said he had not seen a country so committed to making systematic changes to address the crisis.

Jackson Katz will be speaking with leaders across the country as Australia grapples with horrifying rates of family and domestic violence. Picture: Supplied

“We need more men talking about this so it becomes normal,” Mr Katz said.

He said many men got defensive about the use of honest language, but it was a barrier to the topic that held society back from changing.

“Victim blaming is prevalent in this world … but if we are trying to prevent violence we do not need to talk about women, the focus needs to be on men.

“Why do so many men abuse the women they are supposed to love?”

He said leadership in this area would be a gamechanger and everyone could play a constructive role in disrupting abusive behaviour.

“It is an all inclusive way that can be embedded in education, business and the workplace, this is a leadership issue for men,” he said.

“Women’s leadership provided the archetype we need to shift gears for the world to change more quickly.

“If men take responsibility we can muster more resources so the mountains will move much more quickly.”