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PagesPublic FigureJournalistJane Gilmore
Me, on the Four Corners report about the toxic culture of the Canberra bubble
"Minutes after the Four Corners report, Paul Kelly, Editor-at-large of The Australian, was on QandA defending Christian Porter as a man who has “served with distinction”.
That may be true. Good men can get drunk, have affairs and make mistakes. Good people are susceptible to moments of selfishness or unkindness. Similarly, misogynistic men can be good lawyers. Indeed, there may be times where misogy...ny is an asset in the legal profession.
Such men can even be perceived as effective MPs. But that’s not relevant to this story because this is not only or chiefly about individuals. It’s about a group of mostly men making decisions about the entire country based on perceptions of women as the dispensers of food, childcare and sex.
The group is the problem and the individuals are relevant only in so far as their actions and choices reflect the collective view."
The Dandenong Leader (published by the Herald Sun) reported that a man was given a 12 month bond, fined $1000 and ordered to attend a men’s behaviour change group after he punched a woman in the head six times, hit her “lightly” (?!) with a chair and threw a beer bottle at her.
Apparently this was his “darkest day”.
No mention of what it was like for her.
...Apparently he had struggled for years to be “happy” with his wife.
I wonder what her struggle was?
Apparently he “just snapped”. Ah, that old chestnut. It’s amazing how many men “just snap“. Maybe it’s something to do with their hormones.
Apparently it “nearly cost him his liberty”.
The consequences of his own choices were (nearly) terrible for him, but we don’t know what the consequences were for her. That didn’t get a mention. Perhaps they didn’t think it was relevant.
The man admitted his crime and accepted that he acted “appallingly”. The judge called it an “unforgivable act”.
It’s quite astounding that even on the rare occasions that a perpetrator takes responsibility for his actions, some journalists still won’t see it. He’s just a good bloke, who tried really hard and then just snapped.
FFS.
(If you’re reading this on social media, links are in the OP at www.patreon.com/JaneGilmore )
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FixedIt is an ongoing project to push back against the media’s constant erasure of violent men and blaming of innocent victims. If you would like to help fund it – even $5 a month makes a big difference – please consider becoming a Patron
If you would like to know more about how and why the media’s erasure of men’s violence against women occurs, the Fixed It book is out now!
Buy your copy here or at any good bookstore. Extracts available on why Fixed It started inThe Guardian, rape and other violence myths in The Age/Sydney Morning Herald and the Good Guy trope on my website.
1800 RESPECT
Sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling and support.24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ph: 1800 737 732
www.1800respect.org.au
Djirra – Aboriginal Family Violence Response & Support Service
9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday
Ph: 1800 105 303
djirra.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ph: 1300 659 467
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Kids Helpline
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: 1800 55 1800
www.kidshelp.com.au
MensLine Australia
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: 1300 78 99 78
www.mensline.org.au
Men’s Referral Service
Monday – Friday – 8am-9pm
Weekends – 9am-6pm
Ph: 1300 766 491
www.ntv.org.au/get-help
https://janegilmore.com/fixed-it-violent-man-is-not-the-vi…/
