Violence by men against women

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 6 Jan 2013.

The shocking rape and murder of a young woman by a gang of male thugs in India last week has opened the eyes of the world to the violence suffered by Indian women, and their cultural disadvantage and social plight.

Rape is one of the most serious of crimes, and in India victims are socially outcast, have no prospect of marriage and financial security, and the family bears lasting shame, while the perpetrators often go unpunished.

But what of our own country, and its misogynistic and sometimes violent culture, often fuelled by alcohol abuse? There’s a social media meme circulating today, depicting a young female student holding a placard which reads, “I support feminism because my university orientation program features a seminar on ‘How to avoid rape’ rather than teaching men not to rape women.”

Good point.  Women and men everywhere need to practise the radical, transforming respect and honour toward others that lies at the heart of the Christian gospel.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.