Attitudes trivialising domestic violence

The cost of violence against women and their children in Australia for 2015-16 was $22 billion (Department of Social Services (DSS), 2016). Yet, there are generally many attitudes that trivialise domestic violence as not having serious consequences or its effects are not serious to warrant action (Webster et al., 2018). Across the different groups in Wagga Wagga, there were low levels of agreement that women should stay in violent relationships for the family, domestic violence is a private matter, and that domestic violence is excusable if the perpetrator was abused (see figure 12). That is gender, age, ethnicity, education, employment status, and income did not impact attitudes on these three dimensions of trivialising domestic violence. However, there was a significant improvement in residents’ attitudes towards women could leave a violent relationship if she wanted and women make up domestic violence for a custody battle. In 2016, these two attitudes received high levels of agreement with approximately 3 to 4 residents out of every 10, agreeing with these two statements. In 2021, the agreement dropped down to approximately 2 in 10 agreeing with these trivialising attitudes towards domestic violence. In 2016, residents were 2.1 times more likely to agree that women could leave a violent relationship if she wanted to than residents now in 2021. Residents in 2016 were also 1.5 times more likely to agree that women make up domestic violence for a custody battle than residents in 2021. Attitudes that trivialise domestic violence are on the decline, however, efforts in changing these attitudes needs to continue.

Gender

Consistent with the findings in 2016, the only differences in attitudes between males and females in Wagga Wagga were for women could leave a violent relationship if she wanted and women make up domestic violence for a custody battle. There were similarly low levels of agreement for the statements that women should stay in a violent relationship, domestic violence is a private matter for the relationship, and domestic violence can be excused if the abuser was abused. Males (22.0%) were 2.4 times more likely to agree that women could leave a violent relationship if she wanted than females (9.6%), and males (33.5%) were also 3.6 times more likely to agree that women make up domestic violence for a custody battle than females (13.1%) in Wagga Wagga.

Figure 12. Responses (as percentages of the entire survey population who agree) to statements that trivialise domestic violence.

Age

Age was an important factor in two of the attitudes towards trivialising domestic violence. With increasing age, residents in Wagga Wagga are more likely to agree that

women could leave a violent relationship if she

wanted (see table 20). Specifically, 25-39-year-old residents were 2.7 times more likely to agree that women could leave than those aged 18-24, 40-50-year-old residents were 4.0 times more likely to agree than 18-24, and 56 and older 3.8 times more

likely. In contrast the younger residents were more likely to agree domestic violence is to be handled in private. 18-24year-old residents in Wagga Wagga are 5.3 times more likely to agree domestic violence should be handled in private than 56 and above, while 40-55-year-old residents were 6.3 times more likely to agree than 56 and above. The remaining attitudes that trivialise domestic violence were similar across the age groups.

Table 20. Responses (as percentages of the entire survey population who agree) to statements that trivialise domestic violence, as separated by age-group.

Most women could leave a violent relationship if they really wanted to*

A woman should stay in a violent relationship to keep the family together 0.7 0.4 2.8 1.1 No

Domestic violence is a private matter to be handled in within the relationship* 8.3 2.3 4.4 1.1 Yes

Domestic violence can be excused if the violent person was abused as a child

Women going through custody battles often make up or exaggerate claims of domestic violence to improve their case Note: *indicates a significant difference

18-24 % 25-39 % 40-55 % 56+ % Significant Difference

12.5 13.5 18.8 15.8 Yes

6.3 1.2 1.6 2.4 No

35.4 20.0 20.9 21.2 No

Ethnicity

As can be seen in table 21, differences in attitudes that trivialise domestic violence were found between the different ethnic groups in Wagga Wagga in 2021. When it came to whether a woman could leave a violent relationship, ATSI residents were 4.5 times more likely to agree than Anglo-Saxon residents, and Other were 6.6 times were likely to agree than Anglo-Saxons. In addition, Other ethnicity groups in Wagga Wagga were 9 times more likely to agree domestic violence should be handled in private than Anglo-Saxons. Finally, ATSIs were 3.9 times more likely to agree that women make up domestic violence for a custody battle than Other ethnicity residents.

Table 21. Responses (as percentages of the entire survey population who agree) to statements that trivialise domestic violence, as separated by ethnicity.

Most women could leave a violent relationship if they really wanted to*

A woman should stay in a violent relationship to keep the family together

Domestic violence is a private matter to be handled in within the relationship*

Domestic violence can be excused if the violent person was abused as a child Women going through custody battles often make up or exaggerate claims of domestic violence to improve their case*

Note: *indicates a significant difference

AngloSaxon % ATSI % Other % Significant Difference

12.5 32.8 41.5 Yes

1.3 0.0 1.9 No

1.8 8.2 17.0 Yes

2.2 9.8 0.0 No

21.7 47.5 15.1 Yes

Education

Individuals who had studied to high school (20.6%) were 2.7 times more likely to agree that women can leave a violent relationship than university students (11.8%), while those who studied at TAFE or trade school (16.8%) were 1.7 times more likely to agree than the residents who went to university. Similarly, residents who studied to a high school level (38.9%) were 3.2 times more likely to agree that women make up domestic violence for a custody battle than residents who studied at university (15%). The remaining attitudes that trivialise domestic violence were similar across the education level groups in Wagga Wagga in 2021.