Overcoming resistance to change in push to stop domestic violence

Published on 20 November 2018

White Ribbon Ambassador and outspoken anti-domestic violence campaigner Councillor Mark Eckel says becoming a White Ribbon-accredited workplace is a powerful way to change attitudes to domestic violence and gender equality.

Cr Eckel’s comments follow his attendance at a gender equality conference in Melbourne last week – ‘An equal future: building your skillset for gender equality’.

Organised by the Municipal Association of Victoria, the conference included presentations by Victorian Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins among a packed program of speakers.

Cr Eckel said the underlying theme of the conference was the backlash and resistance to change in many communities striving to progress gender equality.

He said he’d seen this same phenomenon in Mildura in relation to both gender equality and White Ribbon, which are inextricably linked.

“In our region, we have people who are prepared to stand up and fight for what they believe is right, but they’re often faced with resistance and are howled down when trying to speak up,” Cr Eckel said.

“We have to recognise that in the workplace, it’s not equal. The wages aren’t equal, representation at government level or in the boardrooms isn’t equal – I think Australia has the lowest female representation on boards of directors almost anywhere in the world.

“It’s a long struggle, but we need to persist with it, and like White Ribbon, the only way we can do this is through generational change.”

Cr Eckel said ensuring the right message is provided to future generations through our schools is one effective method, however White Ribbon workplace accreditation is another powerful tool.

“Through our workplaces, the only way we’re going to get on top of domestic violence is to reinforce the fact that domestic violence against women is simply not on, and that gender equality and changing attitudes is a large part of this journey,” he said.

“A key component to this is both men and women working together to bring about this change – it shouldn’t be a divisive issue – quite the opposite, this should be something that unites us.

“It’s about achieving the critical mass behind this belief by encouraging, and seeing, more businesses and corporations in our region becoming White Ribbon-accredited workplaces.

“Staff will then take these beliefs, these messages, back to their own homes, to their own social networks and the momentum will build.

“It’s something we as an organisation believe in very strongly, which is why we’re in the process of becoming re-accredited – to continue re-evaluating ourselves, to see how we can do more to build the critical mass needed to stop violence against women occurring in our region.” 

Media enquiries 
Ben Piscioneri
p) (03) 5018 8689 
e) ben.piscioneri@mildura.vic.gov.au