Sick of feeling underappreciated?
November 26, 2023
What does freedom mean to you?
May 11, 2024Standing strong and brave!
Fear is a very real emotion that can be triggered by a possible threat. It’s a survival mechanism that tells our bodies that something isn’t right, which causes the flight or fight response. This is what helps keeps us safe. Fear is also something many women are feeling at present, with so many beautiful souls losing their lives, some from men they know, and others from complete strangers from just going about their daily lives, doing what all of us are entitled to do. It is up to us to stand strong and brave!
Have you ever felt fear?
Thankfully, I haven’t in a public space. Thankfully my adult daughters have also been blessed to never be fearful, but also know they can’t freely go out after dark by themselves, which is a very sad way to grow up these days, compared to my teenage years back in the 80s. But having worked very briefly in the counselling space, I’ve heard some stories and it’s not something that can just be swept under the rug.
What can we do to start the conversation?
This weekend there have been rallies Australia wide in support of what is happening in our beautiful country, which is heartening to see, but will it help? We see politicians from both sides, from State and Federal standing together with all Australians, both men and women, which is a start. But, will our leaders have the balls to go beyond attending rallies and stand up and start making change to the justice system on our how those with AVO’s and IVO’s seem to constantly be allowed to ignore these legal documents, and get a slap on the wrist when they’ve been a naughty boy and are back on the streets the next day! I don’t have the answers, but by starting the conversation, we can start to create change. Start talking to victims and how they feel the system has let them down.
Why don’t they just leave?
One statement that draws anger from me regularly is hearing some men saying why don’t they just leave? It’s not always black and white like that. Not to mention, organisations such as Orange Door can’t cope with the demand and are turning many victims away every week! I see countless anonymous posts in women’s groups every single day of women begging for help as they’ve got nowhere to turn and the many support organisations are stretched beyond what they do.
Listening to the drive show with Jacqui Felgate on 3AW Friday afternoon one victim saying after she was lucky enough to escape and restart her life, sadly the next woman who fell for her ex was not aware of his past. His family protected him, the same thing happened to her and the pattern continued. Her idea of a DV register for perpetrators is definitely a good step forward.
What changes would you like to see happen? Getting the dialogue happening is a good start.
It was also discovered that there was report tabled to the Victorian Attorney General on DV back in mid-March and it still hasn’t been tabled by Victims of Crime Commissioner Fiona McCormack who ran this department for 14 years, which talks about just this. Violence against women and the failings of the justice system. Here is the link to her interview from last week.
We don’t need another royal commission or consultation committee put together; we need action.
What can we do from our own level?
We all have male friends who we love and adore. We also know it’s a minority that are murdering our women, but the answer should be none. We can start by having conversations with our sons, our brothers, our family members, our friends. Open the dialogue on how we can be there for each other. Start calling out the negative talk and how women should never be made to feel it’s their fault or asked, what did you do?
We should also support those men around us who are struggling with their own mental health. Encourage them to reach out and ask for help. Don’t dismiss them fearing the worse or thinking we just watch, and not act. By supporting everyone around us, we are enacting change, rather than ignoring it.
Wanting to have a conversation around setting a goal to help create a strength you never knew possible? Book in for a discovery call today here!
Take care until next time, Sarah xo
