He could subject me to 'non-speak' for a week because I hadn't sewn a button on his shirt or forgot that tonight was a meeting(his)uni or??He pulled me by the hair when I was 6 months pregnant, because there was dust on the window sill. He was doing something 'most important' while I was in early labour with that baby (my 2nd)who, after he was born, 'rabbit chopped' me down my spine while I lay on the bed feeding him-if I hadn't turned over??He twisted my ankle around another time while I was doing the same thing.I'll probably need a knee replacement before long - it still pains me. Jealousy? Control?
I often had concussion,and on one occasion was sent for a brain scan by a doctor. He was a bully, a thug and a sociopath - a dangerous person.
I made sure that my three sons did not grow up like him - I taught them that violence is not on, and that women are not men's slaves. I also made sure that they had all the skills to be self sufficient adults - they can cook, wash, iron, do housework, look after their children and treat their wives with love and respect - this gives me much joy and pleasure.
The homicide rate of women in this and every country around the world shows beyond doubt,that the greatest threat to our health and safety is by men who profess to love us! One approx.every 10 days in Australia.
Even after more than 20 yrs, speaking of this is distressing!
WRD was started by men in Canada as a show of outrage on the first anniversary of a lone gunman,who shot dead 14 women students and injured 8 others - it was deliberate female killing?The men wore white ribbons to show their determination to prevent violence to women, and support of the families who lost their loved ones.The UN added further weight by setting aside WRD around the world!
So those who believe it was 'cooked up' by feminists are only showing another ignorance!

Antiseptic - What part of this issue don't you understand. I have never stated, nor has the WRD website or any politician that I've heard of, that ALL men bash women, but the fact is, that 1 in 3 women will experience either physical,sexual,psychological,financial, social or some other abuse in their lifetime - these are crimes in every State and Territory - and it took years of struggle to get here.
Not every person robs or commits fraud - the Laws are there for those who do. The same about this type of violence, which is different and hideous because, those who bash pretend to care and protect their female partner and do not.
IF you have nothing to worry about, you have nothing to worry about. Why are you persisting as though every man is being persecuted. WRD is to raise awareness, like the campaign against contracting HIV/AIDS via use of condons; or not to drink and drive.
Men who get so precious about the annual focus on the elimination of violence towards women and kids concern me. Why do you feel so threatened. Decent men and women, who understand the facts are sympathetic and supportive. You just remind me of the police of 40 yrs ago, and the Chamber Magistrate who I saw over 40 yrs ago-it was due to his attitude and the fact that there was nowhere to go or no financial support,that I waited another 15+ years to leave the violence! Now women have other avenues and support!
I should have protection via the Law if my husband bashes me,the same as I'd have if a stranger in the street did-if you disagree,you're part of the problem, and will only mean,that the solution will take longer, and more women will die!

@Benk@Antiseptic- Go on to some sites in other countries such as the US and Britain. Go to the United Nations web site. Go to Central America, such as El Salvador. This is a world wide campaign as it's a world wide problem. There is something really wrong with too many men's attitudes to their personal relationships. There's other crimes of violence that you obviously don't have a problem with - Laws that punish perpetrators - you just don't think it should be applied for these crimes. Why is that? You are being so argumentative; you don't seem to be able to grasp the horror of having to live like this. You don't seem to think that there's something wrong with a man who'd behave like this.
I haven't accused you of committing these crimes, but others - my ex husband who promised to protect me; who lived a double life - criminal violence towards me, and calm, rational and adult behaviour outside the home.
I should not have to defend my assertions to people, whose ego is so huge, that gee, how dare anyone accuse a man, some men of being criminals.
Show me the stats in Australia that are as damning as the homicide of women by their 'loving' partners - they don't exist. Men are more likely to be killed by a stranger in a pub - by another male. This does not apply to women.
This is really becoming most distressing for me now. It just reminds me of how hard it is for women to be believed. You'd probably have more sympathy for having my car broken into, that by being bashed by my ex husband. Says a lot about you!

Liz

It is quite possible that your story is entirely accurate and you would have all my sympathy if this is true. I want to stop DV as much as anyone.

DV stopped simply being a problem to be solved a long time ago. It has become an avenue for women to claim the high moral ground in the battle of the sexes. Hence, the promotion of an unrealistic mental model of DV where the distinction between victim and villian is greatly exaggerated. I still believe that most DV is reciprocal and escilates in a tit-for-tat fashion. I am not about to ignore a large body of research, anecdotal evidence (ask any police about domestics) and well understood, prominent cases, simply because they differ from your depiction of your case.

Genuine attempts to solve the DV puzzle start with an attempt to really understand DV, including its reciprocal nature. Telling these blokes that everything is their fault and that he needs to do whatever she tells him or else he is labelled "controlling" achieves nothing. We need to acknowledge how selfish and violent some women are and give these blokes need strategies to deal with these dingbat women in a peaceful way.

Telling these women that everything is his fault and that they mustn't blame themselves is also similarly unproductive. Female participants need to learn the same conflict resoution skills that he does. Certainly, others should be reluctant to give her the high moral ground, simply on the basis of her gender. It becomes a weapon for some women to misuse.

Surely someone who has been affected by DV wants to stop it, not simply gain an excuse to feel superior towards male participants.

Liz, you are simply ranting. Constantly regurgitating false "statistics" or "facts" doesn't make your point, it discredits it.

Now, let's start again. You said:"girls and women, who are the receivers of the majority of violence "

I said:"I dispute this. Prove your claim."

You said:"I don't have the time or the inclination to put up all sorts of reports, surveys or UN information."

So why should we bother listening to someone who doesnt have the "inclination" to base her argument on facts? You see, I HAVE looked up all sorts of reports, including UN ones, which are conscientiously biased to exclude reporting issued of violence against men. Even they acknowledge the violence against women and children represents less than 50% of the violence against men.

What you and the rest of the White Ribbon people try to do is pretend that facts don't matter and to cloud the issue in a haze of emotion. I agree it's an emotive subject, but that just means we need to be more careful to keep that emotion out of our responses, not whip it up in an hysterical hatred of men, as you and Flood and the WRD dabacle attempt to do.

I have no idea of your personal circumstances, but I have to say I'm skeptical of the claims of someone who has already acknowledged she was the physical aggressor and who has no "inclination" to use facts in arriving at her position.

As for ElSalvador or wherever you're wanting to discuss, I have no interest. This is Australia and the circumstances of a hypothetical Somalian are not relevant to our society or our laws. If you're concerned about the plight of women in Outer Mongolia, may I suggest you pack your bags?

@Antisept"You see, I HAVE looked up all sorts of reports, including UN ones, which are conscientiously biased to exclude reporting issued of violence against men. Even they acknowledge the violence against women and children represents less than 50% of the violence against men."
I have NEVER said that I instigated any violence -on the contrary.
As you're the one who disagrees with the view of every State & Territory in the country,plus the UN and other countries; the onus is on you to prove it. You're the odd one out, not me.
The reason why I hesitate to go researching is because I've done it before - on many occasions - YOU ARE WRONG!
I do not have to convince you of my truthfulness - once I would've felt quite intimidated by your responses,but not now! I'm a survivor and I survived being almost killed by a violent gutless man who used intimidation and abuse to make him feel in control
There are over 9 million articles, I've read many of them. I'm also on a local committee re this issue.
I am sewing a Christmas gift for a women who has an aquired brain injury caused by her husband's assault - she's the third woman I've known of with similar or worse injuries - I could've been one also! I have more important things to do than argue with a misogynist!

Your call! Put up or?