Rosie Batty challenges men to help stop family violence

Family violence awareness campaigner Rosie Batty is challenging men to confront damaging gender stereotypes this Father’s Day.

The Australian of the Year is asking all Aussie dads to take time out from their special day to complete a short survey about the roles they play in their home and in their children’s lives.

Ms Batty, whose son Luke was killed by her ex-partner in 2014, believes challenging gender stereotypes is key to preventing violence against women and children.

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“Evidence tells us that we need to challenge rigid gender stereotypes and gender inequality to prevent violence against women,” Ms Batty wrote in an email sent to 35,000 supporters of the Never Alone campaign.

“What better day than Father’s Day to start to challenge these stereotypes and create a safer environment for our children.”

The short survey asks men about the proportion of housework they do, their involvement with planning family activities and how involved they are in their child’s schooling.

It also asks whether they take time to talk to their kids about their emotions and questions how they speak about harmful gender stereotypes.

‘There are some very practical things that men can do to live out their commitment to help challenge the stereotypes and culture that contributes to family violence,’ the survey statement reads.

‘This is not about blaming men for violence. It’s about understanding why so many men are hurting their partners and their children so that we can stop it.’

Ms Batty has admitted that it’s difficult to begin conversations about family violence with men on Father’s Day.

However, she believes that Australians have to have difficult conversations if they want to make progress and address family violence.

“What we really have to do is engage with men,” Ms Batty told News Corp.

“And men have to engage with other men, and we have to work out ways to bring more men on board on this journey, because it is a gender issue and it is really up to men to force change.”