Sporting culture is uniquely intertwined with domestic violence rates, making it all the more critical for teams across the board to speak out on the issue.
Research has shown an uptick in violence against women that occurs around big sporting matches. According to a review from LaTrobe University, the reasons for this could be an increased use of alcohol, gambling and stress.
“Sport is seen as gendered, exemplifying hegemonic masculinity and associated violence, with the link between sporting culture and violence against women well recognised,” researchers said.
This gender-based violence also seeps its way into the lives of female sports players and those who work in sporting organisations.
After reviewing 25 years of studies examining women’s experiences of gender-based violence in sport, LaTrobe researchers found perpetrators are rarely held to account. These women often experience multiple types of violence (sexual, physical, psychological, financial), often by more than one perpetrator, with coaches or other authority figures being the most common perpetrators, followed by male athletes or members of the public.
And yet, amid the evidence of violence, sport is an integral part of Australian culture and often associated with bringing communities together.
There’s power to be had in whichever topics are being platformed by players and organisations, and the evidence is clear that gender-based violence should be at the helm.
This is especially critical, considering the horror spate of male violence seen across the country in recent months. Statistics show 28 women’s lives have already been stolen by violence this year, and at the current rate of one woman being murdered every four days, another 22 women may be dead before government leaders meet again in roughly 90 days to discuss the crisis.
How are Australian sporting teams responding to domestic violence?
The AFL has said it will hold pre-game tributes to women who have lost their lives in gender-based violence during Round 8. Players, coaches and umpires plan to unite in the centre of each ground before games this weekend, forming a linked circle to pay a silent tribute.
“When it comes to violence against women, the only acceptable figure is zero,” AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said in a statement.
“We also understand our industry still has work to do, but we are committed to continuing to educate, to take action and even more conscious that we must work harder than ever. All men are responsible for doing better.”
The news comes, however, as Essendon coach, Brad Scott, made concerning comments about AFL player Tarryn Thomas, who is currently serving an AFL-imposed 18-week ban and was sacked by North Melbourne following several allegations of mistreatment of women.
Lauding Thomas as a “good person”, Scott suggested his club would be open to exploring options to have Thomas on the team, if he could get himself together. It’s also come to light that as many as five other clubs are interested in signing Thomas for next season onwards.
Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel has spoken out about the situation, saying he’s “uncomfortable” with the suggestion Thomas could land back on an AFL list as early as next season.
Nine’s Today reporter Christine Ahern also spoke on the AFL’s seeming hypocrisy, saying: “Ultimately, it’s up to the AFL as to whether Tarryn Thomas returns to the game– so will they just hold moments of silence (for women)? The big question is will they actually take action.”
As for the rest of Australia’s most prominent sporting bodies, they most recently renewed their call for action against male violence back in 2020, by teaming up with Our Watch, a not-for-profit working to stamp out violence against women. The partnership saw the AFL, NRL, Rugby Australia, Netball Australia and Football Federation Australia all sign a leadership statement pledging to use their collective influence to progress gender equality.