International Violence Against Women Survey: the Australian Component
A total of 6,677 women aged between 18 and 69 years participated in the telephone survey between December 2002 and June 2003, and provided information about their experiences of both physical and sexual violence. Women who participated were asked to recount their experiences of violence (including threats of violence) by current and former male partners, other males known to them including family members, acquaintances and friends, and their experiences of violence by strangers. They were also asked to recall instances of childhood violence and abuse.
Experiences across women's lifetimes (IVAWS)
Over half of the women surveyed (57%) had experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence over their lifetime.
More than a third of women (34%) had experienced this violence from a former or current partner, although violence from a former partner was more common, and more likely to result in women being injured and feeling that their lives were in danger.
12% of women reported experiencing sexual violence by an intimate partner (current or former) over their lifetimes, including instances of attempted (3%) and completed (6%) forced intercourse (i.e. rape).
Women who had experienced sexual violence by their intimate partners were also likely to have been physically abused by them (73%).
18% of women reported being sexually abused before the age of 16: almost 2% of women identified parents (fathers in all but two cases) as the perpetrators, while a further 16% identified someone other than a parent. The results suggest that the risk of sexual violence in adulthood doubles for women who experience child abuse.
27% of women reported sexual violence by non-intimates such as other close family members, relatives, friends, colleagues and strangers (although a number of women reported violence from both intimate partners and others). 7% of these women reported attempted forced intercourse and 4 percent reported forced intercourse over their lifetime.
Only 1% of the women surveyed identified having been raped by a stranger.
Just thought I'd mention that when women turn up to the crag they may want to feel welcomed, and not be reminded of the inequitable and violent society that they still have to negotiate every day. We do want women to be a part of this sport don't we? Same goes for Aborigines. Thanks Rod, I for one think you've done a great thing. Language is very important and has a much deeper effect than many realize.
For anyone who doesn't understand what I'm talking about: Imagine you are relocated to the Ivory Coast and all the route names are variants of "ugly cracker's head on a spike". You'd probably take up soccer. Anyways I would.