Australian Government rallies to cease ‘boys will be boys’ behaviour in anti-domestic violence campaign
The Australia Government has aimed to tackle the ‘boys will be boys’ attitude often accepted by adults when it comes to domestic violence in its latest ‘Stop it at the Start’ campaign.
The ‘Stop it at the Start’ campaign is based on research finding there is a tendency to blame victims for violence and empathise with males. To combat this, the outdoor ads aim to debunk common phrases said to victims of domestic violence including “he did it because he likes you”.
In a related campaign by BMF, a series of television ads by the Australian Government shows show parents and guardians the way accepting violence will shape the future of children and their attitudes.
The ‘Detention’ television ad features a young boy telling his father he got a detention “just for flicking up a girls skirt” as the dad sounds surprised that’s all he did.
In response to this car conversation, his younger sister states: “Yeah I have already accepted that as I grow up I’ll probably be harassed and even abused”.
The ‘Detention’ spot aims to put the violence condoning and acceptance into perspective for parents of younger female children.
Another spot, titled ‘Museum’, features a little girl being pushed over by a boy who is running past, as her mother tells her it is okay because “he is just a boy being a boy”.
“Don’t worry mum, I know it is okay for boys to push girls,” the younger girl responds.
Both the out of home and television ads aim to show how accepting menacing “boys” behaviour will shape their attitude towards violence as they become adults.
Credits:
- Creative Agency: BMF
Executive Creative Director: Alex Derwin, Cam Blackley
Deputy Executive Creative Director: Jen Speirs
Senior Art Director: Nadia Ahmad
Senior Copywriter: James Sexton
Head of Planning: Hugh Munro
Planner: Emily Field
Managing Director: Stephen McArdle
Group Account Director: Emma McJury
Senior Account Manager: Victoria Venardos
Account Executive: Adam Reeves
Agency Producer: Claire Seffrin
Director: Steve Rogers
Production Company: Revolver/ Will O’Rourke
Director: Steve Rogers
Executive Producer: Pip Smart
Post Production: ARC Edit
Editor: Pete Sciberras
Sound Production: Rumble Studios
DOP: Geoffrey Simpson
Photographer: Derek Henderson
Art Buyer: Basir Salleh - CLIENT CREDITS:
Department of Social Services
Boys will be boys is the oldest excuse in the book to perpertue sexist behaviour. It’s the same as saying ‘ but I couldn’t help it’ or ‘she wanted’ to try and justify any sort of abuse. It’s time for boys to be decent humans, and that won’t change unless parents teach IT’S NOT OK TO PHSICALLY OR MENTALLY ABUSE ANYONE.
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What a sexist, historically inaccurate and ignorant comment. To think that women are excused from ridiculous hysterical or false accusations and you think BOYS need to be decent humans? Clean up your own sewage heap first “About Time”
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Where are the adverts against women abusing men with violence??? Sexist advert
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It astounds me that you comment on a topic you obviously don’t know enough about. This article isn’t saying that boys are the only ones who partake in violence against the other gender, it’s only stating the facts. There is a much, much higher percentage of violence against women than there is compared to violence against men. As saddening as it is, it’s a fact. Just watch the news. Learn the real facts before you start calling people out on sexism, especially when you don’t have to live every day being cautious about how you act or dress or even being scared to walk alone.
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Absolutely accurate. From now on boys will be responsible, respectful and accountable for their actions. And that makes gynophobic trolls nearly hysterical with rage.
PS, I never respond to shrieking misogynists or their obsequious handmaidens. You feel free to have a snivel and a whine, I’ll feel free not to notice.
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Hahahaha! Brilliant comedy comment 😀 😀 😀
Men are responsible for 95 percent of all violent crime and women are at huge risk from men, being raped beaten and slaughtered weekly. Irrefutable fact.
But you already know that. https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures
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Having been a father and involved in education for many years I would just like to say I have found boys to be decent human beings. It saddens me to see yet another current wave of adverts target all boys as potential rapists and promote them as wife beaters in waiting. I have often witnessed unbelievable cruelty of girls inflicted on other girls (and boys) both verbally and physically yet the current ideological narrative doesn’t want to acknowledge this. It’s clear we have become a society that hates our boys and young men. It’s all so very sad for everybody.
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Statistics show that men are overwhelmingly the victims of public sphere violence. In any event it is sad to talk about violence against anybody in terms of gender. Unfortunately it has been made a gendered issue. All men are bad. All women are good. Nothing will be resolved.
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Teach kids to respect themselves and others, no matter what sex they are. Parents lost control when they were not allowed to spank their own children. Everyone needs to go back to basics with manners. Saying please and thank you goes a long way as well as excusing themselves for a heaps of things. Thanks for reading. Have a good one!
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I have a 6 yr old daughter and ive always tried to empower her as much as possible. This is a powerful message to people who inadvertently condone abusive behaviour. And i think its a very important message to spread.
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So happy to see this message taken seriously!
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I think these adverts are truly appalling taking the behaviour of the few and applying them to all males. When did it become okay to demonise boys and men whilst trashing all aspects of masculinity at the same time?
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Absolutely accurate comment. Boys will be respectful responsible and accountable. Anyone who disagrees with your comment, or the article is a perpetrator, or covering for one.
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Yep. Men are responsible for 95 percent of all violent crime and women are at huge risk from men, being raped beaten and slaughtered weekly. Irrefutable fact.
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Men are responsible for 95 percent of all violent crime and women are at huge risk from men, being raped beaten and slaughtered weekly. Irrefutable fact.
But you already know that. https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures
Men are at risk of violence. FROM OTHER MEN.
But you already know that too.
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Men are responsible for 95 percent of all violent crime and women are at huge risk from men, being raped beaten and slaughtered weekly. Irrefutable fact.
But you already know that. https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures
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Anyone who disagrees with this article is a perpetrator or covering up for one.
Men are responsible for 95 percent of all violent crime and women are at huge risk from men, being raped beaten and slaughtered weekly. Irrefutable fact.
https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures
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Men are responsible for 95 percent of all violent crime and women are at huge risk from men, being raped beaten and slaughtered weekly. Irrefutable fact.
But you already know that.
https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures
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Hahahaha! Brilliant comedy comment. When parents were allowed to beat their children men raped bashed and murdered women. In astonishing numbers
What stops men raping beating and slaughtering women is locking them up for life and men choosing not to rape and murder women.
Men are responsible for 95 percent of all violent crime and women are at huge risk from men, being raped beaten and slaughtered weekly. Irrefutable fact.
But you already know that. https://www.ourwatch.org.au/Understanding-Violence/Facts-and-figures
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Your passion and concern about this topic is acknowledged. Violence against anybody is appaling. Being in a domestic violence situation for any woman, man or child must be terrifying. However to then label someone who simply disagrees how the message in the article is delivered (ie being generalised to all men and boys) as being a ‘perpetrator’or ‘covering up for someone’ seems designed purely to shame them to ensure a particular narrative is supported. Thank you so much for the informative link. I’m just concerned that these adverts will only serve to alienate the part of the population that need to engage with this issue.
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I would like to see advertisements showing that girls don’t have to have babies and that we are more than walking wombs. Let girls know that have a choice; they don’t have to be in a relationship (I’m no ones better half because I’m a whole person), and they certainly don’t need to have kids. the planet is overpopulated so it would be good if there were more women making the choice to not breed.
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“Boys will be boys” refers to boys getting dirty, ruining clothes, getting hurt taking chances on bikes… many things. Assaulting women is not a common feature in male psychology, in fact males are far most likely to assault males. This advertising is misplaced and deceptive.
In countries (like the UK) where they have studied it men are victims of domestic violence at close to the same rates as women except men are unwilling to come forward, are not believed, receive no support and are unable to defend themselves… especially in today’s politically correct climate.
Violence is unacceptable, that is a legitimate message. Not this divisive deception that is being broadcast. Shame on you Australian Government. Shame on you.
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