White Ribbons

This morning there was a promotion at the Wellington Railway Station for the White Ribbon Campaign. Labour list MP Charles Chauvel was there, along with people from various government agencies like the Families Commission.

Normally, anything that has Labour MPs or the Family Commission involved would make me run a mile - and despite the best intentions of the campaign, this is no exception. The plan is to get men to wear a white ribbon to show support for ending violence against women.

The premise of this is a little uncomfortable and non-inclusive - it makes the assumption that women never assault men, women don't assault other women, or that men don't assault other men. Wouldn't White Ribbon Day be better if it was condemning all domestic violence. For example, as part of my research into White Ribbon day, I visited the Families Commission Website and found a checklist of warning signs for domestic violence. Every item on the checklist is about what 'he' does.

So, I won't be partricipating - wearing a White Ribbon makes people "think" that I don't condone domestic violence. I would rather that people "know" I don't condone domestic violence by my actions, rather than some vague outward symbol.