AFTER all she’s endured, Rosie Batty, mother of murdered Tyabb boy Luke Batty, is now receiving hate mail.
But rather than try to shut down those aiming abuse at her and other women standing up against men responsible for family violence, Ms Batty says we should listen to what they have to say.
“These people have these really extreme views of hatred against women,” she said.
“If these people are shot down and ridiculed, their views stay underground. We need to understand why there is so much hatred and anger, and where does that come from?”
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READ NOWThe hate letter she received on Tuesday evening accused her of somehow being to blame for Luke’s death.
“It basically says they hope no man gets caught up with a woman like me because I’m a disgrace.”
The writer wanted to hear Luke’s killer’s viewpoint.
Luke, 11, was killed by his father Greg Anderson after cricket practice in February. Anderson died after being shot by police.
Ms Batty said, “What the writer is basically saying is, ‘What did you do to him? I’d like to hear his side. What did you do to cause it? But you can never do anything to cause family violence, because it’s never acceptable, but that very prominent attitude is exactly what we’re facing in the community. It is never OK, no matter what. It does not matter what kind of mother or partner or person anyone is.”
If people like the letter’s author were shut down for voicing their opinions they would never be drawn out to be challenged, Ms Batty said.
No To Violence and Men’s Referral Service spokesman Rodney Vlais agreed it was important to engage with men who viewed women and partly responsible for violence against them or their children. He said men in particular needed to challenge those views, and explain that in no way were victims responsible for their own abuse.
“It is 100 per cent Greg Anderson’s responsibility and the wider sexist male culture that all of us men have to work towards changing,” he said.
kathryn.powley@news.com.au