And it’s about time too.

For far too long, these age-old excuses have been giving little boys leave to behave badly.

Take these excuses away and these little boys, who have the potential to carry this bad behaviour through to adulthood, have nothing to “hide” behind.

On Wednesday, Crown prosecutor-turned-Social Services Minister Christian Porter launched an initiative to stamp out disrespect towards women and girls before it escalates.

Along with Minister for Women Michaelia Cash, Mr Porter unveiled a $30 million advertising campaign aimed at combating early attitudes of disrespect.

The campaign aims to encourage parents, family members, teachers, coaches, community leaders and employers to set a new standard of what is acceptable.

These disrespectful attitudes towards young girls by young boys is often a precursor to more violent behaviour, in particular family violence.

In launching the advertising campaign, Mr Porter said: “While people knew that violence against women was wrong they could unknowingly be excusing and, therefore, perpetuating behaviour that could lead to violence.”

And while little boys need to be taught about respectful attitudes, the new campaign is also aimed at educating little girls not to blame themselves when targeted by the bullying and pranks of young boys.

The new advertisements will run from Sunday.

For future generations to be able to live in a world of little or no family violence, we need to start when those future generations are young and impressionable.

We need to teach them from the outset that being disrespectful, however harmless some people think it may be, is just not on.

If the present – and shocking figure - of one woman being killed every week at the hands of a current or former partner is to be a thing of the past, we must educate those in the future about respectful relationships.

Nipping this epidemic in the bud is the only way.

* National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.