Victim advocates in Bendigo fear Donald Trump’s election as US president might undo advances they have made in the fight against family violence and sexual assault.
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Annie North Women’s Refuge chief executive officer Julie Oberin, whose organisation offers emergency accommodation to people fleeing violent homes, worried the Republican nominee’s victory could be seen as an endorsement of his treatment of women.
As many as 15 different women have alleged they were assaulted by Mr Trump since the early 1980s.
His election had real consequences for women’s services in Australia, Ms Oberin said.
“If we're not careful, all the work we've been doing could go backwards,” she said.
“Its so easy to see it torn away.”
Ms Oberin said the millions of voters who cast ballots in favour of Mr Trump excused his behaviour as “locker room talk”.
“It just make more women and girls feel unsafe.”
Her comments came a fortnight before White Ribbon Day and hours ahead of feminist activist Clementine Ford’s engagement at the Capital Theatre.
Ms Ford told her audience she was despondent about Mr Trump’s election, saying women had to endure “ebbs and flows” of having their voices heard.
“This is someone actively pushing us back,” she said, believing Wednesday’s result threatened young women’s self-worth.
“So much of the harm that’s done to girls is done by the world we live in.”
Also depressing was the the fact Mr Trump proved so popular among white women, she said, saying it was internalised misogyny that informed those voter’s views.
Still, Ms Ford believed a Trump victory would mobilise women to stand up against misogyny.
The address was part of Loddon Campaspe Centre Against Sexual Assault’s annual general meeting.
It is her second appearance in the city this year, having spoken on the topics of gender and sexuality at April’s Talking Justice event.
LCCASA executive officer Kate Wright said the guest speaker would continue an important conversation about rape culture in the Bendigo community.
Ms Wright also criticised Mr Trump’s ascension to the Oval Office, believing it pointed to a wider problem of male entitlement.
“That there has not been repercussions for him as evidenced by the result of the election almost reinforces that women are valued less than men,” Ms Wright said.
“If the community didn’t hold these values, they would not have voted him in.”
LCCASA received 800 calls for help from victims of family violence in the last financial year.
Half of those who sought the organisation’s assistance were children.
Ms Wright feared fewer women would feel comfortable coming forward with reports of sexual assault in the aftermath of the American vote.
It was not just alleged cases of sexual assault which rendered him unfit for office, but the language he used to describe members of the opposite sex, she said.
But all was not lost, according to Ms Wright.
“We continue to work in this space because whilst change is slow we believe that change is possible,” she said.
“People who have experience sexual assault have a right to services and support.”
Asked what her sector should do in the wake of Mr Trump’s success, Ms Oberin said: “We've never got to give up on it.
“We need a better, more equal, more just world.
“No one should be treated with this contempt.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, phone 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, dial 000
