Bruce Willis and Matilda O’Connor discussed victim blaming versus preventative measures, a conversation which, while so often revolving around their age group, rarely invites them in. 

Q. Do you think there’s a disparity in how men and women will feel going home at night?

Bruce: I don’t like walking around past midnight. I can only speak for myself, but I am always aware of what is happening around me.

Matilda: As a female, it’s a stark contrast. I don’t want to have to carry my keys with me when I walk down the street and carry my phone with me. I want to be able to have faith that if I need help, I can rely on people. It’s a big ask but I feel like we need to start that conversation to start that movement. 

Q. Do you think there is an issue of victim blaming? 

Bruce: It’s hard to stop an attacker from committing a crime, so you should do everything you can to prevent it.

Matilda: I think people are unaware why the attacker does what they do so they go to the person who’s next, the next target which is the victim. It’s like bullying, it’s the easiest target. It’s easier to take preventive measures than attack the issue at its core. 

Q. What are your thoughts on claims that this a gender-based issue?

Matilda: I don’t think it’s a gender-based crime. In domestic violence even the male statistics are rising along-side the women’s. I think most of our issues we need to attack with equality and that attacks the whole issue not just something specific. 

Bruce: I would agree, violence happens to everyone everywhere. You can’t really put it on one type of person. 

Q. People argue women are taught to be safe but men aren’t taught not to assault. What are your thoughts on that? Has the issue of consent been taught? 

Bruce: We are told told rape is bad, murder is bad and we are taught about it, it’s illegal but people still do it. There lies the problem, the people who don't listen to that. Consent is raised during sex-education and we are taught about it. 

Matilda: I tend to disagree, but with Lisa Wilkinson, she blatantly said we need to teach our boys not to rape our girls. There is so many flaws in that, we need to tackle it as a whole, which is hard. I read an article about attacking it at the minor level, like with domestic violence progresses.

It’s the little things that men and women can do to make ourselves and others feel safe. It’s about kick-starting the conversation and that starts in education.