Wagga's domestic violence support workers have expressed unified alarm at the results of a national survey highlighting the nation's ongoing gender inequality.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While leaps have been made in the business and leadership sectors, the perception of women's roles in relationships has consistently lagged behind the change.
That is according to the National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS), released yesterday.
"We'd like to think that with all the information that is now being made available in the public domain, these attitudes would have changed and be on their way out," said Wagga Women's Health Centre manager Gail Meyer.
"When you see the results of these kinds of surveys, you get to wondering whether the education is getting through.
"But I think it confirms to us the importance of the measures we're taking in getting the message out far and wide. We've got a big job to do in circulating the positive message."
It comes off the back of a survey conducted in Wagga as part of The DV Project: 2650, which was begun just over a year ago.
Up to 1083 Wagga residents aged over 18 were chosen to provide their opinions on statements about the role of men and women in society.
At the release of the results, Ms Meyer expressed her concern at the prevailing "conservative views, especially among younger people".
"I was personally shocked by it, actually," she said.
"Some of the attitudes were quite shocking."
Related:
Similarly, in the national study, a sample of 1,761 people aged between 16 and 24 responded.
Overwhelmingly, 43 per cent of responses agreed with the statement: "I think it's natural for a man to want to appear in control of his partner in front of his male friends."
To Ms Meyer, it indicates the ongoing lack of respect between the genders.
"I think maybe it comes done to exposure to violence, and the fact that teenagers are quite black and white in their thinking," she said.
"There is still a misunderstanding of the scope of respect, and for those who see violence around them, they get to thinking that that is a normal and acceptable way to deal with a problem."
Additionally, one in three agreed that women prefer a man to be "in charge" of the relationship.
One in five furthered the statement by agreeing that sexist jokes are acceptable among male groups of friends.
The survey is completed every four years, with the latest completed in 2017 by the National Research Organisation for Women and Safety in collaboration with VicHealth.
Interestingly, when compared to the 2013 survey, there was a reduction of support from 24 per cent to 13 per cent when it came to the question of whether men make better political leaders than women.
Despite the evidence presented by the survey, the results concluded that 45 per cent of young people think women over-emphasise - even fabricate - gender inequality.
It was a view that was held by 52 per cent of the responding males, and 37 per cent of its females.
"Looking at this both locally and nationally, the research is very alarming," Ms Meyer said.