Carlton’s orange socks worn last Sunday in Perth started a discussion more important than football. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Last Sunday in Perth, Carlton ran out for its game against West Coast wearing orange socks. The occasion was what for the Blues is an annual “Carlton Respects” game. The socks are designed to get and keep people talking, and they did. Simple but effective.
Since 2016, the club has been committed to raising awareness of the domestic violence and sexual assaults women face from their live-in partners. And each year, the club’s campaign and commitment to educating and facilitating real change steps up.
Gender inequality is one of the biggest factors which lead to domestic violence. More gender equality will play a role in preventing it. Carlton recognises it.
Says Blues chief executive Cain Liddle: “The statistics around domestic violence are horrific and to put it simply, not something our club will stand for: we will not just sit back without playing our part in working towards a solution.”
Last year, the “Carlton Respects” program was delivered to over 4000 students in schools and several workplaces across Victoria.
The education program helps children explore and experience the limitations of stereotypes, helping students to build skills required to establish and sustain healthy relationships with respect and equality. Research shows that schools and sports are an important setting for real change.
Our Watch is an organisation committed to the prevention of family violence on women and their children and works closely with Carlton in supporting the “Carlton Respects” program.
“We know from the international research that if we continue to encourage respectful and equal relationships and promote gender equality, we will be able to prevent violence against women from happening in the first place,” says Our Watch chief executive and Carlton board member Patty Kinnersly.
Carlton is working hard towards the goal of promoting equality and reducing what are hideous statistics. Those numbers tell us that home isn’t always safe.
This year during COVID restrictions and lockdowns, two-thirds of women who have already experienced domestic violence or sexual assault from their live-in partner have said that it has escalated.
One woman a week on average dies at the hands of her current or former partner. That statistic is our national shame. How can we let this continue as a nation? We need to be better at keeping the conversation going and facilitating real change.
The orange socks, albeit a small gesture, had people talking. The “Carlton Respects” program facilitates real change in the community and the socks help shine a light on something at which we should already be looking.
As a nation, we simply don’t do enough to remember and talk about these deaths. One must wonder have we become numb to the news of another one. Too many times we see the murderer of the woman painted by media as a good man who did something of which no-one imagined he was possible.
But it is possible. It’s happening, and it’s happening at an alarming rate. And we need to allow ourselves not only to feel the grief which should accompany these incidents, but be driven to change because of them.
At last year’s “Carlton Respects” game, we saw Marvel Stadium’s lights turned off, the focus on 69 orange lights around the centre square, each representing a woman who had lost their lives in 2018 due to domestic violence. There was a minute’s silence for these women, respectfully loved and remembered by all in the stadium.
Healthy relationships are so important in all aspects of life. The “Carlton Respects” initiative helps show people what it takes to create and nurture a healthy relationship. Positive, healthy relationships make a difference to mental health. And that makes a difference to everyone around a person.
Carlton is working hard to be part of that process. The Blues’ social media campaign this around the game this year was about healthy relationships.
The Blues asked their fans to weigh in on such mid-season awards as the Spirit Of Carlton Award, Most Improved Player, Best First Year Player and a few others, helping get supporters around the team.
It involved the whole Carlton-supporting community, having them think positively about their players and engaging with other members. During a difficult time in all our lives, it’s this sort of positivity we need.
COVID has impacted so many people in so many negative ways. It’s why we need to work hard together to build healthy relationships with each other.
Our children and peers are always watching and learning from us. We can all help make a difference in their lives by reinforcing equality and respect in the relationships we have with your family and friends.
We can all help be the difference. Even through small gestures like an AFL club wearing a funny-coloured pair of socks.
