Hi there,

I'm a team member currently employed at one of the many Bunnings Warehouse hardware stores in Australia. This weekend, Bunnings is taking part in various activities relating to white ribbon day, a campaign to end domestic violence against women.

As all of us should know, DV is not a gendered crime, occuring at near gender-parity in most parts of the first world. Yet, at the store I work at, men who enter are basically being coerced into signing a pledge not to bash women, and having their photo taken whilst placing the pledge into a box at the entrance.

To me, this presents a prime opportunity for any MRAs in Australia to stand up and speak out against this grievous perpetuation of harmful negative stereotypes and outright misinformation about the nature of domestic violence. This behaviour not only demonises men and masculinity, but erases both female perpetrators and male victims of DV.

Ways you can help include:

  • Leave a message on Bunnings' feedback page
  • Go to your local Bunnings store this weekend, see what events are occurring and try to talk to those managing them directly about this issue
  • Refuse to buy any sausages this weekend, most BBQs are raising money for white ribbon
  • Fill out a "How Did We Do" card, which can be found at the entrance to every Bunnings Warehouse, let your thoughts be known and drop it in the box they're attached to

This issue bothers me quite intimately as my own mother routinely physically abused my father and caused some real damage, and yet somehow still managed to retain custody of me as a child. It would be wonderful to see MRAs in Australia help me stand up to this bullshit.

Thank you for your time.