Luke Batty (11) was brutally killed by his father at an oval in Melbourne on Wednesday 13 Feb, 2014. Luke was publicly beaten to death with a cricket bat. His father was shot by police and later died in hospital. His mother Rosie Batty became a domestic violence campaigner who in 2015 was honoured as the Australian of the Year; in 2019 she was further honoured with an Order of Australia medal.
Claire (7), Anna (5) and Matthew (3) Perinovic were killed by their mother in the family home in Melbourne on Thursday January 14, 2020. Police have not discosed how they were murdered, but describe it as ‘gruesome’. They also confirm the mother took her own life. Their father, Tomislav Perinovic was taken into police custody but later released and has been publicly cleared of suspicion by police.
Unfortunately for Tomislav, he will remain prime suspect in the minds of some. The tribunal of popular opinion struggles to imagine an explanation that doesn’t blame the father. Uninformed comments like: “It’s hard not to make assumptions … This is horrific. When will violence against women stop?” are still typical. While the police refuse to describe Tomislav Perinovic as a suspect because “to do so would be grossly unfair“, this hasn’t persuaded the man-haters.
As one commentator points out, “Luke Batty’s father had mental health issues, but in the eyes of the press he was still a monster. Why is this murderer any different just because she is a woman who killed her children instead of a man?” It is no different. The Perinovic’s had no history of domestic violence, but this doesn’t suit the misandrist narrative. Sadly, some feminists still appear to believe that every little boy will grow up to be a potential killer, rapist, adulterer etc.
I’m glad women like that are in the minority. I don’t know many myself. Unattractive shit like that explains why less women now describe themselves as feminists. The truth in 2021 is that gender-based inequality happens less. All the hard work of their foremothers paid off, more or less, and it’s now rare to find an organisation that does not have a professional development mandate that significantly prejudices male employees in favour of refugees, persons with disability, persons of colour, LGBTQIA+, and of course women.
Which is great. Happy for the new mob to do the heavy lifting while I slide comfortably toward retirement. I admire the energy, determination and new ideas. I loathe the prickliness, self-absoption and air of entitlement. But, y’know, that’s life. I do privately question whether positive discrimination works, though, because all the new appointees appear to be mostly privileged white women ruthlessly pursuing more wealth. But, y’know, that’s life too.
So feminism has (more or less) succeeded? Hurrah! But before I die, it would be nice to read the results of a study that proves the underlying principles of gender equality (ie equality) was actually achieved. It should be simple, just show me some stats proving there are:
More women working in mines.
More women driving taxis.
More female garbologists.
More women in gaol.
More women on death row.
Because they can’t all be CEOs, right? Then I’ll be persuaded that the underlying principle of feminism was equality, and not revenge. The study would also need to acknowledge the sad, scientific fact that when men kill their children it’s usually to spite their wives: but when women kill their children to spite their husbands, they often also kill themselves.