The Courier Mail reported that Damien Duncan Hooper allegedly kidnapped a woman, held her for two days, threatened her with a knife, strangled her, punched her in the face, burned her with a cigarette, pushed her out of a car, drove the car over her legs and threatened a child.
He was arrested and charged with deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm, dangerous driving and other domestic violence charges, including wilful damage and strangulation.
The headline implies it’s horrifying he was subjected to these allegations, that he is the victim. He was “hit” by allegations, not arrested and charged after an allegedly monstrous assault on a woman and child.
It might be bad sentence construction. It might be that whoever wrote the headline wanted to make a pun about a boxer being hit (Domestic violence is so hilarious we need a pun in the headline? Really?). It might just be carelessness. Whatever reason for this travesty of a headline, it is inexcusable to imply a man charged with such an allegedly long and violent assault is the victim. He’s not.
FixedIt is an ongoing project to push back against the media’s constant erasure of violent men and blaming of innocent victims. If you would like to help fund it – even $5 a month makes a big difference – please consider becoming a Patron
1800 RESPECT
Sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling and support.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ph: 1800 737 732
www.1800respect.org.au
Suicide Call Back Service
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ph: 1300 659 467
www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Kids Helpline
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: 1800 55 1800
www.kidshelp.com.au
MensLine Australia
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: 1300 78 99 78
www.mensline.org.au
Child Wise National Abuse Helpline
Mon-Fri: 9 am – 5 pm
