She Said He Said
Claire Bridge
Domestic injustice (She Said He Said)
Ceramic, steel, copper, oak, enamel paint, domestic postal scales, used house brick
two vintage castrating tools
A used house brick representing a suburban domestic home, on which scales are placed, firmly situates the circumstances of the injustice being weighed.
“Home” is supposed to be safe. Home, usually expresses belonging and love in relationship with family or partners. My work explores the devastating experience of many women, that home is the most dangerous place of all. I explore the taboo subject of violence against girls and women, in particular sexual violence, referenced by the castrating tools. The imbalance reflects the systematic bias in support of male perpetrators of violence, especially white male violence against women.
Australian studies indicate that domestic and family violence contributes more to death, ill health and disability among women who are under 45 years of age than any other factor.
The work refers to the scale of violence experienced by women and the injustice experienced by victims, especially when it comes to domestic violence. Rather than being brought to justice, male perpetrators are most often protected, enabled and idealised by those around them - whilst female victims are silenced and made invisible, only to suffer further trauma by this continued abuse and neglect by those who are supposed to take care of them and to heed the violence against them.
Such unjust scenarios we have seen mirrored in the Catholic Church’s handling of child abuse by its clergy and members and the Australian Parliament and Prime Minister’s contempt, callous dismissals and utter disregard for women, in particular the women coming forward with statements regarding Ministers - the men who raped them.
“Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has doubled down on remarks that Brittany Higgins rape allegations were a “she said, he said”.
Mr Dutton on Thursday revealed that he was not provided “with the ‘she said, he said’ details of the allegation” when he was briefed on the incident by the Australian Federal Police earlier this month.” - 2021