‘Horrific’ pic of gagged and bound woman blasted by domestic violence campaigners after being used to celebrate motor racing
A FACEBOOK post that used a picture of a woman bound and gagged to celebrate a sporting event has sparked an angry backlash from domestic abuse campaigners.
The image, which was shared by Hoons-Burnout’s Street Racing Australia ahead of the Bathurst 1000 V8 car race, showed a woman tied to a chair with tape over her mouth while the race played on a television behind her.
An accompanying caption read: “IT’S BATHURST DAY!!”
The Bathurst 1000 is a 1,000km touring event held annually at the Mouth Panorama Circuit in the city of Bathurst, New South Wales.
This year’s event was held last Sunday, October 13.
Hundreds of people criticised the “misogynistic” and “disgraceful” post after is was shared online by Sherele Moody, founder of The Red Heart Campaign, a group that campaigns to end violence and abuse against women and children.
“Fifty-seven women are dead as a result of violence in 2019,” Moody wrote.
“And many many thousands of women and children are likely to be beaten by drunken revheads following – and during – the Bathurst 1000 this weekend.
“The motor racing industry is a misogynist’s paradise so it does not surprise me that this meme encouraging domestic violence is making the rounds.”
‘THIS IS A REALITY FOR SOME’
Hoon-Burnout’s Street Racing Australia, from where Moody’s screenshot was taken, is a car enthusiasts’ Facebook page.
The original post has since been deleted, but had already been shared on a number of other Facebook groups.
Moody continued: “Some men still think women should speak on their command.
“Jokes that reduce women to objects of ridicule and abuse is one of the drivers of violence against women.
“What an absolute f***ing disgrace, Australia.
“Surely it’s time for men to stand against this crap.”
On average, one woman in Australia is murdered each week by her current or former partner, and women are at least three times more likely than men to experience domestic violence.
A number of commenters reiterated Moody’s message.
“What an utter disgrace,” one wrote.
“This is a reality for others and they wouldn’t find this funny at all,” said another.
A third expressed concern at the response the original post had received, writing: “The comments are horrific.”
Others said that the post wasn’t representative of attitudes within the wider racing community.
“Seriously this image doesn’t depict the attitude of Motorsport in Australia at,” wrote one woman.
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“V8 series are very family friendly.
“In fact they have recently overhauled it’s image regarding women removing grid girls and encouraging women racers.”
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