by Rachel Andras, Germany
I find it totally ridiculous that the recent article in The Sydney Morning Herald is based on a few men and very few women who are hurt because their partner left them or they participated in a workshop with Universal Medicine. In a world where women’s rights and integrity is constantly violated and domestic violence is through the roof it is hard to understand how a supposedly serious newspaper is giving this minority a voice without checking their facts and thus, disqualifying what the Universal Medicine women students by free will chose they want in their lives – namely love and a loving relationship. It seems that these women, for the first time in their life, had claimed themselves independently from being identified through being with a man and they have chosen to no longer be in a probably convenient but not loving relationship. What is so bad about that?
In today’s society it is normal that women are brought up with the ideal that they are only complete when they find their ‘perfect man’, get married and have kids, and live happily ever after. Which very often means going through an unloving marriage, divorce, more unloving relationships, etc. But when women decide to not follow this pattern and claim a different quality of life for themselves – some men get outraged and look anywhere to put their blame – and Universal Medicine is the perfect scapegoat and a newspaper the perfect platform.
Considering that worldwide 6 million women are killed every three years due to gender based violence it is outrageous to see the disregarding position the Sydney Morning Herald holds towards women. I am not quite sure how it works in Australia, but in European countries there exist a strong code of ethics for journalism and one of them is to NOT picture women as passive victims, vulnerable and without any capacity to step up for themselves, but as active citizens who have an equal position and are respected members of society, very qualified in what they say and valued contributors to the well being of humanity.
What you write is highly unprofessional. You base your article on this disgruntled group of people (mainly men) who make themselves the victims of being left by their wives, by putting them in a superior position and discarding the ability of those women to decide over their own lives. This is exactly what is contributing to the increasing violence against women worldwide.
Gender based violence is a structural problem of our societies based exactly on behaviours, patterns, ideals and practices as you express at your newspaper: Disrespect, second class citizens, worthless, lack of autonomy, dependent, blind followers, stupid, etc.
A structural problem means that we are all part of a whole – that is not only about the individual actions but about the general position or consciousness towards it. Some disrespect women in their capacities, others treat them as less, and some (actually a lot) consider them worthless – and as such treat them with horrendous violence.
But it does not matter from which level you function you are nonetheless responsible. It is all feeding the same ideal of men’s superiority and contributes to the ongoing violations of women’s human rights.
Every newspaper has a tremendous responsibility on this subject. But are they stepping up to it?
Words on Serge Benhayon 
The media does have an amazing responsibility and power in terms of a true power IF they were to step up to the responsibility of presenting truth or at the least presenting the two sides of the story so that people can make their own choices from that presentation. It will be a special day if and when that happens.
I feel there is a code of ethics which the media has ditched and does not abide by. Perhaps they feel above this in some way and think that they can get away with printing lies and attempting to destroy a person or organisations reputation? We have for ages seen women’s magazines write gossip and rubbish and trash people and their reputation and the general media is now no different only they are parading under the banner of presenting truth.
6 years on and the media have gone even deeper into their bias. I have become more aware that the print media seek attention through lying and call that ‘success’. What do they succeed in? Informing or controlling the masses with misinformation? I appreciate learning to practice energetic discernment. When I know the energy behind something it can’t fool me.
You could say hurt people have caused a lot of devastation in our world. Put one in power or who knows how to leverage the media and you have the lies that are printed. It is a great understanding that people who blame are lying. I speak from my own experience here.
We are so very unaware of how we feed the very things we so dislike in this world. We go for the good and doing the right thing but what we avoid in everyday life to simply live by the truth we know.
So there are 6 million women being killed in gender based violence every three years. That is a staggering thing to be happening in the world… which is in need of integrity, truth and decency. Its media industry is spectacularly failing on all counts.
We all need to step up to the responsibility we hold with our life and expression, as we are the creators of the world we live in. Exposing the lack of responsibility of media is a great step to take when the freedom of speech is misused, as it’s done in some cases like that.
Rachel, I think it is clear to say that newspapers and modern day media eg. the outrageous cyber-bullying on social media are a major cause of our continual circulating structural problems. We need real journalism delivering the facts. We could start here for some tips, facts and straight up truth — https://universalmedicinefacts.com and HERE https://www.universalmedicine.news
All forms of media have a responsibility, and equally we do to not feed the sensationalism, the lies and abuse; not accepting any degree of it in our own lives and calling to account these untruths. Thank you Rachel.
Great article Rachel, journalists hide behind the freedom of the press, yet as a society are we not being irresponsible for not speaking out enough, if we did journalists would know that nothing less than the truth is acceptable.
To me this just shows that what we deem as a serious newspaper is often reporting a part of the story and not all of it as soon as you are involved you know but I wonder how much longer this has already been going on for many people where only a part of the story is being told because it ‘sells’. In other words we like to read exciting news without checking or discerning if the facts are right in the story.
Stories of people hurt sell well. This is just a reflection of how much hurt people carry in their bodies. Otherwise, it would be something strange, something that would stand out as odd. Not only is hurt pretty much part of the landscape, but also there is an industry built around it that helps to keep it going. The irony here is that this industry goes into a full-blown attack to those that are working to heal the hurts and to make sure that we do not hurt each other.
Newspapers seem to be after the number of copies sold and it looks as though they have forgotten about the word ‘service’ – seemingly, anything goes and who cares about the veracity of a story as long as the headline brings in the punters?
What you share Rachel is deeply important, to know and understand that gender based violence is a structural problem … as you rightly point out that means all of us on how we treat women are on the scale and while we might be ‘better’ than the extremes, unless we address our part in it then we’re part of the wider problem. Media has a huge role to play here, and they’re avoiding this, and do not want to look at their part here, so as consumers of media the question for all of us then become what do we support? As this too is also part of the same structural problem you note … denigration of women in the media, again, so how willing are we all to take a stand and say no more.
A beautifully well written article highlighting the responsibility that newspapers hold when it comes to such issues as violence against women. The devaluation of women is a systemic issue across our planet and one that requires our attention if we are going to live the equality of the sexes that is our birth right. Newspapers, TV, Movies, internet and computer games, to name a few high level influential entities in our world all have this responsibility. So let’s step it up and offer the world an opportunity to remember again the beauty of the true power that a women is naturally meant to contribute to the world.
Just occurred to me – had it not been for Universal Medicine, would I have stopped and taken notice of the corruptive way the media operates, the belief system the society at large buys into and the lack of responsibility in all corners when I read a report like the one you describe? Most likely, no. I might have just gone along with what was reported in an article and, could have even blamed the women in the story for giving other women a bad name for being so ‘stupid’ to be taken on by a cult. What Universal Medicine offers is massive. It constantly asks me to be aware and live from my authority. It helps me learn to see through the lies we have been fed from the word go. I can see how the media would not like that, but it is an amazing opportunity for them to wake up from the deep slumber of irresponsibility and truly serve.
Same here if it hadn’t been for Universal Medicine I would still be in the dark about what goes on in the world. Truth is I would still be on the team that willingly doesn’t want to know what’s going on and keep my fantasy world going. Only problem is that trying to remain unaware is a bit like swimming upstream, with so much being revealed these days trying to keep the mud constantly stirred is more effort than it’s worth!
Is that what things like the newspapers are indirectly or directly saying to us? Not to excuse their responsibilities at all as that is another part but to see why are they simply allowed to do what they do? I mean they are a part of our society and don’t live on another planet or anything like that and so wouldn’t they just be able to say what the ‘facts’ are on the ground? If society was different to this wouldn’t there be a groundswell of revolt against the newspapers when things like this happened? Again not to deny the absolute responsibility such a paper has in how or the quality of any report they give which here there is a quality sadly lacking but to say how can they just do that? Why aren’t we actively voting with our wallets or making a change actively here because I see not much has moved since this article. This isn’t a critique of anyone but merely a question that we aren’t yet doing enough and it’s not only about this newspaper but equally about how we are, the quality we are in our interactions in the world.
We, society, you and me, have accepted a media industry in its current shape as normal… its only when we decide to change it that there is any hope of reform.
If words are not printed nor expressed verbally from a source of truth it will always be pure fiction and never fact.
Words bring joy because of the truth that is shared equally for all or a creation of ” behaviours, patterns, ideals and practices as you express at your newspaper” that have no factual bases, thus leading to lies. Our societies have had enough words that have already been reinterpreted and misused so that truth is buried deeply in a fabric of scholarly dictatorship, and it is time to explain why the truth of being truly loving is attacked so much. Could it be that true love holds too much responsibility, so the integrity of words is bastardised, then we do not find what love and true religion is and this is just two examples?
It is very clear the media today, in general have, willingly chosen to forgo their responsibility in reporting the truth, instead time and time again choosing to step down from representing the truth to unite humanity and exposing where we need to bring light to where the crimes against humanity still exist. As this is not happening the responsibility is also ours. We as women need to continue to rise up and make the stand, showing that our power is in our connection to who we are within, that our sacredness is already alive within us, and live the qualities of our essence through our everyday. We must continue to call out the atrocities that still exist where women experience slavery, abuse, condemnation and oppression on a daily basis. We must not rest until we shift the consciousness that this is ‘OK’ as long as it is not happening in our immediate circle, until we shift the demand of ‘not wanting to know’ through which the media supplies us the rubbish and convenient escape through drama and sensationalism that we are fed today. For when there is no demand the media will then have to respond accordingly.
It is easy to blame someone or something else when we don’t take responsibility for our own choices and actions, men particularly take the feeling of abandonment badly to which they often react to, yet is it possible that those issues are not caused by the actual situation but from a past hurt that has been carried through childhood into adulthood, and absolutely nothing to do with Universal Medicine itself.
We all have a daily responsibility to consider the quality of our expression whether that be how we move or speak or write or act, however I agree that if you have access to a large number of the population like the media does or if you are a celebrity who many people are watching, then for me your level of responsibility goes up another notch for your potential to harm or influence the world becomes stronger.
“Considering that worldwide 6 million women are killed every three years due to gender based violence it is outrageous to see the disregarding position the Sydney Morning Herald holds towards women” – this is a devastating figure and one that is the responsibility of us all.
It’s a joy to read your authority on this structural problem Rachel. We all can live more of who we are to reduce this long standing issue – exactly like these women are. A newspaper our media should be supporting this leading generation of change not degenerating it.
We hold an image of marriage of what it is and how has to be. We also hold images of marriage break ups in which there usually is one party that is the ‘guilty’ one. What the media is doing is adding to this one by saying that Universal Medicine is the one to be blamed here. Yet, have we ever stopped and pondered whether the word guilty has in truth anything to do with marriage breakups?
I love that journalism in Europe does not allow or perpetuate the denigration of women and thus not add to the disrespect that founds most societies today. Clearly Australia is lagging seriously behind and the cost is far reaching and beyond measure when women are allowed to be silenced in this way.
A powerful article Rachel, which sadly is still as relevant today as when it was written. Journalists and the media have a responsibility to tell the truth – the whole truth. Full stop.
Shining a spotlight on the irresponsibility of the journalists and editors who are giving voice to and therefore perpetuating the abuse of women through denigration and stereotyping.
Thank you Rachel for a great article bringing to the forefront the abusive behaviour against women through out society and the medias contribution to this by publishing lies about Unimed women students, making them out as mindless followers incapable of discerning and choosing for themselves. In printing these lies the newspapers show a complete disregard for the truth which has been traded for sensationalism, putting profits before the facts.
2 million women per year being killed as a result of gender based violence is very shocking and no doubt those figures would be higher if we include those who do not die but live with the hand of violence everyday. The question I have is why aren’t media organisations making this their news, and constantly in the news. So much so that we all begin to stop and ask why is this happening? What is going on for men and women that we intentionally harm each other? Things are not right in the world and this needs to be in our awareness so we can reflect on what this means for us as women.
It seems like an endless war where everyone loses in the end. When will women and men realise that they are all the same? They might look different on the outside but their innate qualities are the same. Tender, loving beings. As it is right now women are becoming men, they are hardening up in a way I haven’t seen before. I hope dearly that this is not women’s way of finding “liberation” in becoming and doing everything the man is and has been doing for some time in history. This way has destroyed men to be what they are today; quite hard, unable to be really open and vulnerable with others and cry if he feels to. Is this the path women will now venture? If so it will be a path riddled with much unpleasant experiences, both physically, mentally and physiologically. Why do I know this? Because I am a man having felt the pressure of all the ideals and beliefs available of what it’s like to be a man, but I know also that I have a choice to feel who I really am on the inside and I’m letting that be what I listen to when I go about my life.
The newspapers do hold a great responsibility and many people consider as fact what is written in them. Whilst it has been a while since this responsibility was shirked, many people have not caught up and realised that newspapers have lost their integrity. Much of what they write is eloquent gossip or regurgitated “news” that has had no fact checking or investigative journalism behind it. That is their responsibility but it is our own to discern what we read.
Yes Nikki, as ‘consumers’ of what is printed, published, posted in the media, we are the ones creating the demand that is being supplied. We are all responsible for the gutter journalism and outright lies that we see being reported every day and yet there are very few who are saying this is unacceptable. If we stop ‘consuming’ they will stop ‘feeding’ and just maybe we will find ourselves returning to true journalism.
It is not for a newspaper or any media organisation to discuss the personal relationships of any person. Other than gossip, there is no purpose to this. What is broadly going on in the quality of our relationships is something else as is someone learning and growing and choosing to tell they story for the benefit of others. Our media have much to learn as do we in the choices we make in consuming media and why we make those choices.
I do not listen to or watch any media because I feel there is no more integrity in what they are presenting. This trend has been getting worse as we are not asking for the truth. We control the media because they will present only what we will watch.
The beginning of true change starts with knowing what the facts are. If we can start conversations with our neighbors about what is going on in our lives, that is a truer representation of what is really going on in our world. And it is much more fun then staring at a computer screen.
It is our collective awareness that can clear any bias, the more we are each able to bring responsibility to any situation and speak openly and honestly the more we support another to do the same. This will strengthen the foundation of group and community awareness and the fabric of what is within our societies can realign to what is true, loving and caring of all.
I really hadn’t thought about the damage this newspaper has done by publishing this article. What you write Rachel is revelatory in the sense that it brings attention to the fact of this particular journalism adding to the violence against women and condoning this behaviour. It’s actually quite mind blowing!
I’m forever baffled by journalists who end up selling out so completely to the demands of their job. Surely no one studies journalism to intentionally attempt to destroy people, to allow blatant lies to be printed or to create drama and tension amongst people. So what happens at these print houses? Where does the fear of not being able to sell papers with real/true stories come from?
We are supposed to be living in a society that is founded on free will and freedom to choose our own cultural, religious and social beliefs. With the way Universal Medicine has been portrayed by the media it does not feel like that to me.
I like how you say Rachel, “Every newspaper has a tremendous responsibility on this subject. But are they stepping up to it?” and I asking myself, are we all stepping up to it? We all carry this responsibility, to live a life of equality – be it ‘between’ women and men or people with ‘other differences’. So, do we? And I have to ask myself: do I?
There is a lot to learn and to start to live ahead of us – when will we start?
To call everyone to accountability is one thing – and the other is to live it on our own first. That people who start to do so and find out ‘how it goes’ to live in integrity, are attacked, is not ‘just’ a men/women-thing but a question of taking responsibility in general.
“But it does not matter from which level you function you are nonetheless responsible.” – Indeed we all are.. Corporations have great responsibility for what they promote and in turn they are made up of employees with equally important personal responsibility to stand for what they know is true as do we as consumers of this media.
Well said, we equally have a responsibility to speak up when we read or see something that perpetuates that image. Women have a right to walk away from a relationship that is not about love. Just as men do. We should all stand for more love in our lives.
I have heard television and radio reporters pose the question ‘who do you blame for this?’ once too often recently. It is as if they see it as their role to incite reaction and stimulate emotional responses – as if this makes good broadcasting. But is what makes a good news broadcast or radio interview, what makes a loving and harmonious world for us to live in? Surely encouraging people to point the finger at others does not do so without first taking a good long look at ourselves and our part in things – including the reporters themselves.
It would be interesting to know how many of these men who point the finger at others for their relationships failings have ever even considered their part in it all. It is very possible, that a man who is unwilling to consider such a thing responsibly, might be impossible to have a true relationship with.
Women need to be honoured for the sacred nature they bring.
To demean the standing of any woman, to attempt to silence her voice by labelling her a ‘follower’ with no mind of her own, is the most insidious disrespect to every woman, and man for that matter – fuelling a culture of division, a culture of harm and violence, and basically saying it’s ok to abuse any and every woman.
Such insinuations and depictions in the media are abuses in their own right, and nothing less.
An industry called to account Rachel. Thank-you. Experiencing so directly the irresponsibility of sensationalist tales and the carte-blanche painting of women as ‘mindless followers’ at the media’s hand, I couldn’t agree more.
So very true Rachel. You say “Every newspaper has a tremendous responsibility on this subject. But are they stepping up to it?” – I would say Every newspaper has a tremendous responsibility in relation to EVERYTHING they publish. But are they stepping up to it?
… and I would answer NO. We all know that most newspapers are agenda ridden and full of lies so what is our responsibility in that and do we have the press we have accepted and therefore asked for?
Spot on Rachel. Many journalists in Australia aren’t stepping up to their responsibilities to present well researched articles which also encompass a high degree of social responsibility. It’s not just that an incorrect story gains time and attention; it is also the systemic and often covert implied messages that does lasting widespread global damage. The stories about Serge Benhayon, his family, various students and practitioners and Universal Medicine itself are all depictions of exactly what you have spoken about in your blog. Thank you – what you have written about should be compulsory, in depth study in any media and journalism course.
The disregarding position held by the Sydney Morning Herald is indeed appalling and only aims to preserve if not champion the ill-belief that women are too stupid to know better… whilst also highlighting their unprofessionalism in the lack of research not only into that which they denigrate but of the disgruntled sources who sold them their tainted version of events.
Wow, what a fabulous article! Thank you Rachel. You make many great points about the structural problems in society of levels of inequality towards women. Although this newspaper has not delivered a physical blow of domestic violence to a woman, they have delivered a blow of another kind by publishing an article in the same disrespectful, disempowering consciousness that feeds and therefore promotes domestic violence. Women are not chattel.
Well said Melinda – it is definitely a blow to women that they deliver on a daily basis.
Good point Rachel, they do not step up to it. What I feel from your blog is that it is ridiculous that real business like Universal Medicine that are absolute integrity are being accused and abused, while business that are actually abusing are not being even exposed. To me this is the proof that we have not stepped up in our news, journalism and or social media. It is time to get some real media out there, we deserve to show and hear the truth.
Yes – the world is upside down when it comes down to the truth. Everything that is truth is mostly hidden (to a certain point) and everything that is a lie is on spotlights and absolute adequate attention. Interesting, but revealing that we in life (as a society) have not chosen to commit to truth. And instead have used comforts over truth. Now it is by Universal Medicine that the truth gets awakened, but now it is the reaction of our society that wants to bring it down, again because it exposed the lack of commitment to truth and equality (our responsibility).
Awesome article Rachel, and powerful question, are newspapers truly stepping up to their responsibility, if recent continued violence against women is any indication I think not. I feel what you share is something all such newspapers should read and print for themselves as it lays the responsibility firmly at all our doors. It is time we call out these types of articles and expose this behaviour for what it is and that is abuse and a misrepresentation of the truth.
Well said Jade. It does lay the responsibility firmly at all of our doors to call out when we see it happening and to continually ask our media to report the truth.
It is very true that the media today contributes greatly to the objectification of women, which fosters violence against women. On one hand they thrive on the horror stories about domestic violence, sex slavery and other atrocities committed towards women and on the other hand they feed this very behaviour by denigrating women through pictures and articles like the one mentioned above. This is so hypocritical.
You are correct Rachel, there is un underlying disrespect for women in society and the media are making this worse not better. Everyone has the right to stand up against abuse be it physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. Many relationships have violence, as Rachel has made clear. Many are full of constant put downs, undermining authority, treating the other person as lesser or as property. This horrible attitude comes from society and plays out in people’s homes. There is only so much of this behavior that can be tolerated, after much trying if the ingrained behavior does not cease, the relationship cannot continue. This is a difficult time for those involved and the last thing they need is a one-sided media story denigrating the other person’s choices, solely from the point of view of their hurt ex-partner. How about some balance, and truth SMH.
Gender based violence is a subject not to be treated lightly. The statistics are appalling. Gender based violence is based on two problems: the radical denial that we are equal in spite of everything that makes us different; that any difference (in this case gender) could give licence to abuse the other by considering it to be less and not worthy of the same consideration I give my ‘equals’, and an enormous hurt underneath all of it. Anything written in the media that feeds this kind of mentality turns the journalist and the media into feeders of all sorts of gender based abuse. Why do we make any fuss when some women decide by their own accord leave the marriages where obviously they are not well? Would it be the same media attention if the situation where men left their marriages because they are not happy in them? I do not think so. What is behind the fuss is this idea that this is outrageous! And a fear of a contagious effect. The journalists writing here are not defending families. They are hiding behind the ideal of family to defend their equals (men) against the possibility of this happening to them.
Thank you Rachel. What this shows me is how very much we believe we have and we can have an opinion on our own and state that, but how very much this opinion/thought is controlled by the underlying beliefs and ideals we carry. That might also explain (even though not excuse) the Sunday Morning Heralds reporting, combined with a hunger for sensationalism and selling their paper they come up with a story that is not only far from the truth but feeds the disrespect and abuse towards women in the world.
This is bigger than we think and we ought to be far more careful in what we say and print particularly a newspaper that reaches millions.
Rachel I’ve only just found this blog and learned something new: that the abuse of women by the media that we take for granted here in Australia is not global; that Europe has a much more respectful code for journalists. Our media could certainly take up the example and the responsibility that goes with it!
Strong and powerful article Rachel! And good question: are the newspapers stepping up to their responsibility? No, they do not. Even worse they make themselves to a shallow lamella not worth the paper money. And they do not flinch from supporting a little mob of hurt abandonees by bringing down women power. Women who have just broken free – not from their husbands, but from their own limits of how much worthy they are and the self-loathing they created on their own for many years. Women who are claiming back their full strength, beauty and power are tried to be broken down to victims again. Thereby they did just break free from the victimhood! Newspapers create victims to have something heavy to report on – and ignore totally the wonders which are happening all around, ignore, deny and try to suppress the real worthy report over women who are radiating divinity again. Newspapers should report so we all know what is going on so we can learn/evolve out of it and not report lies to hold us where we are or go down again in evolution. To support in evolving is their responsibility – like it is for all of us. And we have to go for it, to speak up for it. Nearly everyone I know complains about the bad quality of newspapers – but no one is really doing something against it. We still buy it. We still read it. That’s consent. I decided to not buy any newspaper anymore but to write my own news every day and share it. That’s the only way, it seems, to bring some written truth into this world.
Very well said Rachel, it is an enormous responsibility our print media carry when it comes to perpetuating misogyny, gender inequality and the denigration or objectification of women. You are absolutely right in pointing out that the SMH has been extremely irresponsible in it’s blatantly biased reporting. It is certainly apparent that this is a case where one (journalist) should ‘never let the facts get in the way of a good story’ and whatever is the consequence to those involved, is immaterial. Australia has a long way to go when it comes to addressing this level of accountability in our media as most of us know, but without a groundswell of those willing to stand up and demand for something better, this is what will continue.
When a city newspaper obviously holds women in deep disregard, and you can read it in their implied tone, it is unsurprising that women being murdered by their partners is not front page news, mostly not even printed in the paper at all.
One of the very strong points that stood out for me as I read this article as a woman was that this organisation considers me as lesser. We point to other countries practises in devaluing women as disgraceful yet when the evidence is considered and this prevailing attitude of the press is examined, a strong vein of this still runs in this country. Or am I misreading it, and the organisation governing journalistic practice are investigating this serious oversight?
Rachel, what you say is very true “A structural problem means that we are all part of a whole – that is not only about the individual actions but about the general position or consciousness towards it. ” I have seen the numbers for domestic violence increase worryingly over the past few years since you published this blog. We HAVE to be prepared to look at where these attitudes come from. We have to be the change we need to see and yes, the media have a very important role to play.
Statistics tell us the most potentially dangerous person to a female is their partner, so if they are not treated in a loving way and or receiving any form of abuse they should not be expected to except it.
Well said Rachel, everything is part of the whole and so even the more hidden or insidious messages of the women being less, or gullible, or unable to make intelligent choices for themselves is a direct contribution to the 6 million deaths that you mention. There is no way around this and so all we can do to ignore this is stick our head in the sand and make excuses. The statistics however show that we cannot afford this and it is time we all, each and everyone, take responsibility for our contribution to the whole.
Rachel, thank you for giving a very strong account of the state of gender based violence that exists around the world. In my area of work I speak with women everyday whose lives are affected through violence, either from their partner or stemming from their childhood environments. The damage is pervasive and costs society in every way, yet is still largely a taboo subject with efforts to address it often tokenistic and merely lip service. The slant the media has taken when reporting the opinions of a few disgruntled ex-partners is a strong example of this sort of subtle public behaviour that helps maintain the status quo. The response from hundreds of Universal Medicine students world wide is therefore indeed greatly valued as a counter voice to expose what is going on.
Very true Rachel. The original media articles about Universal Medicine were steeped in sexism, proving that we still have a long way to go in our media before true gender equality is achieved. The way the original articles that were written by wannabe journalist Byron Kaye were cowardly in the extreme in the sense that rather than provide the facts for the public to adjudicate themselves, Byron Kaye purposely twisted the truth, and in many cases printed straight up lies to make his case. He then touched on the deeply held prejudices that still exist deep within society ever so lightly so as to ensure that people were blinded by their own perceptions so that they would not even stop to question whether what was written was true. It was not just lazy journalism, it was corrupt.
Wow Rachel this blog packs a serious punch! The newspapers have exposed not just their own dismissive views of women but they are targeting an audience that has supported such views to be held in our society today. Everyone is responsible for how women and men are viewed and treated by each other and if our own personal standards are below love and truth then we equally support what these papers are peddling. It sounds like a huge responsibility but as I am learning that being love is really simple, it takes practice and time but it is possible and saying no to what is not love gets easier the more we do it.
There seems to be prevailing belief that as long as this sort of imbalanced reporting is not extreme, not actively promoting abuse it is OK…except things are far from OK. In 3 weeks 3 violent murders of women by their partners have been reported in the Australian press. The latest was a woman who tried to leave her partner. He beat her to death so badly it looked like she had been hit by a car.
So we have women who cannot leave under threat of extreme violence and then another situation in which the press are reporting on women who have left their partners and deeming them to be cult followers, with no capacity for independent thought. To be crystal clear, I am not saying that the women who are students of Universal Medicine were being hit by their partners. What is being pointed out here is that the press are ridiculing women who have made a stand in circumstances that they, the press, know nothing about. Most people do not walk away from relationships lightly, when they do it behoves the reporter (if indeed it must be reported at all) to find out why by asking more than the aggrieved husband. A balanced report, and no less.
I needed to read this blog twice, and slowly to really take in the depth of what is being shared here, specifically this part “that is not only about the individual actions but about the general position or consciousness towards it. Some disrespect women in their capacities, others treat them as less, and some (actually a lot) consider them worthless – and as such treat them with horrendous violence.” Reading slowly I realize how much I have been under this consciousness, of women being different to men, women being less and even women being special. All the time actually turning a blind eye to how women are treated differently because of their gender, sometimes put down in very very subtle ways in conversation and sometimes abused in obvious ways. I have been so ‘sold’ to this way that I will allow this to happen, first I will choose to not be aware, or if I am aware I brush it off as “that’s just how it is”, or if I feel it is not right and something needs to be said I do not have the courage, confidence or commitment to speaking up and saying something. Instead I will shrink in my chair and cower to the consciousness and the responsibility of bringing change. Reading this blog I now realize that I have a responsibility to even speak up for myself when this type of treatment or behavior comes my way. Not only because I deserve more, and to stand up for myself, but more to support others to begin to also see and feel how much as a society we have allowed the underlying thread or flavor of misogyny to work its way into our work places, friendships and homes.
It is amazing Danielle that we stop seeing the difference with which women are regarded. We just sort of blur over it, especially when it is subtle and insidious. There is also a prevailing feeling of not wanting to be a whinger or a “paranoid feminist” or similar insult when we point out the lack of equal regard.
Yes, Rachel, exactly… and all designed precisely to ‘keep us quiet’ and not speak out against the evil we so deeply feel.
I can relate to what you’re saying here Danielle and too am realising as I read this article just how deeply entrenched and insidious this consciousness is and what I’ve also been prepared to accept as “normal”. At times even though I’ve felt very uncomfortable I’ve laughed off what is actually abuse as a joke for fear of not wanting to be perceived to be prudish, too serious or incite a reaction thereby perpetuating the abuse.
Wow Deborah you’ve made a great point. We are deep down always aware, and we just do things to try not to feel, like joke about it. Great insight.
Danielle, thanks for what you’ve added here. The thing that jumped out at me in this article is that gender issues in our society are a structural problem and it’s all of us and not the individual, so of course we all need to address it and that starts with each and every one of us. I was uncomfortable reading your comment and being honest Rachel’s comment on it being about the all, as I realised that I’ve been ok with accepting a level of abuse as long as it hasn’t gone too far, that joke or that remark, or even the way women are treated in subtle ways as different, even how we hold ourselves as different as you note here. The truth is I’ve even (in my head at least) rubbished women who can’t seem to handle it in the way I can as somehow precious and wanted them to not make a fuss and get on with it. A lot has changed and there is much I have changed in my approach but reading this today I realise it continues and I need to speak up when I feel that attitude as without doing so, what changes, how do we all learn? I learned about a different way because I came across Universal Medicine and it’s practitioners who weren’t afraid to speak up and show me that there was a way to live that was more loving, and that love asks that we call out abuse in any way. Without doing this we just support the existing structures to continue, no matter how mild it might be for me, if the structure of abuse exists, somewhere in it, there is severe abuse for someone else, and it needs to be undermined and called out for the abuse it is.
monicag2 you have nailed this completely “no matter how mild it might be for me, if the structure of abuse exists, somewhere in it, there is severe abuse for someone else, and it needs to be undermined and called out for the abuse it is.” What I feel you are sharing here is that what may seam insignificant or just a minor slip of a word is in fact still abuse, as it’s all adding to the hole. This is our responsibility in it all, we are either calling it out, or adding to the whole of what society is tolerating.
This is a great thread Rachel, Monica, Danielle, and Deborah; upon reading your comments I realized we get the society that we don’t like but we put up with. The more we call out the bad behavior it becomes easier for others to also stand up for truth. It is a positive step for society on the slide.
Your writing confirms to me Rachel Andras that you are a professional woman and you are making some great points and stating facts that make sense.
The Sydney Morning Herald have clearly not researched their facts and although they have been presented with the Truth, they have chosen not to run another story correcting the lies.
What type of newspaper does this?
Why are the reporters and journalists involved not held to account?
Who really benefits when the newspapers print lies about people?
What harm is done to our community with newspapers printing lies?
What about the people whose lives are affected by the lies?
What if the journalist who took the story on was on the other side?
What if the editor who approved the story was the target?
How would it feel if you feel it is OK to print lies without checking facts but when you are given the facts you turn the other way and ignore it.
So many great points here… Living in Australia we’re lead to believe that you will be treated equally and with the utmost respect. From what’s been released in the papers I don’t see or feel it. Lets not step back into the dark ages and let another organisation be dominate over the people.
Unfortunately Australian media is already in a sort of dark age, where it’s no longer one ‘organisation dominating over the people’ as Jaime states but an entire industry which has developed an all pervasive thirst for reporting any material so long as it is sensational, sells papers and gains kudos / social media popularity for the author and publisher.
Rachel there appears to be great lethargy and indeed apathy in a lot of journalism these days. It will be a welcome change indeed when journalism becomes something of integrity representing the whole of society for the whole of society.
Yes Alexis, this is true, and don’t forget the level of corruption too inherent in this example alone. IT is not just lazy, apathetic journalism at play, but deliberate omission, twisting of fact and careful implication that intends to lead the reader to the point intended. What happened to the unbiased reporting of facts… one side of the story, and the other, at the very least! This is corrupt media, not just lazy.
I love the way you have clearly stated this Rachel. The newspaper’s stance was fundamentally flawed because of the denigration of the women involved. To treat them as not knowing their own minds, easily fooled or less worthy of an opinion is a slippery slope towards awful behaviour against women. I felt how horrible it is to have this directed against you. What kind of publication allows this? What is the quality of this publication? The Sydney Morning Herald has exposed its quality.
To hold people, women and men equally, with deep respect and esteem should be the general standard for everyone but is definitely a must for any public medium. Anything less is unacceptable.
Great reflection, Rachel. It is ludicrous that a newspaper is sensationalising a story about women choosing to leave their husbands – are they doing this for all women in Australia who are choosing to leave – a loving choice many women are choosing to make. They are using any vehicle they can to get at Universal Medicine- where is the fairness in that?
Great points you make here Rachel. How is it that a national publication such as the Sydney Morning Herald is able to print such a story without investigating the facts. This is a paper where I had considered the journalism of high integrity, however, I now deeply question what is presented by this newspaper.
Yes, me too Donna…. and, I question what on Earth is going on within the Sydney Morning Herald as an organisation? Clearly it lacks integrity, truth and equalness for an article such as this to be published without question. In an organisation of integrity, where men and women are held equally, such an article would not pass based on the quality of it’s foundation and values.
The SMH has treated the women in this matter appallingly. Australian media could learn a lot from the Europeans codes of ethics regarding how women are treated in the media, its just common decency.
Great article Rachel. Newspapers have enormous responsibility because of their enormous social influence…when will they step up to the plate and make their position about benefiting people as a whole addressing inequality in all its forms?
Rachael, thank you for a very strongly and clearly written article. I 100% agree with what you have written. As someone who works primarily with women who have experienced trauma and violence, I feel that the media’s perspective on the subject is often quite misleading, tokenistic or very subtly supporting the status quo.
Awesome Rachel, I would much rather read the truth of your words and the real facts that are happening than the mis-truths and inappropriate journalism of the Sydney Morning Herald.
A great blog Rachel, you highlight some great valid points. I agree by the newspapers acting in this appalling manner, they are in fact, ‘contributing to the increasing violence against women worldwide’.
Very true Rachel and when domestic violence is as high as it is – education is the key. Much of life’s education, when it comes to social acceptability, comes through our media so the quality of opinions published need to be socially responsible. Articles that belittle women for making a choice to not accept abusive relationships or criticise women for making a choice over who can touch their own bodies do a great deal of harm to the ongoing safety of a large percentage of the population – reflected in the statistics on domestic violence.
Wow Rachel. I love the powerful and truthful way your article is expressed and I absolutely agree with you. Every journalist, newspaper, in fact every facet of the media has a responsibility to honour a code of ethics that is based on truth and integrity and to ensure the actual sources that feed them articles are in fact credible, truthful and honest. The Sydney Morning Heralds article you speak of clearly does not. However, it could be equally said that the consumer or masses who continue to accept this feed of sensationalism and lies needs to also come from that same truth and integrity. Would the media honestly be able to print the lies and biased views to the standard they currently do if no one literally ‘buys’ what they are saying? It seems to me we all as a society need to step up, not just the media themselves. If the masses started to expect truth and only truth to be shared then that will be what happens.
The points you share in this article are so powerful and full of integrity, it is indeed time the media cleaned up its act and began to take true responsibility for its misrepresentation of women and its support of violence against women.
Thank you for calling it out as it is, Rachel. The media most definitely need to start taking more responsibility for the way they portray women,
Rachel, I was appalled by the lack of integrity for The Sydney Morning Herald to report a story without due investigation. The media is powerful and with power should come responsibility and accountability, the lack of both to me says Australia is not a civilized or progressive society to accept this. I had not considered the responsibility journalists have to human rights for women until you described it so well. Thank you Rachel for spelling out another layer of evil – newspapers such as the The Sydney Morning Herald endorsing misogyny.
Oh my God, “worldwide 6 million women are killed every three years due to gender based violence.” I knew the figure would be high but that is incredible.
What is even more incredible to realize is the sheer lack of responsibility taken by The Sydney Morning Herald who just went along with the lies told by a few men?
Let me check the date-oh yes that’s right, it is 2015 and not the dark ages!
Rachel I love the strength and conviction of your words. I feel that newspapers are really only taking responsibility for how many newspapers they can sell, not on true responsibility for the truth given. If we all help and contribute our own expressed truth then that will spill over and outweigh the lack of true responsibility.
So true, Kelly, it is also our responsibility to speak out and express the truth of what is happening — or rather, not happening, — and bring attention to this state of affairs that demeans and denigrates women throughout the world. Nothing will change if we do not express our truth.
Beautifully expressed Rachel. ‘Every newspaper has a tremendous responsibility on this subject. But are they stepping up to it?’ You are asking a big question here and sadly, I feel the answer is No. Its obvious by the content of their article and the lack of true investigation that their only concern is what story will give their paper the most exposure. As you say, we are all part of this ‘structural problem’ and therefore we all need to take our responsibility in it, especially the press.
Thank you for your very powerful article. It is great that you have highlighted the SMH’s neglect of their journalistic moral and ethical responsibilities whilst highlighting the consciousness they perpetuate about women and the horrible repercussions of that. They need to be exposed for the part they play. The European’s code of ethics with regards to women should most definitely be an unwavering worldwide standard.
How true Rachel when you say, ‘Every newspaper has a tremendous responsibility on this subject’ and it was outrageous to see the disregarding position one of Australia’s leading newspapers, the Sydney Morning Herald holds towards women. In reporting as they did, the Sydney Morning Herald exposed themselves as highly unprofessional, first by basing a story on the unsubstantiated comments from a small group of disgruntled people and secondly by feeding the same ideal of men’s superiority that contributes to the ongoing violations of women’s human rights. The Sydney Morning Herald has clearly demonstrated that they are not stepping up to their responsibility and have little or no interest in reporting truth if it gets in the way of ‘a good story’
Thank you for writing this great article, Rachel. I totally agree with Rachel and Bina about newspaper’s responsibilities and accountability in what they publish. We need to point out lies loud and clear.
It is important that we begin to speak up when we come across such abuse. I am not sure how newspapers are regulated in other countries, but in Australia they are self regulated, this makes it a lot easier for people to abandon their integrity in the chase of a “good” story i.e. a story that will sell.
Great points you raise here Rachel and Yes I agree that the newspapers do have a responsibility to us the readers to read the Truth and not stories taken from a minority as you quote without checking the facts.
When did journalism change and become so focused on sensationalism and when did we the public agree to this?
What I feel is that by saying nothing and being a by-stander, we are the ones who are choosing not to change and so this ill way of reporting in the media continues. This is abuse and I say we all need to work together to stamp out this modern day way of the media printing lies and not being accountable.
I fully agree Bina, we need to be more vigilant to address any abuse.
Thank you Rachel for giving women’s rights the importance it deserves. It is very disturbing to hear the statistics of women killed every three years – 6 million. As a race of human beings we haven’t opened our eyes to see what’s really going on and what we are continuing to allow.
It is true Rachel. Your blog asks some powerful pondering questions. But as Carmel asks why is the focus still on what others perceive us as? When your existence can be good or bad based upon how many likes you receive, or friend requests you achieve surely we need to take stock. In appreciating where I am today I know more amazing people and closer to them all than ever before in my life and this is truly based upon me putting myself first. Standing up for what I feel and know is true allows me to enter all my relationships in my own shoes, and that’s a great place to start.
Thank you Rachel for a strong, clear message. It has been far too long that women have been denigrated in the national press.
Thanks for this clear and strong writing Rachel. There is so much nonsense imposed on women by way of ideals and beliefs and it simply doesn’t serve anyone. Women in truth are powerhouses and can support everyone for the better of the whole of society and should be nurtured rather than being belittled or crushed.
Hear hear Rachel. Indeed it is now time for the media to step up for too long has the media contributed to the down fall of society.
Hear, hear to all comments and the author. The ill and love-less way we all treat each other is heart rending. May all who are students of their own life through the inspiration of Universal Medicine usher in an inspiring and steadfast love that can be seen and felt for the truth it is and let no-one diminish that in ourselves. Its time for us to be “the people we have been waiting for.”
Awesome article Rachel, and it reminds me that we as women are also ‘guilty’ of furthering this image of women as we often see oursevles as weak, unworthy, second class citizens. It is up to us to value ourselves as WHO WE ARE and not try to be anything else. Who we are, in essence, is beauty-full; completely, not just on the outside. We have an inner stillness and light that should not be hidden. Like a lighthouse that serves no-one if it hides its light – maybe it is up to us women to light the way, not for others to follow, but to be inspired by. Carmel Reid – UK
I agree Carmel, we as women cannot expect others to hold us with respect if we do not have respect for ourselves first and seeing ourselves as weak and inferior just keeps that picture of women going, which is so far from the truth. It is our individual responsibility to show the world a different way and not feed the lesser version of a woman.
I agree Carmel, it is time for us as women to claim our power back and stand strong in our beauty and fragility. Part of that is to speak up and start to express truth as Rachel has done in this article.
Super article Rachel, very clearly and plainly written. Thank you for writing this. Yes the perception, and all the role(s) that in turn lead to the treating and regarding of women by men (and also women who accept the ill way or treatment), must be exposed to bring about true equality. Sadly the recent press articles in their unhealthy portrayal of women who are making their own choice to take independence and follow their own true sense, have instead just compounded an old fashioned ideal which sadly exacerbates the inequality in our society and world.
Great point Rachel! And I agree fully with Desiree.
You really opened my eyes and my heart to this subject! And I realize how much I myself have been blind and have numbed myself to these facts to the point that I wasn’t even aware of what is happening.
In fact I feel that we all and myself have a tremendous responsibility here to speak up as this is happening around us every day.
Powerfully put, Rachel. Thank-you.
All ‘suffer this’ – women and men. May the call to ‘step up’ be heard.
with love, Victoria
Rachel – I love the truth and strength in your points above. My eyes and heart have been opened more to the numbness in society as of late. It is healthy for us all to let our voices be heard and to lay the foundations of change. For it cannot continue as it has been repeated in the past over hundreds and hundreds of years. Lets use the internet for something worthy of our energy.
A profound statement Desiree “Lets use the internet for something worthy of our energy” as this is exactly what the internet needs a reflection of a true way of using it.