We live in the 21st century, in the world of freedom, democracy and privacy. We should be free to choose our own paths in life, we should be free to speak and we should be free to do what we want. We live only once in this world and as human beings, we have the rights to live in dignity and enjoy our lives and let others enjoy theirs. Women are subject to all sorts of assaults the minute they step out into the streets - whistles, cat calls, lame comments, propositions, stares etc. The stories are all too common and they are based on incidents that occur every minute of every day on the streets.
And this is for all those who say, well, the women invite it by the way they dress. Since when do women need to control the way they look? Why can’t they wear anything to show off their perfect bodies without being accused of looking like ‘sluts’ and since when wearing short skirts is an invitation for men to approach women? It’s their own choice to wear what they want. Respect it. What does a woman's dress have to do with how a man reacts to her? Men seem to think women dress for them, while they REALLY do not. Everyone loves looking good and sexy but that’s because it makes them feel good about themselves. And yes, of course women like some male attention, but that’s not an invitation to anything.
What gives a man the right to think he can feel up a woman no matter how she is dressed? Do women, then, have the right to do whatever it pleases them to a man because they like the colour of his shirt? It all makes me so angry. It’s just unbelievably wrong.
In January, a Toronto police officer told students that in order to avoid being raped 'women should avoid dressing like sluts'. This outrage statement basically says that if we behave or dress in certain ways, we deserve to be raped. That’s an attitude in our society which needs to be fought against and needs to be CHANGED. Rape is NEVER the fault of the survivor.Today at 19.00 SlutWalk will take place on Manchester’s streets, where women will protest against rape and against the false idea of women deserving to be raped if they are wearing revealing clothes. NO. If they are drunk, if they walk home alone late at night after a night out, even if they flirt or are sex workers, they DON’T give an invitation to a sexual assault.
It truly makes me angry how men insolently assume that it's fine to attack women at night, harass them with text messages after getting their number from a CONFIDENTIAL cupboard at work, or even comment on the way they look on streets. How dare they disturb our privacy and harass even if they are told to back off? I don't understand how so many of them can just get away with it.
We are all free and let us be free.
I really wish I could be in Manchester today but I hope the rest of women can make a change.
Hi Justi I have been trying to get a comment out to you as I have a problem with my Google account since I had my computer mended. Now, I will try again! I think this blog is the most fluent and inspired one that I have read of yours Justi. It shines through that it is subject you feel deeply about and it runs on at pace with clarity. Well done, the English is very fine. It shows it is good to write about a close thing to the heart and also good to keep up with what is going on in this country. I do agreee with all the arguments and thoughts and they are obviously true, but alongside that is the usual balance that sadly many men/cultures are raised in the belief that women are second class and second rate. Note the recent alleged order of mass rapes in Libya as a war tool. It stems from archaic beliefs that women were a chattel and came after/through man, the extra rib bone or whatever. So, some men are male chauvinists and misogynists snd in agression and with like minded groups are quite dangerous and formidable having physical strength on their side. This means that women must be sensible in their own defence, but not fearful, just aware of a potentially threatening situation.
ReplyDeleteI saw this film many years ago which deals with the problem and is based on a true story, it is 'The Accused' with Jodie Foster who had a very very short skirt! I copy and paste the plot for you here:-
Sarah Tobias goes to her local bar and is gang-raped by three men. The district attorney on the case is Katheryn Murphy who wants to prove that although Sarah had taken drugs that night and was acting provocatively while in the bar, this is no reason for her to be so brutally attacked and the men responsible should be brought to justice. Written by Sami Al-Taher
This movie is based on actual events. Sarah Tobias goes into a bar one night and winds up being gang raped by 3 guys. She is introduced to an attorney named Katherine Murphy. Not only does Katherine Murphy want to go after the men who commited the rape, she wants to go after the men in the bar who cheered it on. But Katherine has her work cut out for her. Her client has a past, and that past could be used against her in court. Written by
Hopefully things are better now than when that happened and yet it takes decades for change especially when people/men might think it ridiculous to see a woman as any other way than sexually and by how she appears. Change comes, but not to all and not at an even pace. Sadly, again we do not live in an ideal world and then everyone thinks of that differently!
No easy solutions but to feel your own freedom and fly, but with care, or march of course! Love you lots, good to hear again Cait XXX