Again women’s movement, or imposition of it, is in the headlines, and I wish it wasn’t. I want it to stop.
However, there is a change — the reporting is better and much more factual. (Though I wish the age wasn’t necessary — does it matter if a woman, older or younger, was stopped from going about their own business?)
Just horrible — from the women who went to visit friends in their local area; a woman who walked her dog; to the sisters who were in a park and then abused by the law enforcers who should have been protecting their crime scene; to the woman who walked home from work through a park, to this lady who ran at 4pm on a week day in an area popular with families and locals, a busy area, something she did all the time….
In all these stories, all the time, there are hints of blame — the time, the location, the clothes, the behaviour; the crass and somewhat weird accompanying sexy photos; the implied ‘what was she thinking doing’….? In this reporting I’m glad to see a refreshing change in such sadness — we see a person who’s regular life business has been stopped — a loved teacher, daughter, sister, colleague, friend. Though the media is trying to find inappropriate photos to hint at sexual murder and to horribly sexualise something which is in no way sexy; but violent abuse and misuse of power, they can’t. They can’t use photos from a night out, party or a prom to blame and shame and say ‘look she really did have this terrible thing coming to her’. Instead all they can find is photos of women who weren’t allowed to live their lives, their talents, skills, work, community impact cut short.
Nonetheless if any of these women had lived a riotous or fun-seeking life, what if they were sex workers? So what?!!! The time, the day, the location, the clothes — none of it should matter! The class or status, lifestyle of the victim shouldn’t be an issue. Misuse and abuse of power to any woman, any person, should not be, and reporting in the media needs to start reflecting this, rather than scandalising.
These regular events are too much — women, and indeed men, should be able to go about their regular, everyday business without this happening. Safer streets and areas please! Women should be able to exercise freely….to walk and move about streets and parks and anywhere without fear….
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