IMPORTANT
For anyone who does not know what is happening in the UK right now, a 33 year old woman called Sarah Everard was walking home from her friends house in South London when she was kidnapped and murdered by a member of the Metropolitan Police. She left her friends house at 9pm, and was seen on a doorbell camera at 9:30. Her body was found a week later.
For any women out there, this is a terrifying and worrying situation. How are we supposed to feel safe walking alone when the very person who keeps us safe has committed something so terrible? My messages are always open for anyone who wants to talk.
And now for all the men out there. This is an issue that you need to fix. And yes. ALL of the men. Because if you are sat there saying “not all men” then you are a part of the problem. How are we supposed to know which men?
If you are someone who has sat in silence - then you are a part of the problem. If you are someone who has EVER joked about r@pe - then you are part of the problem. If you have ever catcalled a women - you are part of the problem. There is an extensive list of people who are part of the problem, and if you are not actively doing anything to change the situation - then you are part of the problem.
We cannot walk home alone. We cannot walk in the dark. We cannot wear clothes that are dubbed ‘provocative’. We cannot walk past a group of men, no matter what the age. We cannot talk on the phone whilst walking. We cannot wear tight clothes. We cannot walk without planning an escape. We cannot walk without looking over our shoulder. We cannot walk without our heart racing. We cannot walk without feeling unsafe.
Men can do all of these things. Men can walk freely. Men can walk without shirts on. Men can walk without an escape route. Women cannot. Walking is a simple task that women cannot conform too without worry. No one should have to worry about walking.
But they do.
And it needs to change.
