Australia and the UK are protesting violence against women, and I am tired
Over the weekend, hundreds of people in London gathered to pay tribute to Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who was murdered after disappearing on her walk home. The assembly was also protesting violence against women — including the police's aggressive response to the previous evening's vigil, at which they manhandled and dragged participating women away.
On Sunday and Monday, half a world away, tens of thousands of Australians were gathering to protest violence against women as well. These rallies against misogyny and sexual abuse were sparked by separate rape allegations brought against the country's Attorney-General and against a staffer in the office of the Defence Minister, as well as the government's lacklustre response.
Three women, two protests, two infuriatingly ineffectual governments. That isn't entirely accurate, though. It's billions of women, countless protests, and governments across the entire globe.
London, England
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: A child lays flowers as people gather to pay their respects on Clapham Common, where floral tributes have been placed for Sarah Everard on March 14, 2021 in London, England.Credit: Hollie Adams / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Two women embrace as they pay their respects on Clapham Common, where floral tributes have been placed for Sarah Everard on March 14, 2021 in London, England.Credit: Hollie Adams / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: A sign saying "It is a privilege to believe the police will protect you" is seen among the flowers and candles on Clapham Common where floral tributes have been placed for Sarah Everard on March 14, 2021 in London, England.Credit: Hollie Adams / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Members of the public hold up a sign reading ''Text me when you get home xx 22:05'' in Trafalgar Square during a protest against the The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and criticising the actions of the police at last night's vigil on March 14, 2021 in London, England.Credit: Hollie Adams / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Protestors march from Scotland Yard to Parliament square on March 14, 2021 in London, England. Hundreds of people turned out in Clapham Common on Saturday night to pay tribute to Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old LondCredit: Guy Smallman / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Members of the public hold up signs as they sit on a wall surrounding the fountain at Trafalgar Square during a protest against the The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and criticising the actions of the police at last night's vigil on March 14, 2021 in London, England.Credit: Hollie Adams / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Protestors demonstrate outside Scotland Yard over the treatment of people by police at the Sarah Everard vigil the day before on March 14, 2021 in London, England.Credit: Guy Smallman / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Protesters and police officers stand outside Scotland Yard during a protest criticising the actions of the police at last night's vigil on March 14, 2021 in London, England.Credit: Hollie Adams / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Protesters hold signs and shout during a protest criticising the actions of the police at last night's vigil on Parliament Square on March 14, 2021 in London, England.Credit: Hollie Adams / Getty ImagesSEE ALSO:The UK is considering making street harassment a crimeCanberra, Australia
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Protests attend the Womens March 4 Justice Rally on March 15, 2021 in Canberra, Australia.Credit: Jamila Toderas / Getty Images
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Protests attend the Womens March 4 Justice Rally on March 15, 2021 in Canberra, Australia.Credit: Jamila Toderas / Getty Images
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Protests attend the Womens March 4 Justice Rally on March 15, 2021 in Canberra, Australia.Credit: Jamila Toderas / Getty ImagesBrisbane, Australia
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Protestors march on March 15, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia.Credit: Jono Searle / Getty Images
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Protestors march on March 15, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia.Credit: Jono Searle / Getty Images
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Protestors leaves signs outside Queensland parliament after a protest, on March 15, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia.Credit: Jono Searle / Getty ImagesSydney, Australia
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Police officers look on as protesters march towards Hyde Park on March 15, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.Credit: Jenny Evans / Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Protesters march towards Parliament House on March 15, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.Credit: Jenny Evans / Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: People sitting on the grass look on as protesters march towards Hyde Park on March 15, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.Credit: Jenny Evans / Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: Police officers talk as protesters march towards Hyde Park on March 15, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.Credit: Jenny Evans / Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 15: A protester holds up an "enough" placard at Parliament House on March 15, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.Credit: Jenny Evans / Getty ImagesIt's the end of the day in Australia, and I don't want to be thinking about any of this. I am tired and angry and deeply resent having to write this. But I guess I have to, because apparently it's still up to the women to do all the work.
I'm exhausted. Not only because this keeps happening, but because we keep having to talk about it, all of us forced to revisit those dark, disgusting moments in our own personal histories every single time.
And by "we," I of course mean women. Because if you look at these photos, who are most of the people marching? Who is protesting? It's binders full of women, all across the globe, who have had to carry this enormous burden, screaming their lungs out for years in the hopes of making things even the tiniest bit better. Then they're forced to return to work and laugh when their boss compliments their ass, because HR has already shuffled out two other women who complained.
We do need to talk about it, if we're to have any hope of it stopping. But we've been talking about it for years, decades, and it still keeps happening.
Men, it's time you all stepped up. Talk to your boys. Talk to your representatives. Have a good, hard, proper talk to yourself. I'm done. Hope you all have a pleasant week.
TopicsActivism
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