We now know the brutal details about the murder of Sarah Everard, shocking. We also know the fundamental damage done to the trust women and girls, and their sons, their husbands, their fathers and their grandfathers can have in the police. In addition to all the other things we tell women what to do to stay safe they now have to add 'run away' if challenged by a lone policemen. Is that what I am supposed to emphasise to my mum, my wife, my daughter and my granddaughter, 'run away'!?
On this grim weekend we pause on the shocking statistics of violence against women and republish those two pieces of work submitted at the time of the murder and make no apology for listing them 'above the fold'.
My daughter
I look at my daughter
So young and so free
She knows so well
Just how to be
She must claim the night
After all it’s her right
But I am sure you can see
My anxiety
We have to run
For somebody’s fun.
We’ve a long way to go
Progress has been slow
Too long accepting
A norm of protecting
We have to let go
To go with the flow
Teach men how to act
Not accept as a fact
That testosterone rules
Anon, Female
2021
Stay home
It’s not normal, it never was, and it never should be.
Some men thinking they can just take what they see.
Creating women’s ‘gilded’ cage, through cloying male ego.
A step outside risks surfing a turbulent wave of male libido.
She compliantly conformed to women’s unwritten code.
Demurely clothed, wearing sensible shoes, as she strode.
Absolutely no Agent Provocateur, no attempt to beguile.
Just a zipped-up coat, a warm hat and a smile.
Aware of the omnipresent evil she never wanted to meet.
Now she’s missing, vanished from a public street.
Stay home, stay safe, all of womanhood is told.
Light a candle, don’t tempt the horror to unfold.
Her abduction then murder brings the age-old advice.
It’s the testosterone psychosis, we must analyse.
Womanhood defiled, yet another female soul dead.
Surely, it’s time to tell all men to stay home instead.
Men and boys need to tell men and boys, respect.
A daughter, sister, wife and mother is not an object.
So, educate the ignorant, how boys should be men.
But correction for some will need more than a pen.
Caveman’s genealogy has no place in modern society.
Men inherently carry this club, causing female anxiety.
When education doesn’t remove the causation.
Is it time for hormone therapy and chemical castration?
Anon, male
2021
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