An article from my local newspaper today regarding Sarah Everard and men taking collective responsibility.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/sarah-e...bility-7822274
I'm sure we all know about the case and collectively feel appalled by what happened to an entirely innocent young lady. Now the article raises a few points, first of all that men should discuss with other men attitudes and abuse of women. Whether that be comments or physical abuse. I've seen online people discussing this so here I am, taking the plunge and putting it out there for us to talk about if you so wish.
I for one cross the street late at night if behind a female (if I reasonably can) and I'm sure most of us do. Seems like common sense after all both for the female and for yourself.
This is where I'll try and explain what I think the horrible truth is. I may be wrong but it's just my own opinion. Challenge misogyny, challenge openly dangerous attitudes and behaviours if you come across them etc etc. All thumbs up from me. If that changes someone from considering doing something or their attitudes then it is worth it BUT I can't help but shake the feeling that those with such intentions would just be pushed to internalise the attitudes and hide them from everyone. I doubt many that have such thoughts vocalise them anyway but those that may, I fear about them going more secretive. Most importantly though, if 99.99% of men have no intention to kidnap and murder a random woman off the streets there is very little you can do about the 0.01%. That's a horrible reality, I'm not saying we should just accept that, I'm just trying to say I think that is the sad reality.
Whilst not comparing like for like, merely the difficulty, if someone wants to walk up to any of us and try to rob us, you can't do much to stop them trying, if they want to walk up behind and punch you in the back of the head what can you do? You can have 99.99% condemning such behaviour but the horrible reality is that it won't stop that tiny percentage.
So, collective responsibility for individual actions? It's damn hard to digest that as it isn't our fault what someone did to that poor woman. Saying that I do feel like we, as a society, have let her down even though individually we were powerless.
Sorry Sarah, RIP



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