Marion Fitzgerald says women shouldn't get “hysterical” about the risk of being murdered by a man

Fucking hell.

God, I used to chuckle at my mum for worrying about me on nights out, or if I was travelling alone. I remember her saying she didn’t want me going down to Manchester for the weekend at the time the serial killer in Ipswich was at large. I thought that was funny (I was 19) because they’re nowhere near each other. Now I’m 35 and I see that no matter where this happens it’s just another fucking reminder of what men can do to us.

Leaving aside the other very valid points that it largely is only women who have to think about being attacked and how to mitigate it with any regularity, the fact is that most violence is perpetrated by men... that is the issue, not the sex of the victim!

A 2016 study of all murder in Sweden over a 30 year period found that men committed 9/10. I’m not sure if any other studies have been done.

My 12yo DD just asked me why I was ranting muttering to myself whilst reading this thread and when I explained, referencing the case and mentioning the warning police had put out for women to stay home, she said 'but why should women stay home when it's men causing the problem'. Feeling proud and dismayed at the same time was a very odd experience, if a 12yo gets it why doesn't Marion?

Surely one factor in why more blokes get murdered in public places is because they don't take the same precautions as women?

No one has ever denied that men are murdered more than women.

But what is the breakdown of the 'why'? I guess a lot of murdered men are killed in fights, stabbing a due to gang violence...etc.

The only fair comparison would be 'how many men are murdered just for being men?' Vs 'how many women are murdered just for being women?'

Oh dear
I have no idea who this is or how it was said

But I regularly say to my panicky mother that I'm a lower risk of getting murdered. Stranger murder is a low proportion of murders isn't it?

Yes, it's always fecking men but was this lady making a point about "stranger danger"?

This really upset me this morning.

How many of the killers are men? Men are - I would suspect - more likely to be killed in violent confrontations/fights/crime related activity...

How many are raped and threatened with murder? How many murdered by ex/partners or during 'rough' sex? How many have been through an event when they genuinely felt that they would die?

Maybe statistically women are less likely to be murdered by a stranger (and remember women take precautions when out at night/in strange places) but her whole 'don't be silly girls' tone was deeply offensive.

R4? I was outraged. More men than women are murdered. Only 11% of murders of women are by a stranger. No need for hysteria.

The one fact she didn’t bother with is that 99% of murders are committed by

Men.

(I made up the 99% but I’m sure it’s fairly accurate)

Eugh
Who is MF?

On point with the terminology used too. The root of the word hysterical comes from the Greek, 'hystera' meaning womb, uterus.
Because only women get uncontrollable emotions - men of course, just 'snap'. Totally different. And kill - but let's not blow it out of proportion, eh?

I heard the interview and felt she was very dismissive of women. Jess Phillips was far better.

Do men get targeted, followed, sexually attacked, picked off at random while minding their own business by a man looking for a victim?

I read that. Yes we all know men get murdered more. But ffs how to miss the point. Also no mention of sexual violence and constant harassment and intimidation. Most men do not walk the streets in fear.

At least the BBC quoted Julie Bindel too. They did also use the phrase "male violence", which I think has recently been declared "transphobic" and a "dog whistle" so it will be interesting to see if that stands.

I heard this while I was doing something else. At first I thought I'd misunderstood and she couldn't be talking about the murder of women, by men, in their homes and in the streets, by male strangers and male partners and male acquaintances in such an utterly matter of fact tone.

But she was.

It happens, ladies. Nothing to see here. Don't panic, it probably won't happen to you, but just accept that it might without making a silly fuss about it. Men don't make a fuss, after all, and they're more likely to kill each other.

It's not 'hysterical', it's reasonable to be angry and afraid.

I've been seeing this view point a lot online recently. Men kill men a lot, and men also kill women, so women shouldn't worry about being killed by men because they should worry more about men.

As ever, we exist to care for others more than ourselves.