What needs to happen practically so women can be free?

[Babyboomtastic]

Obviously we should be angry.
Obviously the problem lies with the men, and it should be for them to solve, and not us. By it they haven't.
Obviously we shouldn't have to feel that we are under any curfew in life to be safe.

And ultimately the solution is that men need to stop killing and raping women.

But practically speaking, how do we get there? Our anger won't solve it, and obviously it's not going to be solved as easily as telling men to not commit these offences, as that doesn't work.

I'd like us to reclaim the streets (and also have safety in the home, which is an even bigger threat to women) so what can we do about it?

And if we need a cultural shift (which ultimately I think we do) how do we initiate that?

We need more women in power we all need to campaign for proportional representation.
www.makevotesmatter.org.uk/

That way I can vote for a Women's Equality Party candidate, and not have to vote strategically to keep Boris out.

www.womensequality.org.uk/

We need more women in power

Not if they turn out to be Nadine Dorries we don't.

Legalise guns, but only for women.

You know I was talking to my DH about this this morning after he saw that I liked a post one of our friends shared on FB about how ALL women at some point have been frightened walking alone, or have pretended to need to go in a shop, or have walked with keys ready in their hand, or run once they got around a corner.

DH is not a man any woman needs to be frightened of, and he said so - and that it wouldn't occur to him that a woman would feel fearful of him because HE knows he's no threat. He doesn't have a violent or deviant bone in his body. He's a gentle, kind father of young girls. However, even as a good, non violent man I told him he's part of the problem, because he just doesn't consider it.

Practically speaking on an individual level I've told him:

• If you're in a situation where you think me, as a lone woman could feel fearful of a man; maybe in a quiet car park in the dark, or walking down the street etc then use your initiative and consideration. Hang back and let her get into her car safely before you approach your car next to hers, cross the road from her and get in front of her by walking a bit quicker so you're not walking closely behind her and she can see you. Don't stare. Appreciate that although you know you're no risk, a woman who doesn't know you doesn't know that

• Make sure you're calling out 'laddish banter' about women. It's disrespectful and if you wouldn't say it about me, or your mum, or your sister, or our daughters or wouldn't like someone else to say it then don't tolerate it. Rolling your eyes and thinking 'oh that's just Steve he's a bit of a knob on the group chat huh huh huh' and ignoring it doesn't help, telling him he's being a rude sexist pig does. Make it unacceptable.

• Step up and pay attention, don't be a passing bystander. If you think a woman is being followed, or harassed then make sure she's safe and ok (I think he would do this anyway)

If all men took this attitude, and took positive steps to change their own behaviour we'd hopefully start to see a change.

As for the actual criminals who hurt women I don't think we can change them, not really. They're always going to do it and no amount of education will change that. So we go with harsher, much harsher punishments. I'm also all for banning any sort of violent porn (I'd prefer all but I'd settle for violent). But all that will happen is it will be on the dark web and people will access it through that if they really want to. Child sex abuse images are already rightly considered abhorrent by the vast majority and are not readily available but monstrous individuals still make. find and share them.

@DedlyMedally

Legalise guns, but only for women.

The thought of Eddie "look at at me" Izzard running around packing heat doesn't make me feel any safer.

Stop treating women are sexual objects. Stop constantly using women's bodies to advertise and sell every single solitary thing. And when someone objects say things like 'yeah well sex sells' as if that makes it ok. Stop portraying us as pieces of meat and as fuckable/none fuckable, only existing for men's enjoyment. Stop using our bodies/biology/sex against us.

Until men, all men, see us a human beings and not a collection of body parts we willl never begin to stop the sexual harassment, rape and murder of women.

I am sure cat-calling from a vehicle could be made a criminal offence, and the valid reasons to call out from a vehicle be not an offence. Simple sentence would be points on a driving licence if the driver is the perpetrator or refuses to tell you who the passenger was.

@allyjay Stop treating women are sexual objects. Stop constantly using women's bodies to advertise and sell every single solitary thing. And when someone objects say things like 'yeah well sex sells' as if that makes it ok. Stop portraying us as pieces of meat and as fuckable/none fuckable, only existing for men's enjoyment. Stop using our bodies/biology/sex against us.
Until men, all men, see us a human beings and not a collection of body parts we willl never begin to stop the sexual harassment, rape and murder of women.

This