Ensuring the momentum continues and things change

[Changemusthappen]

Does everyone agree that one of the key questions to come out of the current debate around the safety of women, sexual harassment etc is what happens next and what can be done in the short and long term to tackle this.

Short term - can be put in place/motion immediately:

• continued and increased awareness of the harassment and threats that women and girls receive on a daily basis. There have been many phone ins on the radio this week and newspaper articles, these need to continue/be revisited regularly
• immediate zero tolerance in schools regarding sexual harassment of girls and inclusion of this in PSHE (it may be already). Additionally the emphasis that it is 'everyone's responsibility' to call out this behaviour.
• more police presence on the streets, trains, tubes
• Immediate government action to stop self id and repeal/reform the GRA
• Protection of all women's single sex spaces including toilets, prisons, sport etc
• detailed logging and followup of every report to the police of harassment, sexual assault, threatening behaviour
• increased cctv on tubes and trains

Long term

• a complete review within the police force regarding how sexual abuse/harrasment, threats etc are logged and dealt with
• Better planning around facilities, street lighting etc to improve safety

Obviously this is just a starter but I am interested in other's views. I am planning to write to my MP about this, it is important it is kept in the public eye.

Some great posts
I've just been listening to the news and was heartened to hear journalists, talking heads, individuals all talking about the importance of listening to women. Women's experiences on our streets. The word women only appearing once in the forthcoming crime bill. The appalling failures to prosecute rape. The failure of the police to protect women. And much more. Tbh, it felt a bit like FWR.

Speaking about the need to listen to and centre women's experiences in order to tackle our sex based discrimination.

Such a tragedy that it took the awful murder of Sarah Everard before our organisations reverted to speaking about women.

Brilliant post Barracker.

For public sector organisations to follow the equal opportunity act and to list sex as a protected characteristic rather than gender, sexuality and various other words.

For employees to be able to challenge their employers on toilets etc and not fear losing their jobs.

Didn't take long (very first comment) did it?

Yes Barracker! I saw it on Twitter too. So many women inspired by your words, taking courage from what you've said, and spurred on to keep on fighting. Thank you

Can someone link to Twitter please so I can look.

Goosebumps, Barracker.

This is the post I saw, Coffee twitter.com/WomenUnitingUK/status/1370871488354586624?s=20

persistentwoman

"I've just been listening to the news and was heartened to hear journalists, talking heads, individuals all talking about the importance of listening to women. Women's experiences on our streets."

That's so good. How can we keep them accountable. When will promises be made and kept?

"Speaking about the need to listen to and centre women's experiences in order to tackle our sex based discrimination." It's so important. But after the listening must come the action.

"Such a tragedy that it took the awful murder of Sarah Everard before our organisations reverted to speaking about women."

Absolutely, I am so sorry for her family. This strong outpouring of grief and anger must be bemusing to the family. They have lost so much. But we must not allow this to happen to more women.

Where is the research into why men are so fucking violent?

Where is the research into why men are so fucking violent?

Same reason we have oestrogen shortages while they sell dickpills on the telly.

Funding driven by profits.

Yes Barracker! I saw it on Twitter too. So many women inspired by your words, taking courage from what you've said, and spurred on to keep on fighting. Thank you

It was great to see Barracker's brilliant comment on Twitter!

What nonsense. One can’t fix violence by taking synthetic oestrogen, and one can’t fix one’s own male violence by declaring an identity.

And if we’re going to talk about profits, let’s focus on the violent and racist sex industry, including porn.

There are also some clear cut evolutionary reasons why males are more violent. And even a simpleton would understand that, on average, men are stronger than women, so they use violence to get what they want.

More research is very welcome.

What nonsense. One can’t fix violence by taking synthetic oestrogen, and one can’t fix one’s own male violence by declaring an identity.

I think you may have misread or misunderstood my post if this is what you think I said.

I think male violence might have been a thing even before capitalism.

Daca I do understand most men are stronger than most women. But I am stronger than most small children and probably stronger than many elderly people. Yet I have zero desire to use that strength against them or hurt anyone.

I also think (but don't know) hence the need for research, that in some societies violence levels are not as high for males. So I am wondering why some societies have higher offending rates for males.

And I also wonder what tactics can change this phenomenon, even if it is an evolutionary process. I don't believe biology is solely the root cause although I am sure biology has something to do with it.

Floisme it might have been but I believe that settling and no longer being hunter gathering may have set up the relationship of women to men as this view of property, this dehumanised person, which has allowed make violence to flourish in this vile way.

Maybe and I'm no history expert but I've got a hunch that being a woman wasn't a load of fun in hunter gatherer times either.

Why has Barracks comment been deleted? I had to find it in Twitter.

I knew Barraker's post would be deleted. I just knew it. It was too honest, too powerful.

Shame on you @MNHQ, if ever there was evidence that our voices are being censored this is it.

There were no slurs or hate speech in that post, just passion and anger and raw humanity.

I guess that was too much for the TRA's to bear. Thankfully, we have copied it somewhere else, and it is on twitter so all is not lost.

@Beefcurtains79

Why has Barracks comment been deleted? I had to find it in Twitter.

It was too acute for some to cope with, I expect.

People whose feelings get hurt by reality just can't bear to hear the truth.

Oh.

I'm surprised that was deleted too. And angry.

Perhaps time for it to be written up elsewhere @Barracker?

If anyone wants a copy, I have it saved and can DM people. We should not let Barracker's words be lost, they are too important.

What a pity barrackers post was deleted. Eloquent, insightful and probably too visible on Twitter

Of course they were going to delete Barracker’s post. I hope she publishes it elsewhere.

There are many feminist manifestoes and hers was among the most powerful I have ever read. It should be distributed far and wide, printed and re-printed. It really captures the mood of our present moment. And it will come true.