Questions for Us

*TRIGGER WARNING – image may upset*

I awoke this morning with mixed emotions.

It was International Women’s Day and I wanted to quickly shout a ‘Woooo Hooooo’ to my sisterhood before getting ready for work, but there was also a feeling of some aimlessness.

Returning to full-time work on the Monday just gone (after caring for my injured husband) and due to the extra workload I was about to encounter – I decided to give social media a bit of a break, so that I could have some time without feeling incensed.

Because that’s what I was feeling.

How could I not?

When Facebook Pages like Being an Asshole, promoting hatred against women, are considered appropriate for viewing, even though it’s been reported for its promotion of violence.

How can men who defend it not see that by making a joke of this very real violence to countless women, it gives them permission to downplay how atrocious it is??

When a billboard promoting a strip club is placed in front of a boys’ school in Brisbane, is deemed honkey-dorey by the Advertising STANDARDS  Board, when also reported for ‘grooming’ boys – teaching them to be sexually obsessed.

When the devastating statistics about the global pandemic of violence against women, inspires a t-shirt company to create many, many t-shirts bearing slogans such as: Keep Calm and Rape Her or Keep Calm and Knife Her. Amazon was then the place to get them.
(A computer program was blamed for generating the phrases – yet the word ‘him’ doesn’t appear anywhere…hmmm…)

It’s all getting a bit nasty.

Question #150: Could it be a back-lash to our ever-louder voice?

Well, the mixed feelings I awoke with today are due to me believing that – YES – we are becoming louder and stronger and I feel enormously proud to be a part of this new movement…

But is it working? Can we see any change?
We seem to be inundated with violence and exploitation – perpetuated by the Internet, I know – but it still IS what it IS.

An indifference to us – whether active or passive.

I believe we can make a profound change – both women and men…there’s just one problem:

Most are afraid to speak up.

And I understand that fear.
The other day, I confronted my Newsagent  – a more elderly man – about the fact he had Zoo Magazine on a stand facing the street, near the front of the shop. I explained that not only is it bad enough that any kid can buy it, it was unavoidable to see the objectified woman on the cover, from the street.
So even if you choose not to go into the shop, that culture is still in your face. Still being advertised.

I had butterflies throughout the whole exchange. So nerve-racking.
As I left him, he was contemplating the location of the magazine and when I drove by later, he had taken the stand down.

Victory!
A small one, but one none the less…and it felt good.

So, it’s time.
It’s time to join the ranks for a better world for women. We deserve it.
Our nature is a nurturing one and it leaves me profoundly baffled as to why our other half want to continue to keep things the way they are.

I saw an argument by a man saying that he simply couldn’t understand why women wanted equality to men, when we’re not the same.

We know we’re not the same – it would not have made sense for nature to make us the same – but we are equally needed to balance things out.

Yin and Yang.

That’s what men and women are – predominantly one gender with a bit of the other. Of course I’m being very general – nature provides a rainbow of variations to this – but you get my drift.

So, Happy International Women’s Day!

I am for balance and I am for all women and hope the good men can join our voice.

An amazingly awesome documentary was made in the States called:
MAKERS: Women who make America – narrated by Meryl Streep.

Watch it by clicking on the link above – see how women have fought since WWII and continue to do so – see our modern-day leaders – be inspired – and join today’s movement.

Deep Breath x