This made me sad

With growing dread, I read this on Medium last week.

https://medium.com/athena-talks/i-dont-usually-rant-but-i-am-angry-106264b24015

About a justifiably angry woman, protecting herself from unwanted male attention whilst walking home. I was angry too - angry for myself, my sisters and my friends who have experienced the same.

I had a family lunch for Easter Sunday yesterday and I was speaking to my 90 year old Grandmother. I love talking to her and getting her take on life. We somehow got onto the topic of what her mother used to tell her — “don’t go anywhere with men by yourself!”. “Don’t sit next to them, talk to them, even look at them if you’re on your own, as they are bigger and stronger and they’ll take advantage of that”. I was dumbfounded!

Now granted, this was probably 80 years ago and times were different, but the fact remains. We educate our daughters to be cautious around men as they are bigger and stronger and can take advantage of that.

I know there are many, many FABULOUS men, who would never to that. My ex-husband, brothers in laws, cousins, friends husbands — I know many very good men. But there are some that aren’t. And they make others feel afraid.

For everyone’s sake — including them, isn’t it time we called it? Isn’t it time another really big strong man said to those guys — “hang on fella’s — that’s not OK?”. Isn’t it time we took the world into our own hands?

If we do this together we’ll make a difference. If we fight it alone, we’ll continue to be scared, vulnerable and alone.

Who’s with me??