I'm angry, I'm furious, but most of all I'm sick of it.
I like to think we are pretty lucky living in Australia, I like to think I'm a very fortunate person with the life I live compared to others, but yet again another story has hit the headlines that makes me think twice.
Eurydice Dixon was just heading home after finishing her comedy gig at a bar in Melbourne, when she was raped and murdered in Princes Park, an area Dixon knew well. She had even messaged her boyfriend saying that “I’m almost home safe”, but unfortunately she never made it home.
Another statistic to add to a list, another male dominate crime, this not only has me furious but the rest of Australia. Her death has started a very important conversation though, a conversation about how mens actions should be the ones changed and not womens. This is not to stay that men aren't ever the victim but that attitudes need to change.
A question for all my female readers: how many times have you been told to be careful when walking out at night? Or that you shouldn't wear certain clothing to provoke men? Or even, it's up to you to make sure your not by yourself and in danger?
Isn't this the 21st century, shouldn't we feel liberated to wear what we want, go where we want, and allowed to walk through a park and not have to look behind you every step?
Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull said, "What we must do as we grieve is ensure that we change the hearts of men to respect women.” He said Australia needed to start “with the youngest men, the little boys, our sons and grandsons”. This is where we need to begin with changing the attitudes of men towards women.
Research from last year may say that the homicide rate in Australia is the lowest it's been in a quarter of a century, but this data also shows that 80% of perpetrators are men. And what data cannot say for women is the way that we feel when we are followed at night, cat called, or feel in danger every-time it gets dark.
What data cannot describe is the way I've had to clutch my keys when men try to follow me to my car, the fear I felt when as a 16 year old I was followed by a car as I went for a run in my home town, running through properties just to get away. What data cannot describe is the feeling of being watched whilst I train in a swimming pool and sent inappropriate messages by someone who should be looking out for me and not describing me as a piece of meat. What data cannot describe is the way I've lied to friends because I'm embarrassed by what happened at a party.
Yes I'm a statistic, all women are statistics, as we've all felt this sort of panic and fear. Unfortunately, this is common to me, my friends, other women I've spoken to, even men.
I know this is nothing compared to other countries, but when it becomes second nature to you to walk that bit faster when it gets darker, to make sure you're never by yourself, isn't it time we did something about it?
I'm glad the conversation is out there, and I'm proud of Australia's response to the recent event that has happened, now we really have to make sure that boys are raised to respect women and are in healthy safe environments where they can learn this.
I like to think that I'm invincible as I do come from a smaller town where these things don't happen all that often, but as I've started writing this it's become all more apparent that certain events I passed off as nothing serious is actually very serious.
Euryduce Dixon was just one women, but that one women has sparked one of the biggest conversations that Australia and the rest of the world needs.
If anyone has felt any danger, or has experienced a form of sexual assault please talk to someone, my inbox is always open and I invite you to keep the conversation going.
Below is a link to some great resources if you want to talk to someone:
https://www.respect.gov.au/services/
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