It is a standard Wednesday evening, consisting of plans to hit Timepiece with friends. However, just before leaving for predrinks, I find out that my housemates will not be going out. These two sentences should not imply a threat to my personal security, but unfortunately they do. Will I have to walk home by myself in the middle of the night, and feel at risk of sexual harrasment?
This concern, and countless others, represent everyday violations of female rights which many agree that women should not have to withstand. In fact, as copious research of the #YesAllWomen twitter hashtag reveals, why should female rights and human rights differentiate anyway? These prevalent problems have recently been highlighted by the consequences of tragic shootings at the University of Santa Barbara this past weekend.
The movement started when Elliot Roger, a 22 year old man, went on a shooting spree in Santa Barbara, California. Roger killed 6 students before committing suicide himself. In the weeks preceding the killings, Roger posted online a disturbing manifesto of 137 pages, declaring his hatred for all women, especially the rejection that he had experienced. He also outlined his ideals to abolish sex, thus equalising men and ridding society of women whom, according to the killer, should die out in concentration camps.
Although multiple news networks reporting the shootings have dismissed Roger’s ideas as point blank crazy, it is possible to identify in his manifesto, between the distortions of a disturbed mind, some underlying foundations of society’s attitude to women. Roger was clearly more violent and extreme than most, but in his beliefs one can see misogynistic ideas held by many.
This is why the increasingly popular #YesAllWomen hashtag is so important, as it offers a counter-testimony to the horrific events of the past few weeks, and to women’s struggles for the past few centuries. The thread has over a million tweets, all of which are moving, aggressive and abominable in turn. Despite not addressing the lives of the unfortunate victims in Santa Barbara, these tweets have culminated into a movement of women taking a stand for a more equal and fair society. Here are some poignant examples, which many a woman could relate to:
#YesAllWomen because ‘I have a boyfriend’ is more effective than ‘I’m not interested’—men respect other men more than my right to say no
#YesAllWomen because every time I try to say that I want gender equality I have to explain that I don’t hate men
Because society would rather tell women to show less skin, than to tell men to show more respect #YesAllWomen
Because I shouldn’t have to be worried when walking home #YesAllWomen
#YesAllWomen because how often does a man text his friend to say that he got home safe?
This movement is also a testimony to the power of twitter in mobilising womankind all over the world. Let us know your opinions on twitter, tagging #YesAllWomen and @HerCampusExeter.
Photo Credits:
au.lifestyle.yahoo.com