For anyone who completely missed the point…
We may feel deeply idiotic saying it, but bear with us: We know that not all men are sexual predators.
In fact, we know that most men are good, kind, caring and careful individuals who are socially and sexually responsible.
Most people read this article for what it was – a call for men to believe and listen to women when they talk about their everyday fears and not to silence them with accusations of hysteria or overreaction.
Many people – men and women – appreciated the piece for what it was.
There were also people who immediately jumped on the defensive, somehow inferring that we were accusing all men of being apologists for rape culture or, worse again, actual rapists.
We had accusations of misandry, of being ‘social justice warriors,’ and of drawing parallels with the Brock Turner case in order to gain clicks despite the fact that we’ve written several editorials against sexist, misogynist behaviour among all men – not just Irish men – in the past.
So, in order to drive home the point we were trying to make, we present this by the supremely talented Ciara Kenny.
For anyone having trouble seeing the image, there’s a transcription at the bottom of the article…
It reads…
Road safety ad campaigns are aimed at and seen by all drivers, not just the responsible ones…
You’re probably one of the good drivers (“no penalty points on this bad boy”)…
Most of your mates are probably good drivers too, but some of them, some of them aren’t…
Some of them drive too fast, or too carelessly, or too aggressively, making life difficult for other roads users…
If someone you knew behaved like that, you’d probably have a word…
You’d probably tell them to cop on (“Lad, grow the fuck up, would ya?”)…
You wouldn’t complain about having to watch an ad about speeding, because while you know that it might not be very relevant to you, that doesn’t mean that it’s not relevant to ANYONE…
You wouldn’t shout, “NOT ALL DRIVERS!”…
So, when people try to have a conversation about rape culture, violence against women, street harassment, or general misogyny, and you feel it’s not representing you, before you valiantly jump to the defence of all the good men out there…
Maybe realise that we’re not talking about you…
We’re talking about your friend, your colleague, your brother, the one that shouts lewd remarks at women on the street for ‘banter,’…
The one that gropes strangers in nightclubs…
The one that thinks rape jokes are funny…
Maybe take him aside and have a word. Maybe tell him to cop on. And maybe, just maybe, you could change something…
Maybe stop shouting #NOTALLMEN and instead remember #YESALLWOMEN
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
