Its a beautiful sunny day, cricket match for the county. I have opted for a hospitality place, given the threats and violence I have suffered since writing the blog. I have become engrossed in the largest mass resignation of govenerance in history. I want it to be because of the unambiguous cover up of violence and sexual violence towards women, children and the lgbt community. Yes as I am typing and wondering why the electronic scoreboard for the match is defunct, alongside the second attempt to write this piece, after attempt one magically disappeared from the screen. So take two, with no scoreboard great sunshine, the story unfolds.
Cue the resignation of the Prime Minister after the mass resignation of cabinet members and minsters, was it over the cover up of rape and violence towards women anc children, by men in positions of power and trust…. ? In this metoo era was it because govenance by men and their wives in positions of power still have zero interest in equity or equality. With the police service in special measures, the undoubted protection of predatory sex offenders in positions of trust and the reaity of the financial cost that compensating victims can be effectively avoided, when the police service and crown prosecution service have proven themselves to refuse prosecutions repeatedly over a number of years. None of these things are cricket, but the final straw was none of these things, no it was when a man in a private members club sexually touched other men.
I wonder that in fifty years women are subjected to unwanted touching so often. As will be the case for many women and children. I was however reminded during the expression of revulsion at men being attacked, of the first time I experienced such treatment at a wedding party aged about fourteen years. Asked to dance by an older male guest. I remmeber bascially swaying hands on shoulders and his on my waist, I remember his hands straying onto my ass. squeezing and kneeding. I didnt now what to do what to say. The dance finished I walked away hurriedly not speaking and sat back down. An uncle shouted at me across the table. “ You are a fucking little whore allowing him to touch your ass” Or something very simillar. I remember the tears and trying to hide in my seat as the other family members at the table tried to placate him. But i did not work. The litany continued for a while. I was unsure what to do but cry and not move.
I have lost count over the years of how many times its happened in every circumstance imaginable, work, pleasure, activities. Ask your female friends or relatives, most will have examples of such assaults, alogside the victim blaming and normalcy of the action. Yet in the past week the actions of a man with a name of the chief whip, denoting a term that alludes to the proclivities of men in power. Yet this man touched men sexually in a private members club and the government collapsed. Not for women, but men. In the metoo age, it is still the men experiencing simillar treatment to women that pushes those in power to act. Not the children, not the women, but men. White powerful wealthy men, sexually assaulted as women have been for so long. It is ot that it is ok, or that I am minimising the offences. Simply that sexual assault regardless of gender is abhorrant. Yet again action is expected for men.
In the very same week I am excluded from University and am going to study on a distant learning basis, on the say so of a woman who pp’d the message. A religious call to attack me issued by extremists and I realise society that has no real separation of state and church is more prone to the growth of fundamentalist action that goes unchecked. The sad fact that religion is so easily hijacked by people who have extreme views on Western society, hell bent on using fear and hate to bring about the utter rejection of the rights of women and children. What this last month showed me is that in a chaotic society, extremism flourishes and its the vulnerable suffer the most.
And yet as I see the country I was born in, descending into the chaos of patriarchal tyranny, whereby the only real action is reserved when men face the same treatment as women, when equaliy in the use of sexual power and dominant behaviour is extended to men. Its a fascinating time to be writing. I have been confronted with two choices, stop writing and cower to the threats, or continue to do so regardless as a strong message that women are unafraid and will carryon regardless.
On this sunny day in July I have to contemplate the harsh reality that my life and actions have had to change. That since starting to blog and write, it is clear that it is not just education it is being a female. that is dangerous. Something I have always known, but things are starting to change albeit because men have been exposed to simillar treatment. Watch this space,,, becasue the fundamentalist populist attempt to silence women is just not cricket.