When the most affected aren't heard, everyone else must speak up
In feminist and climate activism, the most vulnerable aren't listened to. That makes it even more important that those less affected speak up.
I was going to write about recycling this week. But when I was thinking about what to say, I couldn't quite get the thoughts onto the screen and my mind kept focusing on something else.
If you're in the UK, you will have heard about the disappearance of Sarah Everard. This newsletter is about climate and the environment, not violence against women but I want to address something that I see both in feminist and climate activism - the power of networks. I've written before about using your relationships to influence friends and colleagues, but I think this topic deserves more explanation.
Women have been yelling about street harassment and sexual assault for decades. They aren’t being heard.
Sexism and harrassment is everywhere - on public transport, on university campuses, in the workplace - and as you will have seen, every woman has a story. However, if women have been yelling for decades and little has changed - we have to deduce that the problem can’t be solved by women alone. Women are hearing other women shout, but it appears that men aren’t hearing anything.
We need men to realise that you might not be a rapist or harasser or someone who assaults women, but you could know a man who is. These crimes aren't committed by ghosts. They're committed by men who are in the gym, in the pub and maybe in your friendship group. They could be in your office or lecture theatre. When 97% of women aged 18-24 have been harassed, we know that perpetrators are among us every single day. If the perpetrators aren't listening to what women have to say, it's time for their male friends to speak up.
So how does this apply to climate? Well if you're reading this, you are probably switched on about climate and aware of the issues. But your grandparents, cousins or friend of a friend might not be. We know that climate activists and the most vulnerable, in Pacific Island states and sub-Saharan African countries, have been shouting about climate change for decades. People in Bangladesh have been yelling about rising sea levels destroying their homes and livelihoods for a very long time, but still people in affluent countries like the UK aren’t listening.
Men can speak to other men in a way that women can't, and all of us can speak to our networks in a way that the most affected by climate change can’t.
If a friend is feeling unhappy about having to switch to using public transport, maybe you can grab a coffee and have a chat. Forwarding a strongly worded graphic on social media might wind up your cousin, but chatting about eating less meat over video games might strike the right tone. Not every discussion has to be confrontational. Not every opportunity to inform has to be argumentative. Using your connections to come from a place of love and affection, rather than using harsh language to try and shock - in a highly polarised environment - is likely to be much more effective.
We need men to speak up to other men, just like we need those who are climate-aware to speak to the climate sceptics in their family. It is painful that the most vulnerable aren't heard, but until we can change society to elevate those who are most at risk, we have to use every tool in the toolbox. This means those who are less vulnerable stepping up because they know how to convince others to come on board. Positively influencing the friends you disagree with is important.
It is important to underline that this isn’t about sharing a different opinion, it’s about persuading them to make the world a safer and more equal place. Women are relying on men to make the streets safer, just like the most at risk are relying on all of us to make the planet more inhabitable for future generations. If we believe in community and collective power, we need to use our voices in aid of those who aren’t being heard.
This week I want to direct attention to organisations campaigning to end violence against women and girls. I also want to state unequivocally that transphobia in the violence against women and girls sector is unacceptable.
There is also a vigil at Clapham Common on Saturday 13th March at 6pm and many other vigils in local areas.
Whilst I encourage you to support these organisations if you are able to, the most important thing I ask my readers is to pledge to make this world safer for all women and marginalised people. Men - it’s time for you to step up.