House of Lords to debate misogynistic violence on Monday
Ahead of a debate on misogynistic violence in the House of Lords on Monday, Jess Bostock, a Leader at Citizens UK said:
“In light of recent events, it is imperative that we renew our efforts to challenge misogyny in all its forms. Here at Citizens UK, we are dedicated to helping make society safer for women and girls.
“Whilst considerable strides have been made, misogyny still permeates through all spheres of public and private life, both globally and in the UK. It provides the groundwork from which violence and other crimes against women and girls grow.
“Unfortunately, discussions around misogyny are often framed as ‘women’s issues’. However, it is important that the impetus is not on women to modify their behaviour to prevent objectification or violence. We often hear: don’t walk alone at night; use main roads; have your keys between your fingers. While these comments may be said with good intentions, this narrative implies that if women are subjected to misogynistic behaviour from men, it’s their own fault for not protecting themselves from danger.
“The passive language that is often used to discuss gender narratives exacerbates this, and essentially helps to create a system that allows perpetrators to evade accountability. The way we discuss these issues needs to evolve to ensure that this is no longer the case.
“Hate motivated by gender is a factor in 33.5% of all existing hate crimes.* On Monday, the House of Lords will meet to discuss an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill**, ensuring that misogynistic violence is accurately recorded. I hope that this development nurtures an attitude shift that works towards the end goal of making the world safer for women and girls.”