We have all been moved and experienced grief, loss and anger at another woman being raped and murdered at the hands of a man.
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Thank you to Stacey Atkinson and Marion Yates for organising the vigils in Bendigo and Castlemaine to reclaim the street as safe spaces without fear and violence and honour the life of Eurydice Dixon, and the 39 other women this year have died at the hands of men. Thank you also to the women, children and men who attended the vigils on cold and wintry central Victorian nights.
Standing together is powerful for us as individuals and as a community in trying to make sense of what happened, share our grief and anger and reflect on how we can contribute to a safer society.
When a woman is raped and murdered by a stranger, our greatest fears are activated.
We reflect on when we have been alone and think about the risk to our own life. We share our shock and grief for a life taken too soon and so violently. It is on the news, our social media feeds and the conversations we have. It is a shocking crime.
We know a very small proportion of sexual assaults and murders happen randomly on the street by an unknown person. Most often sexual violence is calculated and perpetuated by those we know and declare care about us the most.
As a community we should be outraged at all sexual violence and murder that is perpetrated in our community. We must also acknowledge that this is a gendered issue, the data does not lie, every week a woman dies at the hands of a man.
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Ending violence does not belong to women who experience it or the agencies that support them, it doesn’t belong to the police or other emergency services. The responsibly belongs with the men that assault, abuse and murder women. It is time to confront and challenge gendered stereotypes, entitlement and the power men hold across all levels of society that has deadly impacts.
We know that not all men rape and murder women and if you are “not this man” those around you know it, they know it as you openly call out misogynist male entitled behaviours and actively support gender equality.
This dominant discourse must change. Let this be the beginning of sustained, thoughtful and respectful conversations to how we end violence towards women.
Kate Wright, CEO, CASA
To seek support contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. You can also phone Loddon Campaspe Centre Against Sexual Assault on 1800 806 292.
Need for mutual respect
I think it would be more helpful to focus on the need for mutual respect, rather than make this tragic crime against Eurydice Dixon about all males.
I think that is the implied message in your letter (Bendigo Advertiser, June 18) and it’s insulting. You say “instead, we must focus on the reasons why women are at risk: men’s violence - and the entrenched misogyny and attitudes towards women and girls”.
“Women are not responsible for their own safety.” Yes, we are all responsible for making sensible decisions about our safety.
“Men are responsible for their own behaviour.” Yes, we all are. Men are not the only perpetrators of violence towards members of their family.
“… we must remember that such behaviour is rarely random.” Well, yes, rape and murder is mostly random and opportunistic predatory behaviour by criminals.
I find it strange that those who shout the loudest about misogyny are also advocating for increased immigration of very misogynistic cultures. It's going to get worse.
Helen Leach, Bendigo
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