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Opinion

Yes, Wales, you too

16 Oct 2017 4 minute read
(U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Airman 1st Class Corey Hook)

Llinos Dafydd

The danger with all the coverage of the Harvey Weinstein accusations is that the problem of sexual assault and harassment by men against women is isolated to one man on the other side of the world.

Weinstein will become a lightning rod for everyone’s judgement. If found guilty, he will join others on a list of ‘bad men’ who were exposed and dealt with, and that we can put this problem to the back of our minds and forget about it.

But there’s nothing unique about Hollywood. In any organisation, where there are men in power there are some men who will use that power to prey on women.

The #MeToo hashtag on Twitter and Facebook is just a glimpse at the scale of this problem.

A year ago, when I spoke out about my experience of being raped, I felt very much alone.  Although I knew that statistically hundreds of thousands are raped every year in the UK.

Social media has helped me realise that I’m not alone. Online, you see others leading by example and talking about their suffering. That emboldens you to do the same thing.

And for everyone posting #MeToo there will be many others who are too afraid to post their own message, but who take strength from it all the same.

Not every one of them has been raped like me, but that doesn’t make their stories any less important. For many, it’s the daily grind, the catcalls, the gropes, the weird guy who cornered you and wouldn’t let you go, that gets them down.

The daily fear of sexual harassment damages women too.

Rife

This revolution has already begun with mental health. The taboo has been broken, at least in part. We’re talking about it. And now, hopefully, it will happen with sexual assault and harassment too.

Unlike with mental health, however, support isn’t enough – this is a problem with a clear solution.

I hope this new campaign will bring to light what has been staring us in the face for so long, although we haven’t felt able to talk about it.

We live in a society where sexual abuse by men on women is normalised. Where a man can be elected President of the United States after bragging about sexual assault.

Sexual abuse and harassment is rife in our society. Yes, here in Wales, from top to bottom. And it can no longer be ignored.

If we really want to build a better Wales, as this website claims we do, men need to stop sexually harassing and abusing women.

Yes, I know it’s ‘not all men’. But it’s enough of them that the scale of the problem is massive. It’s part of the fabric of our culture.

Yes, I know some men are abused too. But sexual assault against women makes up the clear majority of what is going on here.

#MeToo is a step in the right direction. But the battle won’t be won until men can admit to themselves, #IDid.

And admit that what they did was a monstrous, repellent act that left permanent scars on their victims.

So, c’mon, men of Wales, up your game. Don’t do it. Don’t let others do it. Don’t deny that it’s a problem.

If you have a son, a brother, a father, talk about it. Make sure other men know it’s not right either.

Blaming the victim won’t cut it anymore. Women know they’re not alone. They know they’ve done nothing wrong.

We need to stop talking about sexual assault and harassment against women. We need to start talking about sexual assault and harassment by men, and what they need to do to bring it to an end.


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9 Comments
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Helen Mary Jones
Helen Mary Jones
6 years ago

Well said Llinos. Diolch yn fawr

Alis Hawkins
6 years ago

Diolch, Llinos, o galon. I went back and read the linked article – you have my undying admiration for your courage in speaking out. Thank you on behalf of all women, those who have been abused and those who, like me, have been fortunate enough not to.

angharad closs
6 years ago

Diolch am hwn. Mae hyn yn rhan o stori Cymru hefyd.

Dafis
Dafis
6 years ago
Reply to  angharad closs

O fewn nifer o’n cyrff cyhoeddus hefyd. Dyle unryw fath o drais o fewn y lle gwaith fod yn reswm teg am ddiswyddo heb unryw dal.

Aled Jones
Aled Jones
6 years ago

Thank you for reminding us of these plain facts, Llinos. Although Weinstein abused women on an industrial scale (his company even arranged hush money for any complainants), this case highlights a problem which all too many women confront: men who take advantage of women sexually simply because they feel that they can. And having done so he takes no pause to consider the consequences of his choices, his actions, his violence upon her. You are right that an #IDid culture of self-realisation is needed here, perhaps even an admission that #IDo. If I am not prepared to present a message… Read more »

Dafydd ap Gwilym
6 years ago

Some of us have been fighting this evil for a very long time in anyway we can, male as well as female. Voting for a tax break or a pay rise without realising what is going wrong around you has been the problem that leads us to where we are today with one in three females being treated like sex slaves. Yes, slaves! These are not just women, those abused include young girls and babies too and they could be your own family members too frightened to speak out. Hey, you vote, or not vote, selfishly for an evil male… Read more »

Dafis
Dafis
6 years ago

I admit to being a bit old fashioned in these matters but take the “side” of the victim 100%.

By all means educate all males and females that this kind of aggressive, intrusive and downright criminal behaviour has to stop, no place for it in a modern civilized society, but while the lessons sink in encourage victims to report such incidents immediately and no soft pedaling on the punishments either. Too often extenuating circumstances get trotted out by some defence lawyer or social worker, these should be ignored.

John Sam Jones
John Sam Jones
6 years ago

Ac nid merched yn unig sy’n diodde trais rhywiol… Fel dyn hoyw, yn enwedig pan roeddwn yn fy ugeiniau ac yn ansicir, cefair fy rheibio mwy nag unwaith…

glasiad
glasiad
6 years ago

Some very interesting points brought up here. Came across this podcast that deals with these issues from a different perspective, suggesting that the #metoo twitter campaign is actually damaging to women rather than protecting them, or giving women voice. Definitely worth a listen, whatever your views on the topic. https://soundcloud.com/spikedonline/this-is-becoming-a-sexual-salem

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