I was reading an article today that started off:
There comes a time in a woman's life when she has to stop reading the papers.
It then went on
In recent days, the news has read like a litany of hatred and intolerance. It once again demonstrates how misogyny is an international problem, transcending borders, socioeconomic circumstances, racial divisions. Of course there are other factors – mental illness, religion, poverty. But this much is clear: there are men on this planet who vehemently hate women. Not all men, I am compelled to add here. Never all men.
Personally I would have not put the addendum at the end, and just stated, there are men on this planet who vehemently hate women. It's a sign of a defensive position when you then have to justify a truth.
I started reading the comments section, and quickly realized there was not any point as the defensive addendum now became the focus of attack. I then just sat there getting at first angry, then shook my head, then gave up reading them.
This has been the case on so many articles, diaries and comments by women about women. One defensive statement trying to justify a truth and you are cooked. It's extremely tiring.
Just a few facts
According to a 2013 global review of available data, 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. However, some national violence studies show that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime from an intimate partner
Between 40 and 50 per cent of women in European Union countries experience unwanted sexual advances, physical contact or other forms of sexual harassment at work [8].
In the United States, 83 per cent of girls aged 12 to 16 have experienced some form of sexual harassment in public schools
Annual costs of intimate partner violence have been calculated at USD 5.8 billion in the United States in 2003 [14] and GBP 22.9 billion in England and Wales in 2004 [15].
A 2009 study in Australia estimated the cost of violence against women and children at AUD 13.6 billion per year
You can read quite a detailed report
here:
In special circumstances such as the US prison system this sexual violence is turned against other men.
Is it just about power and control, possibly, even then outside of confined institutions it is women who bear the brunt of this type of violence.
Just a note:
When I feel that I have to walk on eggshells in a diary it is a sign something is wrong. Sometimes one has to say exactly how one feels and it is also sometimes necessary for those hearing these sentiments just to listen for awhile and take note.
Addendum
I am not asking anyone to shut up, just to listen.