Not all men
This hashtag worries me. It is a defensive reaction by those who could use their collective voice for change but instead chose to take offence. It compelled me to think about where we might be going wrong in our approach to teaching about equality, responsibility and sexuality. The thing is, I know and believe it is “not all men” BUT.... My naivety in thinking that “not all men” meant I was safe has caused me grief beyond words. You see, I have brothers who stand up for people being bullied, who tackle racism, who treat their wives as equals and who believe women should be safe. I have a father who is respectful, who loves my mother for being his equal and who has never though her “less” than him. So, when I stepped out into the world I believed that every tap on the bottom, every crude joke, every straying hand was merely over exuberance. Because “not all men” do bad things. I believed that. And so I allowed things to go unchecked despite my discomfort. My...