Editor’s Letter – “Let’s fight sexism”

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ver the past couple of weeks, the issue of sexism has seemed to be everywhere: in the media, on the lips of those around me and particularly on campus.
Like most of my male friends, I would describe myself as a feminist. Although there’s still some stigma about men identifying as such, it’s obvious that men and women should be treated equally.
I consolidated my views on the issue as a pretty basic and fair concept: treat people how you wish to be treated, gender doesn’t come into it, right?
Recently, I’ve ended up walking female friends home after dark, simply so that they don’t feel at risk from those around them. I might not live in the most refined part of town (South Leamington has its own particular charms), but that shouldn’t mean that anyone should ever feel unsafe walking somewhere, due to the time of day and their gender.

I feel wrong treating my female friends differently by offering to walk them back, knowing I’d be laughed at if I proposed the same to a male friend.

I feel wrong treating my female friends differently by offering to walk them back, knowing I’d be laughed at if I proposed the same to a male friend. With the fallout of George Lawlor and ‘consentgate’ still racking around my mind I felt, as someone who believes in equality, like I was submitting to the sexist mindset.
When I put this to one of my friends, she said: “I wish you didn’t have to, but it’s sadly necessary.” On the walk to her’s there weren’t any problems: no-one closely following us, no-one lurking just around a street corner. But the possibility had been there, and that shouldn’t be the way it is.
I felt like I was going against the values that make me the person that I am. Even worse than that, I felt that I was demeaning her as a person in some way – something I would never willingly or knowingly do.
I tried to shake this off; surely the problem lies with those who cat-call, intimidate and threaten passers-by on the basis of their sex? It was at that moment that my friend’s words rang true for me, and made me realise that it wouldn’t be necessary in an ideal world – unfortunately our world isn’t ideal.

This can’t be a battle that women simply fight alone.

The real problem lies with those who hold views of equality but don’t stand up to others who act in a discriminative manner. This can’t be a battle that women simply fight alone. The inequalities within our society that stem from sexism are a problem to people of both genders, and are certainly a problem for me.
I look forward to a future where I don’t even give the notion of walking someone home, for their piece of mind, a second thought. However without working together unilaterally to fight sexism, it’s a future I just can’t believe in.