Thread by @CCCBuryStEd

For International Women’s Day, I think of the women who were let down.

I think of the women who have been silenced by those who claim to hear but fail to listen.

THREAD

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who were told that they would be heard, if they reported their assault.
But weren’t.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who were told that #coercivecontrol is a crime, that they should report and their perpetrator would be held accountable.
But were told there was no *evidence*

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who had to face their perpetrator in the #FamilyCourts, to fight to keep their children safe, but were told that they were overreacting or hostile or intractable or uncooperative or vengeful.

Or only after free #legalaid

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women whose parenting has been questioned by their perpetrator, the courts, social workers, CAFCASS, psychiatrists.

Whilst their perpetrator escaped any scrutiny.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who were raped by their husbands, but were told that they shouldn’t report. That it would break up the family and that the children would suffer.

Or that it couldn’t be rape because they were married, or had already had sex.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who can’t cope and have had too much wine, or are taking medication for stress and depression, and their perpetrator has told them they are too mentally ill to look after their children, or that they are a drunk.

And they don’t know where to go for support.

I think of the women who have to co-parent with an abusive ex, who only views #parentalresponsibility as a way of exerting THEIR rights, instead of seeing it as being about being responsible FOR the children.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who were groped by their boss, or cornered in lifts, or lunged at, in the back of taxis.

Who were told that they would be blacklisted, if they report, and they would never work in that industry again.

#IWD
#IWD2020
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who have given birth to children borne out of rape, because their husbands exert their conjugal rights. The children who have had fractured relationships with their mothers, because of this, but maybe don’t realise why.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who have to ask their GP for contraception, immediately after birth, because they were unable to tell their doctor that they didn’t always have a choice in when sex happened.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who work in places that have an anti-bullying policy, but it is in name only- not deed.
And they have to face abuse that is not held to account, because the workplace has a toxic culture and refuses to walk its talk.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who were made to sign NDAs, because the stakes were too high, to fight those with greater power and more influence, and they faced financial ruination, if they didn’t.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who go to services to get help, and are turned away, because they do not fit the criteria.

So they are left in limbo.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who are being bullied and intimidated by other women.

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

I think of the women who are being * othered*. Who are being shamed for not being the *right sort*
Too right, too left.
Too rich, too poor
Too different.

* Not one of us*

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual

For this International Women’s Day 2020, I am thinking of the voices that don’t get heard or don’t get heard enough.

Let’s hear them now.

AND LISTEN to what they say. 💪❤️💪

#IWD2020
#IWD
#EachforEqual