This #IWD2021 I’m angry.

This article in the Guardian Australia really resonated with me. It’s International Women’s Day, and I’m pissed off. 

I’m angry at the lack of leadership and action from the Morrison Government with regards to rape and sexual assault allegations. In the past few weeks I’ve been triggered, felt sick, been empowered to speak out, and then just exhausted. The allegations are awful, but the mishandling is disgraceful. 

I’m angry that when a young woman has gone missing in my local area that social media conversations are turning to ‘she shouldn’t be walking alone at night’ or making assumptions about alcohol consumption. I’m angry that as a result, myself and other women are questioning our behaviour, in order to feel safe.

I’m angry that as a white woman I can be angry: I do not have the trope of ‘black angry woman’ hanging over me. I’m angry that days before the interview with Oprah, the media focused on the trope of an angry black woman and shifted the focus from the racism experienced. I’m angry that the focus is not on the institution, but rather on the individuals and ‘whether we believe her.’ 

I’m angry that in society we are more comfortable engaging in victim-blaming rhetoric and asking questions of those impacted, rather than focusing on those engaging in violent and destructive behaviour. I’m angry that we're more comfortable reproducing misogyny, racism than asking tough questions, and shifting the focus and responsibility to those who have power.

This International Women’s Day, I #ChoosetoChallenge you: are you angry? If so - how will you channel it? If not, why not? As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said “we should all be angry. Anger has a long history of bringing about positive change." 

To the wonderful women in my life, and to those that have paved the way for me, I thank you. I’m angry with you, and you have my love and support today and every day.