I was listening to the Joe Duffy show on the way home this afternoon- the litany of horror stories about the way women are treated. In the staffroom, which is predominantly female, every one of them spoke about the constant anxiety when out walking, day or night, and each gave examples from low grade intimidation which made them uncomfortable up to physical and sexual harassment and assault.
I suppose it speaks a lot more about my ignorance or naivety that, while obviously aware that it was 'out there', I genuinely had no idea the extent.
I think it's probably my upbringing- rural, don't hit girls, always respect women, and so on, that became a cornerstone of my value system. I lived in Tullamore a good few years. I can remember many nights walking home well drunk when I'd see a woman, or women, either walking ahead of me or towards me. I'd always make a point of crossing the road so as not to worry them, even though that may have looked or felt as bad to them.
I wonder now have I ever done enough in passing on values like that, values I took for granted. As it happened today, all of the girls in my 6th year class were either absent or gone to a match, so it was just 8 or 9 lads left. I tried to express these ideas, but it wasn't easy- it's a difficult conversation.
It just bugs me how a culture of fear for women is driven by a culture of poor behaviour by a significantly big enough cohort of men can exist and be on the increase.
