Women are taught from an early age that it is on us to protect ourselves, and it's our
fault if we get hurt. - We moderate everything: our clothing, our
drinking. You know, we get taxis when maybe we can't afford it. We don't wear headphones
when we're jogging, we stick to well lit areas. It's exhausting.
- I dial 911 and, like, have it ready as I'm walking.
- I carry around a pocket knife. - I'll put my keys, like, in between my knuckles
and just be like Wolverine, like ready to go.
It turns out I've been doing that last one wrong. I don't ward off attackers by looking
like Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. I keep them at bay by dressing like Hugh Jackman as the
Greatest Showman. Half the time it works, the other half people just think I'm Diane
Keaton. While these tips are well intentioned, we know that they don't actually matter. One
of the many gut-wrenching things about Sarah Everard’s murder is that she took every
possible precaution. She took a longer route that was well lit and populated. She wore
bright clothes and shoes she could run in. She called her boyfriend on the way. And still,
Sarah was murdered. Women can do everything “right” and still be the victims of violence
because there’s no such thing as doing everything right. The World Health Organization estimates
that one in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence. And too often,
women are put in charge of escaping their own abuse. Nearly 50% of women who are harassed
at work leave their jobs or switch careers. That is the real, depressing reason Barbie
had so many jobs. But no one wants to talk about why an accomplished neurosurgeon now
just works on dogs. And by making women responsible for their own safety, we shift the blame away
from men. - Women don't need to be reminded or told
to be safe or to be careful. That is something that is at the forefront of our minds all
the time, everyday. I think we need to change the conversation.
- We say things like, “Why do these women go out with these men? What was she wearing
at that party? What a stupid thing to do.” We have to ask a different set of questions.
Why do so many men abuse—physically, emotionally, verbally and other ways—the women and girls
and the men and boys that they claim to love? What's going on with men?
Yeah. What the f*** is going on with men? And also, what the f*** is going on with men
skunks? - Pepé Le Pew, the playboy skunk who doesn't
take no for an answer, is being cut entirely from the new Space Jam movie. Greice Santo
was supposed to play opposite Pepé in a scene in the upcoming movie that ended with the
cast, including LeBron James, calling out the skunk's harassing behavior.
- It really teaches the younger generation of boys and girls that that kind of behavior
isn't acceptable. - I just heard that they were taking Pepé
Le Pew out of Space Jam. And I think to myself, well, “Couldn't y’all have just written
a couple lines to say, you know, Pepé doesn't do that anymore?”
Yeah, it's been years! Pepé knows better now. Especially as a skunk father of skunk
daughters. Sarah Everard’s murder is a terrifying reminder for women everywhere that we are
never truly safe. Not outside, and not even in our own homes. Worldwide, almost a third
of women who've been in a relationship say they've experienced violence from their partner.
Furthermore, the women who are most vulnerable are least likely to receive support. Black
women, in particular, are doubly victimized when authorities don't take their assaults
seriously, and the media and public are less likely to give women of color the same coverage
and support that they give to white women. What happened to Sarah Everard could happen
to any of us. And for things to really change, we need this level of outcry for every woman
who faces violence. Not just when it happens in public. Not just when it's reported to
the police. Not just when she's done everything “right.” And especially not just when
it happens to a white woman. Women are not responsible for the violence done to them.
The people who do that violence are.