A few words.
A woman called Eurydice Dixon was murdered in my city just a few days ago. She was walking home alone at night through a park. She messaged her friend moments before she was attacked. She never made it home.
The police have issued a warning in response to all women in Melbourne:
“Take responsibility for your own safety.”
My friends walk home alone at night. I walk home alone at night. I keeps my keys between my fingers and look over my shoulder while my heart beats a million miles a minute in my chest. I jump at shadows and walk faster when I think I hear footsteps or a car behind me. I text my friends when I get home safe. I am vigilant. I am terrified.
Eurydice was vigilant. Eurydice was raped and murdered.
We as women already take responsibility for own safety because it feels like no one else is going to do it for us. We are being killed because the police would rather blame us than threaten our attackers and demand men change their actions.
If women are expected to be responsible for their actions then our attackers must also be responsible for their actions.
