“Can We Just Pause the Spinning?” — Women Should Be So Lucky

Summary

The article reflects on the need for change in societal attitudes towards women, as exemplified by a man's insensitivity at a vigil for Sarah Everard.

Abstract

The author of the article expresses frustration over a man's attempt to kiss her at a party despite knowing she is married to his best friend, and his subsequent trivialization of the ongoing struggle for women's safety during a vigil for Sarah Everard. The man's post on social media, suggesting a pause to the "spinning" of current events, starkly contrasts with the reality of women who cannot opt out of their daily experiences of fear and violence. The author emphasizes the urgency for a change in such attitudes, highlighting the privilege that allows men like him to remain detached from these issues.

Opinions

The author criticizes the man's sense of entitlement and lack of awareness of his own privilege as a straight white cis man.
There is a clear disparity pointed out between the experiences of women, who live with constant fear and cannot simply "pause" their reality, and men who can choose to disengage from these issues.
The author implies that the man's post, while seemingly empathetic, is actually a form of performative activism that fails to acknowledge the gravity of the situation.
The article suggests that there is an urgent need for societal change to address and rectify these attitudes, which perpetuate gender-based inequality and violence.

#writing prompt: “What’s something that needs to change?”

He’s a straight white cis man and once at a party he tried messily to kiss me on a dark staircase, even though his best friend is my husband.

On Saturday night during the candlelit vigil for Sarah Everard — as women in Clapham Common were thrown to the ground by police just for daring to pay tribute to a murdered girl, and all around the country we lit candles on our doorsteps, remembering what fear tastes like — he posted a picture of flowers on Facebook. His caption read:

“It’s all a bit constant at the moment, isn’t it? Can we just pause the spinning?”

Easy for you, Mr. Tall White Man, wearing your privilege like a tailored suit. Imagine that life. Imagine the ease of it. Imagine if women got to press pause, ever. To opt out, like you can choose to.

Your attitude? That’s what needs to change. Urgently.

This short form was written in response to the prompt, “What’s something that needs to change? Is this something you’d like to change on a personal level? Larger scale level? What is the impact of this change and what does it mean to you to make this change?” — thanks to Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) for the prompt!