Following the major backlash that Victorian Police received after telling women they need to be careful and “mindful of their surroundings” in the wake of the tragic death of Eurydice Dixon, NSW Police are now in the firing line.
In a poorly judged Facebook post, written to the theme of Beyonce’s ‘Single Lades’, they urge women to take precautions to stay safe while online dating.
However, users were quick to jump on the post, slamming the police for once again placing the blame on the victim, instead of focusing on the men who do the assaulting.
Some of the comments included:
Read the room, NSW police. Stop telling women to keep themselves safe and start writing ‘witty’ songs telling men to keep their hands to themselves.
NSW police, thanks for condescending to women and victim blaming all in one post. You know better than this. Who let this through?
Violence against women is a serious matter, not appropriate for a “funny ditty” telling women that it’s all their own fault.
I take every safety precuation and I still got assaulted whilst sober. Have another go.
Because telling girls “to be safe” is such a successful way to avoid violence, right? If only someone had told that to Eurydice [Dixon] and she had followed that advice… Oh wait!
Way to go NSW Police Force, I feel so safe knowing that you take gendered violence so seriously. Way to victim-blame. Is this why so many assaults go unreported? How about you do work to stop men feeling entitled to women’s bodies. How about you work on the lyrics to that song.
We’ve all had it drummed into our heads since we were kids. I’m a 45-year-old single woman, do you think I’m honestly not already doing everything I can to stay safe? The reason why women are annoyed at this message is because we already f**king know, and we’re still being attacked!
The problem with the message is that women are already acutely aware of their safety, with a recent study revealing that 90 per cent of young women feel unsafe at night – and 30 per cent agreed that “girls should not be out in public spaces after dark”.
Jill Meagher was walking on a well-lit street, was on the phone to her brother and was five minutes from home before she was brutally raped and murdered.
Eurydice Dixon messaged her friend to let them know she was almost home. Her body was found just 900 metres from her home.
In the wake of Eurydice’s murder, countless stories were shared by women of times when they didn’t feel safe and the measures they take when walking on their own, whether it be keys in the hand, not wearing headphones or calling a friend.
Women are aware.
The message needs to change. The focus needs to be on the men doing the assaulting, and one user, Annika Moscoco, offered up a pretty perfect alternative the police’s post:
MAN IN THE MIRROR
I’m talking to the men in Australia
I’m asking them to change their ways
And since police have failed to make the message clearer;
If you want to make the world a safer place.
Remember women are people who shouldn’t be raped.
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