I often feel helpless and wonder if it is pointless to try and change something because the structures that lead to violence against women have existed for so many years and are rooted deep in our culture.
So, what can we actually do? In this topic everything starts and ends with eduction. And when I say education I don’t only mean sit-in-school-and-listen-to-your-teacher-education, though that certainIy plays a part, I mean all the places where you knowingly or mostly unknowingly learn things.
We have to make sure movies don’t romantazise violence against women as so many do (Yes Twilight, looking at you) because they can influence people to think violence is actually romantic. We have to call out sexism where we see it and have unpleasant discussions.
We have to pay attention to the little things. Because they never do stay little.
The problem is firstly that this influences almost every part of our lifes as sexism does so we have to look everywhere. And secondly that this process of relearning will take a long time.
So ultimately, we have to be patient and persistent in our efforts and accept that the world does not just change from today to tomorrow.