Sarah Everard’s murder is horrific. Only two days after International Women’s Day women were being told that they shouldn’t be walking home alone. A survey by UN Women UK found that 97% of women aged 18-24 had been sexually harassed. That’s a horrifying statistic. It’s understandable that cis women are scared and angry right now, but it’s not ok to use Sarah Everard’s murder as a reason to be transphobic.
Welcome to 2021, folks, where it’s front page news that a thirty-year-old woman uses sex toys. The response to the Zoella article entitled ‘The Best Sex Toys to Spice Up Your Life in 2021′ is a great example of some good, old-fashioned misogyny mixed with a deep-rooted fear of sex, all wrapped up in a shiny ‘won’t someone think of the children!’ package.
I’m trying to apologise less. I say sorry a lot: last week I apologised when someone pushed roughly past me on the street and knocked the post-GP-appointment doughnut out of my hand. It’s a much less sexy 2020 goal, but this year I have been trying to be conscious of how often I say sorry.