The boss telling you they didn’t give you a promotion because they didn’t think you could handle it. The men groping and assaulting you in the nightclubs. The men catcalling you on your way to the shops. We are not the people assaulting our women in the streets, scoffing at calls for equal pay, or abusing writers on the Internet. We are not the people that need convincing. There are men, like myself, who are feminists and believers that true equality for women is paramount to our future. And, if they don’t change, then nothing will. The people who are abusing Clementine are the problem and reinforcing the battle lines between feminist and bigot is not going to help them change. If we are to give our young girls a more safe and equal society to grow up in, we need everyone on our side. Unfortunately, those getting offended are usually the ones who need to read it the most. The problem with writers like Clementine Ford is although their sentiment is justified, their vitriolic writing style means that people will always get offended. While their hatred may arguably prove that Ford’s writing is doing its job, it has also highlighted the continued divide between sexists and feminists in Australian society. In their eyes, crazy Clementine is just a whiney girl with daddy issues that despises all men. Scores of men are posting across social media, infuriated by the whole situation. These people are important, but slapping one man on the wrist so publicly has inevitably isolated thousands more. Illuminating the dark, misogynistic corners of our society so that women can walk the streets without the fear of assault and abuse. We obviously need people like Clementine, breaking down walls on the front line in the push for equality. However, while Clementine Ford is a great advocate of the feminist movement in this country, her strategy may be doing more harm than good. I also commend the decision of one particular boss who opted to terminate the contract of Mathew Nolan after his embarrassing and disgusting remarks. I wholeheartedly condemn the actions of the men who have threatened and abused feminist writer Clementine Ford. There are many ways to skin a cat, and just as many ways to re-educate a misogynist, writes Jack Kilbride.
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