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Women are angry, and they should be.
Enough already with the innuendo, harassment and, in the worst case, sexual assaults.
The continuing unacceptable treatment of females, no matter how seemingly trivial or serious, causes lasting pain.
It can and has destroyed lives. It must stop.
For all the progress that has been made in Australia, equality has never seemed further away in the past few weeks.
Through her courage, Brittany Higgins has given a voice to so many other women to come forward and speak about their experiences; being ignored, being overlooked, being objectified, being abused, NOT being believed.
There are two words that really p*** me off, used when tough women are labelled “ball-breakers”. Give it a rest.
Women are expected cop this stuff, toughen up and get on with it.
And until now, many have ‘got on with it’, believing it is easier to endure the abuse than cause a stir.
Women have instead relied on a quiet revolution, being “ladylike” in creating change.
Not demanding or forcing it.
Look at our home lives. Children are raised (or at least they should be) with the expectation now that their parents are equal.
Our husbands, fathers, brothers and sons are starting to get it.
But we can’t wait for generational change.
The political class is so far behind. That is why we have seen such an outburst of anger in the past few weeks.
Brittany Higgins didn’t make women angry. They were already boiling on the inside. But she has given them an outlet.
Enter Christian Porter. He’s a burning effigy who has become a lightning rod for every woman who has been dudded by the legal system.
He is the most potent, searing example of a woman not being believed, but the issue is certainly not as simple as some make out.
It is not black and white. And it’s OK to feel totally conflicted about what the ‘right’ thing is.
This is not a class action and Mr Porter should not be put on trial to answer for the crimes of every man who has committed sexual assault and got away with it.
I say this, not opposed to an inquiry. But worry about the expectations we have of such a framework.
If Mr Porter is denied fairness in the pursuit of justice, no one wins. He will be a scape goat, an example, but it will not set a precedent.
He’d be a prized scalp, but would it really bring the change we demand?
Many of you will reading this by now, scoffing, shouting at the page, saying “Fairness!? Where has that been all my life?”
Do we want equality? Or do we want revenge?
I suspect it’s sometimes the latter.
I get it. I feel it. But I’m not sure if that gets us to where we need to be.
Mr Porter has denied all allegations made against him and NSW Police determined there was insufficient evidence to investigate
Laura Jayes is the host of AM Agenda on Sky News | @ljayes
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