Standing Strong

Unfortunately for us women and for the rest of the world, misogyny reigns supreme, especially in the Maltese Islands. The alarming statistics of the Maltese population against the mistreatment and dismissal of women are quite literally, something to cry over. It’s a tough issue to talk about, but it needs to be talked about. If you were to ask every woman in the country if they have ever experienced any type of demeaning treatment, such as catcalling and whistles as they walk on by, I guarantee that many will answer affirmatively. Of course, it is not questioned the majority of the time, either because of the lack of education concerning these matters, or else the simple fact that most people consider the issue as redundant. Around 47% Maltese believe that “women make up or exaggerate claims of rape and abuse” and 40 per cent believe that violence against women is provoked by the victim themselves, such as wearing suggestive clothing or “asking for it”, or solely because of the fact that predominant white males is far more convincing than a woman standing up for herself, especially women of colour. Not only does it feel degrading to be assaulted in any way, shape or form, but can also be life threatening to the degree of which suicide rates may be heightened each year. There is still no answer as to why men who are accused of sexual assault only receive a mere fine and some community work to pay for the crime that they have committed.  I say “crime” to put it mildly, for in reality, it is a cruel and disgusting way of treating a human being solely on the grounds of one’s own satisfaction. Not even the higher officials would back a woman up, as many ministers have made degrading comments toward women,

“…the one who ought to tone down her lipstick tones, let alone flashing her unshaven armpits! How incredibly chic.” 

To be a woman and to be accused of “making up” stories of assault in a democratic country where it is believed that every human is equal to one another, only for it to be a façade, is quite honestly terrifying, and also life threatening. That is why women should stand strong and united.