London student Melissa on misogyny and the media in 2023

This disgusting, abhorrent idea was introduced by a few men on social media. Despite there being no evidence of men taking part, this event had gone viral, sparking fear and distress everywhere.

We had only just celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, which was first introduced nearly 50 years ago, only to be confronted with National Rape Day’ just over a month later.

Disappointingly, with less than 1% of reported rape cases getting a conviction in the UK (Rape Crisis England), it is hard to believe that any rape that occurred on National Rape Day would be investigated with the respect and focus it deserved. 

Although there have been significant attitude changes towards women, clearly there are still critical obstacles that need to be addressed in order to advance equality globally and put a stop to the harmful mentality still seems to be rampant today. 

March 8 is a day that is internationally recognised as a monument to women’s achievements, which is a huge milestone; however, we should place a spotlight on the lack of development regarding women’s safety, gender pay gap, pink tax and women’s education.

The start of the Suffrage movement goes back to the the early 1900s, when women were not allowed the right to vote and were silenced; still they fought for their rights as we continue to do in 2023. Women and girls are still fighting for the respect they deserve and to be treated like people rather than objects.   

Suffragette Emily Davison throwing herself under the King George V's horse at the Epsom Derby in 1913 (Image: PA) 

In the 1950s women were seemingly perceived as objects who where best placed at home. Physical abuse of women of course was present, but not nationalised and popularised as it appears now.                        

Ninety years ago Emily Davison was trampled to death by a horse as she defended her rights. Today some teenage boys, sadly influenced by the likes of the Tate brothers, still regard Davison’s actions as stupid and petty, indicating that society still doesn’t respect women as much as men; or think that women’s fight for equality is justified.

On average, women globally are paid 20% less than men (UN news) and 496 million adult women are illiterate, making up about two thirds of illiterate people worldwide, according to the World Literacy Foundation.

Some people regard misogyny as a concept that is becoming outdated. Although this is partly true, has misogyny just morphed into something else to disguise itself and adapt to modern times?

There is a distinct parallelism between the misogyny of the 1950s and present time, such as infamous misogynist Andrew Tate - who was recently detained on suspicion of human trafficking - sending a powerful message to sexists everywhere. 

The apparel is not so dissimilar in the media either. Adverts in 1950s suggested that women should stay at home and that they should work for their home. Now, 70 years later, some ‘online personalities’ blatantly state that women should remain the home and belong to their husbands.

Social media platforms have done little to curb this backward-looking trend and have occasionally indulged these dangerous ideas. Although International Women’s Day is well established, so are the misogynists who attempt to make women feel delusional about their safety concerns. 

As a society we need to develop our sense of justice concerning women’s safety as it is still an uphill battle in which misogyny refuses to relinquish power and thus affects us all.

Melissa is a 14-year-old north London student.