We Are Listening

We are listening to the challenges you face—living in a world where your safety feels compromised, where your voices are sometimes drowned out or dismissed, are real. The tragic reality that, as of the end of 2024, 78 women lost their lives to violence in Australia [^1], is one we cannot ignore. Globally, the UN estimates that 736 million women—almost one in three—have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime[^2]. This reality is difficult for many men to confront, but it calls for a deeper reckoning. As men, we recognize this reality, and it's a reality that we are accountable for.

Recently, I had a conversation with my daughters that shook me. They explained why they always go to public toilets in pairs—because they don't feel safe alone. They described the constant calculations they make when walking down a street, the keys held between fingers, the fake phone calls, the quickened pace when footsteps sound behind them. As their father, I found myself devastated by the world they navigate daily, one where vigilance isn't a choice but a necessity.

Another moment of awakening came during a casual conversation with my partner. She asked if I'd ever noticed support stickers for men in public toilets similar to those for women experiencing domestic violence. The realization hit me: these resources for women are placed deliberately where men can't see them—because for some women, a public toilet is the only safe place they can access help away from controlling partners. That women must seek safety information in such places because they don't feel safe in their own homes shook me to my core. These aren't just statistics; they represent the hidden reality that the women in our lives navigate every day.

We are listening that the patterns of harm, microaggressions, and even silence that you've described stem from a larger issue within our society, a system that we are all a part of. And while we may not always fully understand the depths of what it's like to walk through this world as a woman, we are committed to listening, to learning, and to being better allies in this journey.

But here's where we want to shift the story. Rather than carrying shame or guilt, we are choosing action. We believe that true change begins with an honest look inward. We, as men, need to break down the walls that have kept us from addressing these issues, from listening without defensiveness and from creating spaces where the voices of women can be heard and respected. It's time to stop turning away from uncomfortable truths and start embracing them as the call for growth and accountability that they are.

We are committed to challenging the narratives that keep us from being vulnerable, from admitting our own blind spots, and from understanding that strength lies in humility and empathy.

So, we are listening. And as we listen, we are taking action. We will be the ones who stand up, who stop the cycle by healing ourselves and, in turn, creating a culture of safety, respect, and true understanding. We're not doing this out of obligation, but because this is the world we want to build, a world where all voices are heard, all lives are respected, and everyone feels safe.

This International Women's Day, we recommit ourselves to this vision. We acknowledge the work that has been done and the work that remains. We honor the resilience and strength of women worldwide who continue to fight for equality despite the obstacles they face.

Thank you for speaking out. Thank you for calling us to accountability. The time for change is indeed now, and we are here to do our part.

References:

[^1]: Counting Dead Women Australia researchers of Destroy The Joint. These researchers track femicides in Australia and provide annual counts of women killed by violence.

[^2]: UN Women, based on data from WHO and partners. This statistic comes from the most comprehensive global data on violence against women.