Eurydice Dixon was an accomplished young comedian, whose comedy was reported as often tackling feminist and social issues. Last week in Melbourne, Australia, she was the victim of a brutal assault and murder.
The response by the local police, and subsequent reactions from locals, have caused international outrage and a larger debate about women’s right to safety.
Eurydice was 22 years old. I will be 22 at the end of the month. Her death is the summation of fears women everywhere have in the back of their minds, as they calculate their attempts to navigate the world safely – keys laced between fingers, head on a swivel, phoning a friend before entering the parking garage. Women are raised and taught to be on alert at all times; our safety depends on it. And yet, when a woman is attacked and killed, the Melbourne police choose to blame the victim.
The police gave a statement, asking that the public “be aware of their surroundings” and take necessary steps to ensure their safety. This may seem like a perfectly acceptable response, considering they had not caught the perpetrator at the time of the statement. However, this statement makes the assumption that the public, more specifically women, are not already taking every possible step and precaution to protect themselves.
Adding fuel to the fire, the vigil site where the murder took place was vandalized earlier this week. This vandalism might suggest that acts of violence against women are not simply due to a lack of safety, but a global attitude towards women.
A common argument follows events such as this is that not all men are guilty of perpetrating violence against women. But violence – the kind that killed Eurydice and other women like her – is visible in many acts. It can be misogynistic jokes, verbal harassment or assault, sexual and physical abuse and violence, and sometimes murder.
As a result of this violence, bred in a culture of misogynistic jokes, women on a global scale are forced to act defensively. Women everywhere represent Eurydice. Some women are terrified they will face the same fate. Cases such as these are not limited to Melbourne, Australia.
So, what is the proper response? What can we do?
While individual communities can take steps to make their streets and parks safer for everyone by improving lighting, security and camera presence, the heart of this case and this debate lies in misogyny.
If you are a man who feels he is not guilty of misogyny, call out other men when you see problematic behaviour; even jokes have the ability to perpetuate misogyny.
Eurydice represents women everywhere who have experienced misogyny, and the fear that it could escalate. Let us all do our best to be better, in her memory.
