Letter to the Editor

The Best Way to Insult a Man

September 18, 2007

Have you ever noticed the best way to insult a man is to call him a woman? Have you ever wondered what that says about how our society values women?

This week is Sexual Violence Awareness Week and the theme is “Ending violence is everyone’s responsibility.” Though it may seem like communities are powerless to do anything about violence against women, there are actually small things we can do everyday to make women safer.

The first step is recognizing violence against women is the result of inequality. The reason some men assault women is because they don’t see women as their equals. They think of them as inferior and treat them accordingly. Like all bullies, they punish people for what they see as weakness. It’s that simple.

I know, it’s a foreign concept to many of us. How, in this day and age, could someone think women are inferior to men? Unfortunately, women’s lower status in society lends a helping hand. For example, women make a lot less money than men do. In our province, women take home an obscene 61 cents for every dollar their male counterparts pocket. There are also far fewer women on the political stage and in management and CEO positions. The image of women in the media suggests women’s greatest contribution to society comes in the form of two double-D cups. Equality still eludes us.

The second step to ending violence against women is confronting sexism. In this election, think about voting more women into power. Think about turning off the TV when your kids are glued to smutty shows that belittle women like “America’s Next Top Model” or “Search for the Next Doll.” Think about challenging people the next time someone tells a man to take off his panties and grow a pair of testicles. Stop letting women be the butt of the inferiority jokes.

If we push sexism out of our communities with these little nudges, we can end violence against women. Communities are not powerless in the face of violence against women; in fact, they are women’s only hope.


Danielle Finney
Communications Director
Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women