Content warning: sexual violence and assault.
Shaun Bailey, London Assembly politician and Conservative 2021 London Mayoral candidate, has recently come under social media fury, following his tweet regarding the Sarah Everard case. The mayoral candidate stood up against this tragedy as a political figure, but is it right to bring tragedy into politics?
“This tragedy should not have been used as a ploy to get more electoral votes.”
Whilst some may argue that anything is political and therefore political figures should be able to use tragedies to their advantage, when it comes to the human right to survive and not be harassed, there should not have to be a debate as to why it is so immoral to take advantage of that politically. Especially when that politicisation is only used to their advantage after the devastation has come to breaking news and they have made no previous effort to combat the worldwide problem.
This tragedy should not have been used as a ploy to get more electoral votes. The only time a tragedy of this context should be politicised is when legislation is put in place to protect women in this country.
As a father and husband it breaks me to think that my wife and daughter have to live in fear in their own city.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
As Mayor, I‘ll ensure that we are working to deliver for the safety of women and girls in London.https://t.co/aVf2Clabt1
— Shaun Bailey (@ShaunBaileyUK) March 10, 2021
Shaun Bailey tweeted his opinion on the recent Sarah Everard case after reports that those in the Clapham area were advised by police to not go out alone and to “be careful” – which is another issue all in itself.
Bailey began his tweet with the emphasis on how: “As a father and husband it breaks me to think that my wife and daughter have to live in fear in their own city.” That is the initial problem in this tweet of many issues. This statement reinforces the common discourse amongst men that implies you need to be related to a woman in order to be able to emphasise with the tragedy of sexual assault. You should not have to know a female or have been raised by one in order to form solidarity with women and be against crime against women – it should not have to be family for it to be wrong.
The next problematic statement that Bailey made in the tweet was that “it doesn’t have to be this way”. This tone-deaf report underpins this idea of male heroism in the face of women’s endangerment. Rather than acknowledging that it is this way – the constant fear, the statistics of 97% – he, and many other males contributing to the discourse recently, are attempting to be the hero in the situation. The statement that “it doesn’t have to be this way” is humiliating for women, we cannot come running to the heroes and saviours of men simply because they say that “it doesn’t have to be this way”.
“many institutions and figures have been able to immediately implement talks and workshops to combat toxic masculinity”
Finally, Bailey contributes to this political and male heroism by concluding in his tweet that “as Mayor” he will ensure the protection of women in the country. You do not need to be Mayor, or a figure of high power to prevent the endangerment of women. Bailey needed to remove himself from the situation and simply acknowledge the fact that women in this country are not safe. We do not need a singular male hero that is going to change the lives and safety of women as soon as we give him our vote and he is elected as Mayor. You do not have to be a political figure in order to feel the need to take action against this tragedy.
This clearly shows his complete tone deafness. Instead of playing into this male hero trope, many institutions and figures have been able to immediately implement talks and workshops to combat toxic masculinity in relation to sexual harassment. For example, the University of Manchester’s Men’s Hockey Club set up a workshop that aimed to help combat toxic and dangerous masculinity.
Since the tweet came out, Bailey has since refused to stop “politicising” the Sarah Everard case, declaring “I don’t regret it”.
Lauren Bramwell
Featured image courtesy of Samantha Sophia via Unsplash. Image licence found here. No changes were made to this image.
Lauren Bramwell
Journalist. University of East Anglia English Literature Graduate. Previously Concrete's Opinion Editor.