The television presenter took to Twitter to remind people “not all men” are a threat. This follows female anxiety over Sarah Everard’s disappearance
Davina McCall, a household name in the UK and who currently hosts The Masked Singer, has come under fire for recent tweets surrounding Sarah Everard and fears around the perception of men.
The long-time TV presenter took to Twitter on Thursday in hopes to defend men and call out the #CurfewForMen trend as excessive “fear-mongering”. However, her tweet seems to have caused some backlash from women who fear she has missed the point.
Although Davina’s intentions are clear – to reassure women that “not all men” are dangerous and therefore should not always be perceived as a threat. Nevertheless, responses are quick to point out that while it is not all men, it is near impossible to tell which ones do pose a threat.
I don't think people are calling all men dangerous but some are and when we're walking home alone in the dark, we can't tell which ones are and which ones aren't.
— Louise Clarke (@Loobylou65) March 12, 2021
McCall replied to this particular tweet by arguing that the view being portrayed is that all men should be viewed as dangerous and that she doesn’t “think we should be spreading that message.”
Perspective
Many are taking an exception, in particular, to McCall’s claims that the likes of abduction and murder are rare, pointing out that not only is that inaccurate, but that rape culture and sexual harassment still remains rife.
https://twitter.com/KatyRob/status/1370315752855764994?s=20
Several men have jumped in the thread to offer their perspective on the matter. Thankfully, they seem to have given a good account of themselves. As opposed to jumping on the defensive and immediately siding with Davina without looking at the larger argument, they’re urging others not to see it as a personal attack.
https://twitter.com/leequick5/status/1370332483800211462?s=20
It seems that while there is the potential for many men to overreact to the recent outcry of fear from women and their anxieties around men, most are checking their privilege at the door. This issue may be regarding us but that doesn’t mean it’s about us.
Despite McCall reminding people that “men’s mental health is an issue as well”, most men are more than willing to concede that, in this case, it is not directly pertinent to women being mistreated all over the world. Of course, mental health in general is always an important cause, but men are simply not the victims in the debate.
The #NotAllMen debate continues to rage on and whilst I cannot speak on behalf of all men, I would encourage others to think before they get offended by the rhetoric.
Women are just voicing their fears and anxieties based on an experience that most men will never have to go through. So, don’t take it as a personal attack – take it as an opportunity to learn and educate yourself and your friends on how to make women feel safer.
