Your articles are always clearly written and extremely illuminating. I have probably learned more about women and about what impacts on relationships between male and female from writers such as yourself and just a few others, than from parents, schooling, a tertiary education and many relationships.
In my view, at least one of the more significant factors contributing to both intentional and, just as much, unintentional abuse of women, is the ignorance of men, about women.
Even today, so-called, 'life', 'sex' or 'relationship' teaching by both schools and most parents, is pathetically lacking. Not only is information still far too often restricted and tailored according to the sex of learners but in many cases it doesn't even comprehensively clarify issues and experience for that particular sex.
It seems highly improbable to me that the continuing disrespect, demeaning use of and disrespect for female bodies and even, female sensitivities, is likely to end unless males have as clear, holistic and accurate an understanding of female physiology as possible and practicable.
To a significant though, perhaps, lesser degree, this also applies to female understanding of male physiology and even a not inconsiderable need for such understanding by each sex to understand that of their own.
I am now well into my seventies and yet, after three marriages, many relationships, a number of relationships with wonderful women, fathering of several children, and relatively good education and level of understanding, only in the last couple of years have I begun to come even close to learning about, let alone understanding the complexities of female physiology and the relegation of its significance, let alone disregard & ignorance by a male dominated society and medical profession & males in society generally.
No, I am not saying that this has been or is necessarily ignorance and disregard that is intentionally motivated, (though by some that may have been or be the case), rather I see it as a result of centuries, if not millennia, of conditioning of various forms.
However, I do find it disturbing that so much ignorance continues as, therefore, does what I consider to be an abuse of girls and women but one that has become so 'normalised' that it barely noticed by the majority, especially when compared, for instance, with the sensationalist focus given to domestic violence or rape.
Yes, there may have been some progress in relation to female participation in the workforce and some professions, sport or occupations. I don't say that there has been no progress. However it is too little and the changes too slow, and tends to deal more with the material than the lived experience.
Religious codes, prudish conventions and 'parental' or 'government' rights that restrict or dictate against human understanding across sex and gender needs to be reviewed, understood and remedied, if we are to ever come close to real change of the place of women in society.
