?Locker room talk?.
A phrase that?s become widespread and widely-loathed in equal measures in the last week or so.
A phrase that?s become synonymous with the way men treat women, and used as an excuse for off-the-cuff remarks that don?t deserve further inspection because ?that?s how men talk?.
Except it?s not. It?s not how men talk.
It?s how abusers talk.
It?s how rapists talk. It?s how perverts talk. It?s how empowered pricks talk.
It?s not, however, how men talk. Not ?real men?.
Real men protect women from this kind of talk, and thinking, and action.
Real men call out this bullshit.
Real men push back on the misogynistic assholes peddling this line of thinking.
Real men get angry at this shit, and vow to do everything in their power to counter, fight, diminish, negate, and consign to history this ass-backward mentality.
So here?s a call to action, if you like. A request. A favour. A get-down-on-your-knees-and-beg moment, even.
When you hear some guy say, ?That?s just how guys talk? – push back.
Push back with all your might. Push back with your strongest words. Push back with your loudest voice.
PUSH. BACK.
Because this is NOT just how guys talk – this is how guys who will take what they feel is theirs, abuse it, and leave it out to rot, talk.
This is how the lowest of the low talk.
This is how chicken shit cowards talk.
This is how the very antithesis of men, and human decency, talk.
Don?t let it pass. Don?t let it go. Don?t let it fester, and grow.
Silence is the enemy of truth – be loud. Be angry.
Be a man.