Categories
Opinion/Commentary

Meghan Markle speech: fluff, no substance

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Meghan Markle made a video speech at the United Nations’ Girl Up Leadership Summit.

This speech has been criticised. The YouTube video has received more dislikes than likes.

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Being the curious cat I am, I listened to the speech myself. I get why the video received backlash.

The upside

I guess it’s good that Meghan Markle has encouraged young people to think about their own impact in the world. It’s always nice to get encouragement to follow what your passionate about.

Whether what she said is reflective of people’s reality is another thing.

Speech not based on reality

The speech reminds me of me in my early 20’s. It was all about dreams. All about big ambitions, with no real insight to what was going to happen or how.

I’m sorry but phrases like “…demanding to own the conversation” and “changing the world” is only going to go so far.

If someone is struggling to pay the bills, keep a roof over their head and buy food to eat, that person is not going to be thinking about these grand goals and visions. That is probably more true now than ever.

If someone is struggling with depression or bipolar and struggling to keep their own heads above water, the last thing they’ll have the strength to do is to transform the mental health system, no matter how badly it needs it.

While I do think police brutality is an issue to discuss, I kind of get some of the criticisms against Black Lives Matter. What are they hoping to achieve by destroying (mostly black.- owned) businesses through rioting? This is during a pandemic that has already smashed economies in the West.

Speech alienates people further

Going by the like/ dislike ratio already, it looks like Meghan Markle’s speech hasn’t won many hearts. In fact, I think it’s done the opposite; making Markle look like an entitled celebrity that barely anyone can relate to.

Unfortunately, I think the speech only dampened Markle’s reputation. It made her seemed more privileged, more entitled and more unrelatable as ever.

 

Alice Springs Councillor, Jacinta Price has made a comment on her speech and the Black Lives Matter movement. She isn’t impressed.

She is a woman of great privilege who is completely removed from reality and circumstances on the ground. Her lending her voice to the Black Lives Matter movement is silencing the voices of those of those people who are vulnerable to black on black gang violence.

Price is an Indigenous woman who’s family has been rocked by violence. A number  of her relatives have been murdered, or gone missing under suspicious circumstances. According to The Daily Telegraph, Price was visiting another relative who had been bashed.

 

Ultimately, this is a lesson to all progressives. Being relatable is important. Addressing issues that matter to the average person matters. No fluffy language will win hearts and minds otherwise.

 

What did you think of Meghan Markle’s speech? Did it resonate with you at all? Feel free to put your thoughts in the comments below.

Categories
Gender/ sexuality

Asexual people need the police. Here’s why.

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Image: iStock

 

Content warning: this post mention# sexual assault. If this is triggering for you, please proceed with caution.

Last week, LGBT+ Police UK put out a statement supporting asexual people.

This has caused a stir, with some journalists complaining.

So, is it important that police publicly support asexual people? Actually, yes, it is. Asexual people have faced a number of social issues that are rarely acknowledged.

Asexual people and sexual violence

Statistics have been hard to come by when researching this. However, some asexual women have reported being raped or sexually assaulted. Known as ‘corrective rape’, asexual women and lesbians, have been raped in order to ‘fix’ their orientation. According to Sarah Doa Minh, corrective rape happens in different parts of the world, including the U.S.

In her 2014 book, An Invisible Orientation, An Introduction to Asexuality, Julie Sondra Decker, recalled being indecently assaulted at the end of a date when she was nineteen. The date proceeded to kiss her without her permission.

Asexual people who get married also need to know they are protected as well. Marital rape is a crime in Western countries (as it should be). Asexual people need to know that they have a right to not be coerced and/ or raped by a spouse.

I haven’t found any data based on asexuals in Australia, which in itself, I find problematic. But going by what has happened overseas, it’s something that people need to be aware of.

Queerphobia and LGBT asexuals

Some asexuals are are attracted to the same – sex and/ or are transgender or gender non – binary. These individuals can face similar, if not the same prejudices and discrimination that other LGBT people face.

Asexual people with a same – sex partner may face the same issues when in public with their same – sex partner. Some may be harassed or violently attacked, like gay, lesbian and bisexual counterparts.

Other services need to get onboard

While it’s good that police departments are supporting asexual people, other community groups also need to get on board.

Too often, asexual people are disbelieved by mental health services. They may even have their lack of sexual attraction pathologised. As a result, real mental health issues may be minimised or ignored.

Mental health workers may not be sinister. They could just be misinformed, thinking it’s a fad, a symptom of a problem, or a phase that people ‘grow out of’. While not always malicious, these assumptions are unhelpful and asexual people looking for mental health support do not these misconceptions to add to and exacerbate real issues.

Homoromantic, biI ro mantic, pan romantic and transgender and gender non – binary people need to be able to find mental health services that can assist them too. I find it scary that since same – sex marriage has been legalised, state and federal politicians and lobby groups have pushed to have anti – discrimination laws back-pedalled. While it’s the argument has been used to protect, conservative cake bakers, there has been some push to allow counsellors to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people on religious grounds.

 

Like everyone else, asexual people will need access to different services. This means health, social services and law enforcement. The fact that a police department is willing to protect asexual people is quite comforting.

If you’re in Australia and you feel you need to get support, you can contact:

Lifeline: 13 11 14

1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Or you can call 000 (or national emergency number) for emergencies.

If you’re from another country, feel free t9 comment with any contact details of services. In your area.