'Women don't need to change': Premier's powerful Facebook post after aspiring comedian's death
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has taken aim at victim-blaming attitudes in a powerful social media post in the wake of a young woman’s death.
Aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon, 22, was raped and murdered as she walked home from a comedy gig in a Melbourne park early on Wednesday morning.
After her body was found, a number of people have taken issue with the victim-blaming commentary surrounding her death – even taking aim at Victoria Police who issued a series of statements regarding the safety of women.
The message from police was for women to take more care when alone and to stay alert.
“This is an area of high community activity … so just make sure you have situational awareness, that you’re aware of your surroundings,” local superintendent David Clayton warned.
“People need to be aware of their own personal security. That’s everywhere. If people have any concerns at any time, call triple-0. We would much rather have too many calls than too few,” Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper added a day later.
But the comments sparked a heated discussion on social media with dozens of women disagreeing on what needs changing, including Mr Andrews who weighed in on Friday.
Mr Andrews said it was men who needed to change not women.
In a series of tweets, the Premier agreed with the growing discontent online saying Ms Dixon “died because of her attacker’s decisions, not because of her own”.
He urged women to go about their lives how they usually would.
“So our message to Victorian women is this: Stay home. Or don’t,” he wrote in the poignant message.
“Go out with friends at night. Or don’t. Go about your day exactly as you intend, on your terms. Because women don’t need to change their behaviour. Men do.”
Mr Andrews’ comments have been met with a wave of approval online, with many women thanking him for his remarks.
“Thank you. I am not a Victorian (Canberran now overseas) but your attitude on these issues makes me consider becoming one,” one user wrote.
“Thank you for saying this,” another said.
Frankly I think @VictoriaPolice should apologise for their victim-blaming and completely useless "advice" following the murder of #eurydicedixon . Don't tell us to be more careful. Tell men they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law if they choose to commit a crime!
— Alison Joyce (@alliejoys) June 14, 2018
His response came after many women took to social media to hit out at Victoria Police’s earlier comments.
“Hey Victorian Police, you might wanna try ‘urging’ men not to go around murdering women in parks,” one Twitter user wrote.
“Frankly I think @VictoriaPolice should apologise for their victim-blaming and completely useless ‘advice’ following the murder of #eurydicedixon,” another said.
“Don’t tell us to be more careful. Tell men they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law if they choose to commit a crime!”
Jaymes Todd, 19, has been charged with rape and murder over Ms Dixon’s death.
Todd appeared in court on Thursday and will return in October.
