07/03/2026
This International Women’s Day, I wanted to share some words from Dr Jackson Katz from his book "Every Man" to reflect on the difference between feeling guilt and taking responsibility as men when it comes to gender-based violence.
"I don't' feel guilty for being a man or a white person or for being heterosexual. That's silly, As far as I know, I was born that way. What should I feel guilty about it? I am neither proud nor ashamed of any of these features of my identity. But I do feel responsible for all of them...
As a man in a society and world in which misogynous violence is pervasive, I feel it is my responsibility to do whatever I can to make the world a better, fairer and safer place for women and girls. Not because I am perfectly non-sexist or have this all figured out. Far from it. Like everyone else, I am a work in progress. But I feel that I should do whatever I can because I am a man in a patriarchal society that gives me and other men unfair disadvantages that result in harm to others, not because I personally feel guilty.
Moreover, feeling guilty doesn't accomplish much of anything. Guilt is not a motivating emotion. People who feel guilty are more likely to retreat and be ineffectual, whereas people animated by a sense of responsibility are more likely to do something constructive"
Happy International Women’s Day 💙💙
