Sarah Everard: Women are a collective force, but we are tired of performative action

Outside the Scottish Parliament, a small crowd – many either woman or members of the media (or, like myself, both) – began to congregate this week.

Sarah Everard, a name ingrained in the minds of women across the country, was the reason for the gathering.

A woman named Jessica brought her three daughters to the protest. One of them told me their mum had a “long talk” with them about “girls getting murdered just because they are women”.

"It made me feel really sad and really mad,” she said.

Jessica Ross takes part in a memorial protest outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to mark the anniversary of the murder of Sarah Everard and other women killed by men (Photo: Jane Barlow/ PA).

This is the society we live in. A society where young girls are told they could be murdered “just for being a woman”.

Sarah is on our minds because she died a year ago on Thursday – horrendously at the hands of a man, a serving police officer.

The same year, Sabina Nessa was also murdered in London. Her body was found in a park having been beaten and strangled. Sabina’s male killer pleaded guilty last week.

Statistics show one in three women have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.

"I grow up in the adult world knowing people can and will kill me and most people simply won’t care,” said Alice Jackson, co-founder of Strut Safe, which organised the march.

Cameras flashed as a crowd of mainly female MSPs stood in a semi-circle for a photo opportunity.

“Our vision is of a strong and flourishing Scotland where all individuals are equally safe and respected, and where women and girls live free from all forms of violence and abuse, as well as the attitudes that perpetuate it,” states the Scottish Government’s Violence Against Women policy.

Yet many MSPs left the protest before some speeches began, which I found worrying.

I am terrified of the performative acts that go on in the face of violence towards women. Where politicians show face and that’s it. A campaign slogan is made and it’s catchy.

I could not help, but think all these brave and defiant women standing next to Parliament on Thursday night were still left outside.

After the protest, women told me they wanted to see legislation and policy brought in to criminalise misogyny.

But how do we do achieve this when women are still outside and in the dark while politicians leave?

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