Our Patterned Responses to Women

Our social systems often dismiss or undermine women’s safety concerns, contributing to situations of violence and risk. This pattern extends to professions that predominantly employ women, such as, teaching, nursing, and social work, where violence in the workplace is becoming increasingly common.  Despite this, there is a lack of meaningful action to address these issues placing women at a higher risk.

Policies without proper implementation are ineffective. They become mere words on paper if they aren’t followed by real, responsible action. A policy doesn’t do the work, implementation does.  At my previous job, I was never truly safe, and speaking out is the only way to make a difference.

The environment I faced was shaped by my employer and the provincial government, which made me feel isolated and unsupported. But now, I’m reclaiming my power and breaking the silence. As Wentworth Miller said, “I want to do for someone what no one did for me.” Inaction is also a form of action.

The services I encountered didn’t address the realities women face. Women are at higher risk for stalking and harassment, yet the systems in place are often inadequate in addressing these threats. Society has conditioned women to wait for harm before being taken seriously by law enforcement, the justice system, or even our workplaces. OHS forms are not enough unless they lead to meaningful intervention; otherwise, they’re just paperwork.

We need more equitable responses that acknowledge the heightened risks women face. Recognizing risk doesn’t make us weak, it shows we are evolving. Better responses can prevent tragedies like that of Susan Butlin.  A Nova Scotian woman, who was murdered after repeatedly reporting her fears and concerns to police, only to be ignored until it was too late.

Similarly, my own concerns were dismissed by police, the courts, and my employer. My traumatic “fight response” to ongoing harassment was punished, and I was told that calling the police again would have been a more reasonable reaction. This cycle of dismissiveness is maddening. The question remains: When is enough, enough?

Everywhere I turned, my experiences of violence and harassment were minimized. I was made to feel invisible, and the narrative was twisted to portray me as unreasonable. This is what I mean by patterned responses to women. The harm was ignored, the context erased, and I was blamed for my own victimization.  Causation was cancelled and all that appeared to matter was how I responded, and not what caused it.

In 2005, I was declared an Expert Witness in the Supreme Court of NS in assessing risk to children.  I supervised one of the busiest child welfare programs in the province. I was deemed competent and safe in my role, but not capable of assessing risk to myself or my family. I can’t quantify what I prevented or what could have happened if I hadn’t taken action. Now, I understand the struggles so many women have faced before me, because I’ve lived them.