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Well it’s been the topic of the week hasn’t it? The disgraceful behaviour of Matthew Johns and the whole footballers attitude to, and treatment of, young women. A 19 year old girl going to a hotel room with one, or two men “as a willing participant” according to Johns, is one thing. To have a pile of the team file in and line up at the foot of the bed, is another. They have no idea how traumatised she remains to this day, seven years later. What is baffling to me is how these men have utterly no concept of how to treat women. The incident was described by Johns as an “embarrassment to him and his family.” Shameful is just one word that springs to my mind. Why are footballers elevated to God-like status? It seems to me they’re paid too much money and have too much time on their hands. Sportsmen used to work like the rest of us and play as a sideline. And while the entire football code ethos needs to be addressed – one of the players agreed girls had to be treated “proper, like give them the taxi fare home.” Yeah, right, after raping or traumatizing her? However, it has to be asked, do young women need to be educated as well? I was shocked to read the blogs by young girls who defend the footballers insinuating that the girl “asked for it” and that she was a slut. Girls need to have some self respect and know that things can go too far and get out of hand. And if things do, they need to speak up. I thought Matthew Johns’s wife’s tight lipped comment she wouldn’t have liked it (the girl in question) to have been her daughter, said a lot. A shame her husband didn’t think the same seven years ago.
I wouldn’t be encouraging any son or grandson of mine to play football seriously if this is the sort of culture in which they’d find themselves.
My daughter flew alone to Perth a week ago with baby Sonoma. At the check-in she was told no baby bassinet was available on the plane. After she was told this, a couple with a toddler rocked up and were given a bassinet. Then, when she boarded there were three businessmen sitting in front of two empty bassinets who refused to move. An attendant told her that the businessmen tend to pull rank and like the leg room and hey, the company is paying. One of the male attendants pleaded and begged and finally one of the businessmen grudgingly gave up his seat so that my daughter didn’t have to face a five hour flight with a baby on her lap. He was thanked profusely but . . .
Whatever happened to gentlemen?
Cheers
Di’s latest book The Islands, published by Pan Macmillan, is now on sale.
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