16 Days of Activism – My Experience by Nina Munday, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead
In recent months, a video of Saoirse Ronan on the Graham Norton show went viral. She intercepted a conversation between three male actors discussing self-defence for acting roles by saying “That’s what girls have to think about all the time.” This single sentence received a big applause from the audience and resonated with many women.
Since a young age, as females, we were taught to be aware of danger, avoid walking alone in quiet places in the dark, carry keys in our hands, or pretending to be on the phone with someone when feeling unsafe. We all think we have a plan in our head of what to do if we are attacked by a stranger. However, I froze when I faced violence in a public place.
My Experience
Before I joined Edinburgh College, I used to enjoy my commuting journey by trains. On this particular day, as usual, I sat patiently in the waiting room at the train station after learning that the direct train to home was cancelled. The next train was also cancelled. The waiting room was getting busier. An agitated white male in business clothing sat next to me. He started to raise his voice at me, and I politely asked him to stop talking to me in that tone. He then proceeded to scream into my face and said ‘I told you not to say a word’. His face was so close to me that I could feel his spit on my face. I froze. When this stranger edged closer to me, another male stepped forward and protected me. When I looked around the busy train station, no one else tried to help. It was just one person who intervened and tried to protect me. The station staff also came and tried to restrain the stranger. When a train finally arrived, I was taken to the front of the train to be near the conductor. I could see there was more commotion on the platform because the irate stranger was prevented from boarding the train.
I must have looked shaken because the train conductor checked on me a few times. When the train stopped at my station, my husband accompanied me to the office of the British Transport Police. Sadly, I do not know the outcome of the case. The case was heard when I was away, so I was not able to attend the hearing. I also do not know the name of the person who helped me on the day. I still have the fear of ‘what if no one helped me’.
It took me a few months to have the courage to take trains to work again in case I might encounter the same stranger at the station. Thankfully, I got over my fear and continued to commute as normal.
Support at Edinburgh College
At Edinburgh College, we have a process for students, staff, or visitors to report hate or misogyny incidents to us. It is important to note that we now have an added duty to prevent sexual harassment. Sexual harassment includes any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment and can include:
- sexual comments or jokes
- displaying sexually graphic pictures, posters or photographs
- suggestive looks, staring or leering
- propositions and sexual advances
- making promises in return for sexual favours
- sexual gestures
- intrusive questions about a person’s private or sex life or a person discussing their own sex life
- sexual posts or contact on social media
- spreading sexual rumours about a person
- sending sexually explicit emails or text messages
- unwelcome touching, hugging, massaging or kissing
We all have a responsibility to make our College safe and challenge negative behaviour. Please do not be a bystander, if it’s safe to do so, step forward to protect victims or call it out and report any incident you experienced or witnessed to the College. If you require further support, please contact wellbeing@edinburghcollege.ac.uk or equality@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.
External support
There are a range of external organisations available to support victims of violence or abuse:
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Support organisation |
Contact details |
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Rape Crisis Scotland (support for everyone) |
Call 08088 01 03 02 or www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk |
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Beira’s Place (Edinburgh women’s sexual assault support centre) |
0131 526 3944 or text 07546 697 067 (10am - 5pm) |
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Turn to SARCS (NHS sexual assault response co-ordination service |
Call 0800 148 88 88 (open 24/7) |
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Scottish Women’s Aid - Scotland’s 24hr Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline |
Call 0800 027 1234 (open 24/7) email: helpline@sdafmh.org.uk or visit www.sdafmh.org.uk Live chat available via the website |
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Edinburgh Women’s Aid |
Call 0131 315 8110 or email: info@edinburghwomensaid.co.uk |
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East & Midlothian Women’s Aid |
Call 0131 561 5800 (Mon- Fri 9am- 4pm) |
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Aditi - Wellbeing support service for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Women |
Call 0131 603 4865 or email: aditi@sacro.org.uk |
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Another Way - support to women involved in selling or exchanging sex in Edinburgh |
Call 0131 624 7270 |
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Shakti Women’s Aid – Support for black and minority ethnic women and their children escaping domestic violence |
Call 0131 475 2399 |
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Saheliya |
Call 0131 556 9302 |
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Respect Men's Advice line |
Call: 0808 801 0327 (Mon - Fri 10am - 8pm) |
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Abused Men in Scotland Helpline (AMIS |
Call 03300 949 395 (Mon- Fri 9am- 4pm) Email: support@amis.org.uk |
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Survivors UK (Males) |
02035 983898 Chat via SMS text 020 3322 1860 or chat online (Mon - Sun 12pm - 8pm) at www.survivorsuk.org |
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FearFree (Male or LGBT+) |
Call 0131 624 7270 Email: FearFreeInfo@sacro.org.uk |
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The Signature Project - support for men in Edinburgh experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) |
Email: signature@supportinmindscotland.org.uk www.supportinmindscotland.org.uk
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For further information and support please go to – |
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