Kindness enthusiast, Counsellor, used to do stuff in media, lover of animals, plants, most people and the planet. ALP. North West NSW, Adelaide Crows/Kuwarna
I am absolutely fed up with the relentless targeting of Grace Tame.
Let's be clear. There is a difference between fair criticism and a public pile-on. What we keep seeing directed at Grace is not constructive debate. It is constant scrutiny, personal attacks, outrage cycles and a level of judgment that seems reserved for women who dare to speak too loudly, too honestly or too unapologetically.
Grace Tame survived child sexual abuse. She helped change laws. She gave a voice to countless survivors. She has spent years doing work that most people would never have the courage to do.
Yet the attacks never seem to stop.
A few weeks ago it was the Prime Minister taking aim at her. Now it's Charlie Pickering. Before that, countless commentators, columnists and social media critics. Different names, same pattern.
And frankly, it disgusts me.
No, women in public life should not be immune from criticism. Nobody is. But there is a world of difference between criticism and the kind of sustained public hounding that seeks to diminish, discredit and exhaust someone.
As someone who has experienced public judgment and media attacks, I know how destructive these campaigns can be. They reduce human beings to caricatures. They erase context. They encourage outrage while ignoring the very real emotional toll on the person at the centre of it.
What troubles me most is that women who survive violence are so often expected to be perfect. The moment they become angry, outspoken, political, imperfect or inconvenient, they are treated as fair game.
Grace Tame has contributed more to the conversation about sexual abuse and survivor advocacy in this country than most of her critics ever will.
Maybe it's time some of the men lining up to take shots at her stopped and asked themselves a simple question:
Why are they spending so much energy attacking a survivor instead of supporting the change she helped create?
Enough. #gracetame #charliepickering