I want to give Golriz privacy which is why I've instead tried to talk around this a little but I am so sad and so frustrated. I wish that we could have a conversation as a country about how the brutal and relentless threats women in politics get is why we see so many women in politics struggling with their mental health. Nobody can cope with being told every day to kill yourself or that uou deserve to be raped and butchered. Nobody.
Metiria. Jacinda. Kiritapu. Golriz.
Since 2019 Golriz has had to have security because men have said they will kill her. How did people not see this as inevitable? Because nobody can surprise this level of abuse, intimidation and threatening behaviour.
Thank you for saying this. It has been horrible to watch the publicity and the gloating even when no facts were known. Being a female Green politician must be the worst of all political positions - so many unpleasant people with axes to grind, just waiting for an opportunity to trash someone. We need lots of better humans to support the victims of those who lack empathy, understanding and common sense.
I was so hoping that you would have something to say about this. I've been avoiding all of the speculative articles in the past few days, knowing they're just adding fuel to the racist misogynist fire without sharing any new information. I hope she gets the support she needs and manages to cope with this blow to her public identity.
Thanks for your words on this Emily. I am saddened by what has happened and really hope that Golriz is able to be supported in moving forwards and that the media lay off now that she has resigned. To your wider point, it's a really good reminder to examine my own behaviour. I've been asking myself would I feel the same empathy if this was Nicola Willis for example? My reaction to the Maggie Baggie on a plane story from just a few days earlier makes me suspect I'd be leaning towards gleeful and I need to watch myself.
So true, Emily. There is always a story behind actions that people immediately decry. Although, I’m thinking I was not feeling so compassionate toward Uffindel!!! What camp does that put me in I have to wonder?
I think we can compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges - a huge lack of social support, immense trauma from direct, relentless and ongoing threats and racism leading to completely out of character behaviour that has been addressed and apologused for vs bashing a kid and having it covered up when your whole life you've had people help you to fall upward so you never face consequences... Asking the hard questions is looking at how differently Tory, Kiri, Golriz have been treated vs the million chance white national Maps.
Beautifully put, Emily. I know which camp I want to set up in, and I hope Ms Gharaman finds healing in her decision. She has really been through the mill.
This is such a sad day. I’ve made a few Twitter posts and a few really awful replies. The hateful stuff reveals much about the haters, not the person they delight in attacking. But on the whole, decent people understand that as Golriz said, her actions were not rational. I hope she can get the help and understanding she needs.
I think there is some deep seated cultural thing about casting out women who don’t measure up. If that is so then there could be something freeing and heretical in fighting back and not giving one inch!
Thank you for your humanity Emily, and also Nick. Casting the first stone and all that... What a truly repulsive business it must be to be a (female) politician.
I want to give Golriz privacy which is why I've instead tried to talk around this a little but I am so sad and so frustrated. I wish that we could have a conversation as a country about how the brutal and relentless threats women in politics get is why we see so many women in politics struggling with their mental health. Nobody can cope with being told every day to kill yourself or that uou deserve to be raped and butchered. Nobody.
Metiria. Jacinda. Kiritapu. Golriz.
Since 2019 Golriz has had to have security because men have said they will kill her. How did people not see this as inevitable? Because nobody can surprise this level of abuse, intimidation and threatening behaviour.
Thank you for saying this. It has been horrible to watch the publicity and the gloating even when no facts were known. Being a female Green politician must be the worst of all political positions - so many unpleasant people with axes to grind, just waiting for an opportunity to trash someone. We need lots of better humans to support the victims of those who lack empathy, understanding and common sense.
I was so hoping that you would have something to say about this. I've been avoiding all of the speculative articles in the past few days, knowing they're just adding fuel to the racist misogynist fire without sharing any new information. I hope she gets the support she needs and manages to cope with this blow to her public identity.
I very much agree Emily. I've written some thoughts on it this afternoon. The newsletter is free if people would like to have a read:
https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/golriz-resigns
Thanks for your words on this Emily. I am saddened by what has happened and really hope that Golriz is able to be supported in moving forwards and that the media lay off now that she has resigned. To your wider point, it's a really good reminder to examine my own behaviour. I've been asking myself would I feel the same empathy if this was Nicola Willis for example? My reaction to the Maggie Baggie on a plane story from just a few days earlier makes me suspect I'd be leaning towards gleeful and I need to watch myself.
Oops! Maggie Baggie is a legit typo on my behalf 😄 didn't mean anything by it
So true, Emily. There is always a story behind actions that people immediately decry. Although, I’m thinking I was not feeling so compassionate toward Uffindel!!! What camp does that put me in I have to wonder?
I think we can compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges - a huge lack of social support, immense trauma from direct, relentless and ongoing threats and racism leading to completely out of character behaviour that has been addressed and apologused for vs bashing a kid and having it covered up when your whole life you've had people help you to fall upward so you never face consequences... Asking the hard questions is looking at how differently Tory, Kiri, Golriz have been treated vs the million chance white national Maps.
Uffindel wasn't a victim, he was a bully who was reluctant to admit it
Thank you for this Emily. It could not have been stated better.
Thank you Emily, and thank you Nick Rockel - you’ve both expressed your thoughts so well on this very sad situation.
I'm with you in this camp, in all kinds of weather. xxx thank you
Beautifully put, Emily. I know which camp I want to set up in, and I hope Ms Gharaman finds healing in her decision. She has really been through the mill.
And for our sake, I hope she can find positive ways to make change for us all outside parliament.
So eloquent Emily. Thank you. Also enjoyed Nick's words about this.
So sad about this poor beautiful soul.
This is such a sad day. I’ve made a few Twitter posts and a few really awful replies. The hateful stuff reveals much about the haters, not the person they delight in attacking. But on the whole, decent people understand that as Golriz said, her actions were not rational. I hope she can get the help and understanding she needs.
I think there is some deep seated cultural thing about casting out women who don’t measure up. If that is so then there could be something freeing and heretical in fighting back and not giving one inch!
Thank you for your humanity Emily, and also Nick. Casting the first stone and all that... What a truly repulsive business it must be to be a (female) politician.
This is a great piece of writing, Emily. Thank you for saying it xx
My heartfelt thanks to you for your writing.