#DerbySpeaksUp empowering everyone to tackle misogyny - because fear is not freedom, let’s create change!
Welcome to a growing toolkit of tips and resources to boost your efforts to make Derby a misogyny-free city. Misogyny limits people’s lives and makes our society less safe.
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Fear is not freedom, and women and girls should be free to roam and feel safe at home.
We can all play our part in creating change.
We can challenge everyday sexist remarks, including those that some people wrongfully dismiss as ‘just banter’.
We can educate people beyond stereotypes, myths, backlash for speaking up and harmful victim-blaming attitudes.
We can all take steps to prevent and address abusive behaviour.
We can all have courageous conversations on important issues like respect, consent, misogynist online content and healthy relationships.
Whether you can spark changes in your family, neighbourhood, workplace, union, youth group, school or campus, business, venue, place of worship or community centre, help to amplify survivor voices or be an active male ally, every little step adds up. Check out our Resource Library for inspiration
Together we can all be changemakers to make Derby a better place to live, love, work and play.
What is misogyny?
View our animated videos about misogyny, local women’s experiences of it, and what needs to change on YouTube. These are gifted freely to society for positive use in education and changemaking.
Misogyny is hatred, dislike, or mistrust of, contempt for, or prejudice against, women. The word is formed from the Greek roots misein (“to hate”) and gynē (“woman”).
Misogyny may be seen in violence, abuse, objectification, catcalling and other demeaning behaviour towards women and girls. It can involve beliefs that men are superior to women, that women should stick to specific roles and activities, and actions to keep women at a lower social status than men.
Misogyny is about controlling and punishing women who challenge the patriarchy – which is male dominance in society. It rewards women, and other people, who comply with traditional gender stereotypes and expectations, and punishes those who don’t.
Like other kinds of hate and dominance, it can be found embedded in laws, institutions, policies, workplaces and social attitudes, including internalised self-hate among women; it can grow from sources such as media stereotypes, misogynist online content and sexist ‘lad banter’.
Misogyny is often targeted in specific and heightened ways towards women facing multiple oppressions such as racism, Islamophobia, LGBT+ hatred, classism, ableism and sizeism. Terms like misogynoir and transmisogyny recognise this. Many non-binary and gender non-conforming people also report experiencing misogynist assumptions and behaviours.
Though women and girls are harmed most directly by misogyny, it limits the lives of men and boys too. It makes our whole society less safe, fair, free, healthy, caring and happy for everyone. This is a call to action.
We welcome additions to this website including artwork, campaigns, recommended resources and content to share.
If you would like to join the conversation and let us know about your changemaker efforts, please get in touch.
Use the hashtag #DerbySpeaksUp on social media
Together with local charities and action groups, we are building up this collection of #DerbySpeaksUp resources and local events, so be sure to come back again soon to discover the latest additions.
Get inspired to bring about change. We’ve got case studies and a toolkit to help you plan your project and spark ideas to engage others. From getting started with craftivism or accountability interventions, to how to influence politicians and policy changes – unleash your inner changemaker!
Make a difference with our resources to support teachers, youth workers and home educators. From myth-busting about incels and misleading misogynist material online, to recommended videos to include in your lesson plans.
You are not alone. From curious questions about dating and sexting to ideas to nurture healthy self-esteem and relationships, plus concerns about what your youngsters are watching online, explore our tips and resources to have more confident conversations.
Figuring it all out? Feeling uneasy about what your friends are saying? Check out topics like dealing with peer pressure to send nudes, challenging sexist jokes, staying safe online and looking out for your mates on dates.
Embrace what you need. Here you will find sources of support, healing, inspiration and empowerment; a space to feel less alone, to explore other survivors’ stories. You deserve to be safe, respected and cherished.
Draw upon good practice case studies and research on issues including domestic abuse and interventions to prevent and de-escalate misogynist violence. Access resources on topical issues such as the increase of online and intimate image abuse.
Misogynist behaviour and violence is not a “women’s issue”, it is a humanitarian issue and an urgent public health concern for the whole of society. Men and boys have an important part to play in creating change. Discover how you can be an effective ally.
Being at the heart of local communities means that you have a voice, an influence and an opportunity to set standards, lead by example and be there for people when help is needed. Discover inspiring examples from faith and community groups stepping up.
Wider social issues spill into the workplace. Employers and trade unions can make a difference by setting the tone, having good policies and training, and knowing how to respond when something isn’t right. Explore good practices to be a popular employer of choice.
Looking for ways to make your services or venue safe for women and girls? Check out initiatives that you can join, what’s on customers’ wish lists and examples to inspire you, including from local entrepreneurs.
If you are concerned about your own behaviour or you want to help someone you know to stop their misogynist, harmful or abusive behaviour there is help available including courses, books, therapy, peer accountability and perpetrator programmes.