‘This happens to us all the time’ says activist after Women’s Day assault
Boy performed fascist salute and hit activist on the chest
An activist and academic who was assaulted during a march in Valletta to mark International Women’s Day has said such behaviour towards women is commonplace.
Marceline Naudi, who lectures at the University of Malta’s gender studies department, was holding the corner of a banner while marching at the front of the crowd on Sunday afternoon when three teenage boys approached.
Speaking to Times of Malta, Naudi said that as the crowd turned into Republic Street, one of the boys walked towards her, performed a fascist salute and got in her face.
“I didn’t react so I think he felt he had to escalate to look cool and daring. He hit me on the chest and tried to snatch the banner from me.”
Police then intervened, at which point the boy ran off before officers gave chase and caught up with him.
Naudi said she was asked whether she wanted to press charges, but deferred to Moviment Graffitti since it was the NGO who organised the march.
“They decided not to proceed as he was only young, but the police called the boy’s parents. I hope they give him a good telling off, otherwise he will be emboldened to do it again.”
Naudi said that while the incident angered her in the moment, she mostly felt sad for the boy, his female peers and society. “He must belong to a group where this kind of thing is considered to be acceptable.”
The lecturer said the incident was not an isolated one, as women were accosted in some way or other “all the time.”
“Some men think they can treat women as subordinates,” she said, referring to a recent global survey that showed almost a third of generation Z men and boys think a wife should obey her husband, and that these men hold more traditional views about gender roles than older generations.
“Legislation has improved and support services have increased, but what hasn’t shifted sufficiently is attitudes. We need to tackle gender stereotypes.”
Naudi said the incident would not deter her from taking part in activism.
The march continued despite the interruption, with the crowd chanting, “feminist and anti-fascist" in response as the march continued to its conclusion in St George’s Square.