We know what ‘manels’ are—those all-male panels of so-called experts or participants at events who pretend that women with opinions don’t exist. They are mocked on social media routinely, but don’t seem to faze organisers of these conferences who cheerfully continue to publicise more of them every other month. For some reason, they come to my mind whenever a significant crime against any woman starts to generate headlines.

It happened a few weeks ago, with a case I don’t want to give more life to by describing. It was horrific even by the appalling standards we have all grown used to, and the only thing that a great many people had to say in response involved societal norms, the right kind of behaviour, and what religious beliefs the perpetrator subscribed to.