challenging institutional disbelief around domestic & sexual violence and abuse
Details of the cross examination of witnesses in the trial of Ben Blakeley have emerged, revealing once more the pervasive victim-blaming in cases of domestic violence against women. A known and repeated abuser of women Blakeley, 22, is on trial for murdering of his pregnant, 17-year-old girlfriend, Jayden Parkinson, in December last year. Blakeley, who […]
Survivor Privilege, Fairies, Unicorns and Other Myths (In response to the George Will article which appeared in both the New York Post and the Washington Post, also referenced by Think Progress here: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/06/09/3446557/washington-post-college-rape/). Washington Post pundit George Will has finally blown the whistle on the big secret – those of us who have been lucky […]
When does it become acceptable for a group of people to own an issue? Racism has killed white people and the families who lost their child are the victims of a heinous crime. But these were racially incited incidents, not a trend. White people do not have issues to fight because of their race; as a […]
I quite liked the beginning of Ally Fogg’s latest piece, about the ManKind ad purporting to show the cruel indifference of the public to the silent plight of male victims of female domestic violence. I am not a fan of advertisements or public service broadcasts which purport to be scientific experiments. […] So while I’m […]
(cross-posted with permission from Always Hopeful) Recently an advert from the organisation ‘Mankind Initiative’ who support male victims of domestic abuse has been doing the rounds. The advert concludes with the statistic that 40% of domestic abuse victims are men.You can read an article about the advert which contains a response to it from Women’s […]
So Max Clifford gets found guilty at Southwark Crown Court and sentenced to 8 years in prison. His friend, Richard Hunt, UKIP member at national level is quoted as saying: “I don’t believe that the justice system is fair. He said to me ‘Why would they put him in prison for something he hasn’t done?’ […]
Zahid Akram was a teacher who admitted blackmailing girls into sending him sexually explicit photographs. He claimed to be suffering from depression and being in a considerable amount of debt. Currently adjourned for pre-sentence reports. Douglas Bailey beat his wife to death after a ‘row’ over the heating. The police officer commenting on the […]
The transcript of Jimmy Savile’s final police interview reveals the language used by a prolific paedophile operating under the nose of a viewing public. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘bluster’ it is not the denials, the blatant lies or obscured threats, but the confusing smokescreen, a deliberate un-stating of allegations which misdirects all listening. […]
It’s a common perception that the women who ‘stay’ with violent men are weak both in body and mind, you often hear people say “why did she stay?” “If anybody ever hits me they’d regret it, it would be the last thing they ever do, I’d be gone”. There are also the “she must be […]
As a ‘revenge porn’ victim (and as a woman) it’s not unusual to be turned down when we reach out for help. It’s unacceptable, bullsh%t…but still not uncommon. Its ok, serve up your rejection! Place it on our plate and put it right next to the extra large portion of determination, the scoop of tenacity, […]