AIBU to be annoyed by this?

[falcon]

We recently had an attack on a woman here in Glasgow, she was viciously assaulted and it's getting the appropriate publicity.

However what annoys me is that in every report they refer to the woman as a prostitute.

Does it really matter if she's a prostitute or a 'respectable' finance manager?

Is she of less importance because of her job?I think not, so why must they constantly make mention of it when they could just say 29 year old woman instead?

I understand it's of course relevant to the police and their enquries, but perhaps not so relevant to the general public.

It seems to me that it's almost a way of saying, it didn't happen to one of us, we nice normal respectable people.

[tiggerlovestobounce]

Maybe they think that her occupation was relevent to her assault? Maybe the police she was attacked because of her job, rather than for another reason eg by a partner or someone she know.
I suppose that it alerts people to a possible random/non-personal element to the attack?

[Roboshua]

Is it not relevenat to other prostitutes for them to be extra vigilant???

[mamadiva]

It's the same as when that lunatic was killing the prostitues in England was it last year??? Can't remember but they were all referred to as missing or murdered prostitutes to try and warn the other prostitutes.. even though they still walked the streets! Personally wouldnt have wasted my breath on some of them.

But yeah I think it's an occupational hazard thing and the fact it wasn't just a random attack basically if she hadn't put herself in danger then she probably wouldn't have been attacked.

[Love2bake]

I think it is relevant for the public to know.

[TheMagnificent7]

You sort of hit the nail on the head yourself, all the reports say what she was rather than who she was. It sounds more dramatic to say prostitute, rather juust 'woman'. Had she been a finance manager or whatever then it wouldn't be of interest. I'm sure you wouldn't have written this if she was a police officer or a paramedic, and you know that would have got just as many headlines. Are police officers of any more importance than the public ? Shoot one, then shoot an average member of the public and see how it's reported (metaphorically folks, OK)

In court, they'd refer to her as a woman, which is right. The papers will refer to her in whatever way grabs the attention, and her interesting feature was her being a prostitue, not being a woman. Sad, but that's the papers for you

[TheMagnificent7]

And I mean that if she had been a finanace manager her occupation wouldn't have been of interest, she would of course

[ExterminAitch]

well, there was a female restaurant manager and a businesswoman killed in Glasgow a couple of months ago and every news report mentioned those facts. so... yabu.

[mamhaf]

Yabu - reports usually refer to occupations - it's more interesting than saying 'woman' or 'man'.

[mamhaf]

Yabu - reports usually refer to occupations - it's more interesting than saying 'woman' or 'man'.

[falcon]

I may be taking this the wrong way but Mamadiva are you partly blaming the victim for the attack?

[ExterminAitch]

being attacked by shit men with a thing about controlling women is an occupational hazard for sex workers on the street. unfortunately it's a fairly prevalent attitude, that you get what you pay for etc, and street workers do suffer for this.

[mamadiva]

No sorry am on anotherthread and was a bit rowled up so MANIC typing IYKWIM. LOL. I was pointing out that the police were probably pointing out that it wasn't a ranodom attack and whichever way we look at it, it ios part of the job putting themselves in danger and they were prob trying to stop people worrying by telling them that she was a prostitute and she was probabkly attcked by someone who was involved with her workwise.

Speculation obviously but my take on why they reported.

[falcon]

Understood Mamadiva.

While they are at greater risk of an attack due to the circumstances and location of their job, I'm not sure I'd want to call it an occupational hazard as it makes it sound as though it's to be expected and something they have to put up with.

I do think it's something that should worry any woman, not that I want people to live in fear, just to take appropriate precautions, but there should be a general concern/anger that a woman has been attacked, and not just brushed off by saying she isn't one of us, just a prostitute.

I think society's attitude and opinion of prostitutes in general partly plays a role in these attacks, raping or assaulting a prostitute is generally not seen as such a horrific crime as it would be for those who have a more standard 'normal' job.

And imho a man who rapes anyone, even a prostitute, is unlikely to respect any woman and therefore anyone could become his victim, though prostitutes may be his main target.

OK that was long but I think there's a point in there somewhere.

[SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore]

i get annoyed at reporting like that. its seems that the papers etc forget that she was a person and not not just a prostitute that was just her job, not who she is.

regardless of what she does for a living she is still someones daughter/mother/sister/wife etc.

[tiggerlovestobounce]

Peter Sutcliffe initially started out by targetting prostitues, but as time went on began attacking women who werent prostitutes. (IIRC)

[edam]

It's a tricky one. Because yes, her 'job' may have some relevance to the attack, and it may be important for the police to warn other prostitutes. But then it can tip into dehumanising the victim. I think relatives of women working as prostitutes who have been murdered have often complained that their daughters/sisters/wives/mothers have been regarded as lesser forms of life and not as important as 'innocent' women.

[hollyandnoah]

Hey i am in Falkirk. To be honest Glasgow freaks me out at night! I have seen so many scary things whilst out there (dp parents are there) I saw two men steal a ladies bag, a man punch a car window and steal a jacket on george sq. Someone smash a glass bottle over another persons head outside blue lagoon. ANYWAY back to subject.
I do think other prostatutes need to know the risks involved and maybe they state that she is a prostatute to put other off a bit? It is illegal anyway so maybe bring dangers to the public eye might deter other girls from getting involved.

[mamadiva]

I was out on a night out in Glasgow a few weeks ago and my friend took us up the street can't remember what it called, where they all stand and TBH I've never seen such a sorry sight. I'm sure I saw a girl of about 14 if she wasn't then she looked very young for her age. But the way they just get into any car with anyone how can that not be an occupational hazard? Och either way no she didn't deserve it but she is putting herself in dangerfor whatever reasons. Needless to say I won't be walking down that stretch again!

[falcon]

I think any city can be scary at night, certainly the British attitude to alcohol doesn't help, but time for that on another thread.

It isn't just Glasgow, and it's wise for us all to take appropriate precautions to lessen our chance of an attack.

I live outside of Glasgow now, but I love my city so much. This is of little relevance to the thread anyway so I'll shutup now.

[Onestonetogo]

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[yorkshirepudding]

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[falcon]

I've heard that attitude expressed by many Onestone, and I don't mean here.

But then I've also heard a similar attitude expressed about women who wear short, tight clothing and who have had a little too much to drink, that if they were assaulted they were asking for it.

[mamadiva]

I emant I wouldn't have wasted my breathe on the ones who chse to ignore the police telling them not to go out as there was a serial killer on the loose after people in their line of work. Yet they stilll chose to do it, each to their own in a job and all but if they choose to deliberately put themselves at risk when they know there is a real dangfer of being attacked or whatever else then yes I do portray that as their fault.

[Onestonetogo]

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[yorkshirepudding]

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