Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

publicly naming rape victims....

40 replies

trashcanjunkie · 19/02/2013 19:41

I realise I should know better than to read the Daily Mail online.... for that I'll accept IABU, but ffs, some utter twunt columnist has decided it would be a good idea to get rid of anonimity for women who have the courage to report a rape! Seriously, my blood is boiling. This is a fucking stupid idea..... No?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 19/02/2013 20:27

FWIW I think I understand what you're saying bowerbird...that the only person who should feel shame in a rape is the rapist and not the victim?

I agree totally (if that's what your saying)

But any victim has the right to wave their anonymity should they wish to.

I'd rather they had that choice than to have it taken away from them IYKWIM.

Tweasels · 19/02/2013 20:33

Spot on Worra.

That's what I meant by missing the point Bowerbird. Worra has put it much more eloquently.

I'm very saddened to hear of your horrific experiences Poppypebble and trashcanjunkie. I hope you feel you can talk safely on here.

Thanks
bowerbird · 19/02/2013 20:35

Thank you Worra for not assuming I'm an ignorant vindictive asshole.

WorraLiberty · 19/02/2013 20:37

Oh but the night is young! Grin

aldiwhore · 19/02/2013 20:39

Imo no one should be named until guilt is proven (or not), the accuser should only been named if it is proven they acted out of malice/knowingly lied.

It's simple. So many people (on both sides) would be protected.

It really pissed me off. From the viewpoint of a person who didn't report the crime because I couldn't face anyone else knowing... it was a huge part of my decision to stay quiet. But also I've known men falsley accused and I really do think that is as awful emotionally as the crime itself. (Having been on the other side of it, I wouldn't have swapped places with my friend who was falsely accused).

WHY the need to name until guilt has been decided?

It should be completely up to the victim. Some people find waiving anonymity incredilby empowering, I wouldn't have, I would have felt doubly violated and judged.

trashcanjunkie · 19/02/2013 20:40

Re: Shame.... of course I know I shouldn't feel any shame. but knowing and doing are two very different things aren't they? It's something I must remind myself of every single damn day.

Poppy, I'm gutted to hear of your awful experience. So dreadfully sorry for you.

Bower, I also see the point you've made, but the reality is different, and as another poster pointed out, murder victims don't get the cross examining that a rape victim can suffer.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 19/02/2013 20:41

And a lot of rape victims/survivors choose to wave their anonymity at a time when they feel they can handle it.

Sometimes that's not for years...sometimes not at all.

trashcanjunkie · 19/02/2013 20:44

thanks tweasel Grin actually, it's a massive relief to be able to discuss this here. First time I've managed to without puking/blushing/weeping!!

I am stuck when it comes to the issue of the accused's right to anonymity.

OP posts:
poppypebble · 19/02/2013 20:55

I'm sorry if I over-reacted. I don't really know what normal is on a topic like this as I can't respond intellectually, just emotionally.

I have never spoken of what happened since he went to prison. The idea that the students I teach could find out that this happened to me by googling my name is terrifying.

Best wishes to all survivors out there and those who support us.

trashcanjunkie · 19/02/2013 21:07

what poppypebble said Thanks

OP posts:
Theicingontop · 19/02/2013 21:10

I had no idea people thought anonymity was in place for 'shame'. Surely it's to protect vulnerable, traumatised women who fear repercussions of reporting the crime?

walkingonalimb · 19/02/2013 21:45

Rape complainants should not enjoy anonymity. There is no evidence that rape is under-reported (the main argument in favour of anonymity) - in fact since the mid-80s complaints have risen eight-fold.

The interests of open justice and equality are not served if the accuser can enjoy anonymity whereas the accused does not. Administration of the law must be open - this is a fundamental principle of natural justice and democracy - justice should be done and also SEEN to be done. Where the state is potentially depriving individuals of their liberty, we need to be able to keep a check on who these individuals are and what they have done. Therefore we cannot have anonymity of both accused and accuser.

Rape complainants should have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of. Rape victims should not have to feel stigmatised, and a woman?s reputation should not be considered damaged by her being a rape complainant. Ironically, giving rape complainants the kind of anonymity that we do not grant to victims of other crimes actually reinforces the stigma attached uniquely to rape victims.

The sooner we treat rape in the same way as other serious crimes, the better for both the defendant and the complainant.

KRITIQ · 19/02/2013 22:19

A person who has been raped is considered in law to be a witness to the crime. There are many examples where the identities of witnesses are not publicly disclosed - for example where they may be at risk of intimidation or assault by the accused or someone acting in their behalf, because they are giving evidence. It has always been my understanding that THIS is why the identities of those testifying in rape and sexual assault cases are kept anonymous. I have never thought it was because of "shame."

In the ideal world, no person who is a victim of crime or serves as a witness in a case would ever feel intimidated by the accused or someone acting on their behalf or fear being assaulted for giving testimony, let alone because they feel ashamed. However, we don't live in that ideal world. Witnesses can be threatened and at risk of harm for taking the stand. Also in our society, where study after study shows that a considerable proportion of people believe victims of rape are at least partly responsible for their assaults and applies a very different standard of "moral" behaviour on men and women, victims are bound to feel ashamed. Society tells them they SHOULD feel ashamed for being raped.

There should be no change in the law allowing those accused of any crime (including rape) to remain anonymous until they are convicted of the crime. There are many, many crimes where the accused can be ostracised and/or where a stigma remains even where the person is acquitted. Examples include terrorism, crimes involving serious injury, disability or death where the alleged was under the influence of drink or drugs (while driving especially,) child neglect or physical abuse or any violent crime where the victim was seen by society to be particularly vulnerable (i.e. an elderly person, a disabled person.) Being accused of crimes even where there is no physical harm to a person can also result in lasting stigma - fraud, deception, arson, etc.

Yes, there can be a stigma attached to being accused of rape or sexual assault, but in my experience, this often depends on the "status" of the accused and the perceived "worth" of the victim. Wealthy and respected men - think football players, senior people in entertainment, etc.) often retain considerable support, even if convicted of rape or sexual assault (think Ched Evans). Likewise, if it can be argued that the victim was complicit because of things like being drunk, having had sex with the person before, wearing skimpy clothing, being a prostitute, etc., there will likely be sympathy and support for the man, who will be portrayed as having been trapped, confused or simply "made an error of judgement."

It was only because the name of an accused sexual offender appeared in a local paper many years ago that a male friend had the courage to go to the police to report having been raped by the man when he was a teenager. If alleged rapists are given anonymity, that will no longer happen. It also gives the impression that there is something specific about rape - that witnesses (read those who have been assaulted) are more prone to lie than in other cases (for which there is no evidence,) or that being accused of rape inherently carries greater risk of intimidation or assault than being accused of any other crime. Again, I don't believe that is the case at all.

McNewPants2013 · 19/02/2013 22:47

worra that is my view as well.

*But any victim has the right to wave their anonymity should they wish to.

I'd rather they had that choice than to have it taken away from them IYKWIM.*

very well put

lisianthus · 19/02/2013 23:06

Excellent post KRITIQ.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page