To tell you all what Alan Titchmarch thinks of 12-15 year old girls who dress 'inappropriately'

[RiffyWammal]

I'm so angry. On his show today in a discussion about sexual harassment and sexism he said something really vile. I will transcribe what he said exactly;

"A lot of 12, 13, 14, 15 year old girls are now walking down the street barely covered. I see crop tops on girls of 12 and skirts up here, in a way now I hate to say that thing which men say 'they are asking for it' but it strikes me that if a girl of 14 walks past a building site in a crop top and short skirt she's probably going to get whistled at and worse."

I'm disgusted as was Laura Bates from Everyday Sexism who stayed remarkably controlled as she countered this. The victim blaming, the implication that girls should jolly well cover up if they don't want to be harrassed, the attitude of 'how else do we expect men to react if they see a girl's legs and belly'? I could hardly believe my ears. The audience applauded him FFS

I think I am going to make a complaint to ITV. I just wanted to bring it to the attention of anyone else who might wish to do the same.

If we teach our girls that wearing more clothes and not getting too drunk will minimize their risk of sexual assault how can we be surprised that they then blame themselves if this happens to them?

I won't be teaching my girls to "minimize" the risk. I will be teaching my boys to treat women with respect though.

Have only skimmed thread. But Alan T, for example, is a twat.

I didn't see what AF posted that deleted ( ) but I can gather it from the responses and - I wouldn't be at all surprised.

Thank you Basgetti for posting the twitter feed "what were you wearing when you were sexually assaulted?" to show that what girls and women wear has no bearing on whether they are assaulted or not. To claim it does is making excuses for rapists and abusers, basically.

Those twitter responses are heartbreaking: "pink princess pyjamas, I was 6"; "jeans, tshirt, ballet flats, I was 14" and so on.

Personally, when I was sexually assaulted (raped) I was also wearing pyjamas asleep in bed. It was my (then) partner. I was early 20's.

I saw the show too and was appalled at his attitude and the blinking audience applauding him! His defence - I am a father of daughters...I know how they should dress etc.

The woman was very good - was astounded that someone in 2014 could have that sort of (victim blaming) attitude and pointed out that most of the young girls who report being wolf whistled/ had abuse shouted at them are wearing their school uniform at the time.

oh, was I deleted, Sabrina ?

probably just as well

< goes off to check emails >

Sadly, AF yes (these legal eagles, eh? )

But yes, I agree with you.

I see my later post is still there. I think that about covers it, but in a less lawsuit-inducing way, I guess. Sorry, MN.

Anyway, as I was saying. People who make dodgy statements should be prepared for people to come to the conclusion that they are dodgy. Common sense, innit.

Sabrinnnnnnnna

That is heart breaking indeed.

Is everyone writing to ITV to complain?

I don't think you can complain about someone's personal views but you certainly can say that you find said views abhorrent and will therefore be avoiding programming with that person in future.

I have already tipped DH off that we won't be watching anything with alan in it which may not be a great loss but still.

The rape stats for Pakistan are horrific. Women are usually covered up there.

How ignorant he is showing himself to be.

How depressing that people are still telling women and girls his to dress.

It's a huge world wide issue.

Has he got a twitter you could go and shout at him on that (I don't do twitter it's a bit newfangled).

I don't have Twitter but if I did I would post

Oh TITmarsh have a word with yourself you victim blaming dinosaur.

He has a new sailing show coming up, on some weird new channel run by Esther Rantzen...

I'm saying nowt.

I had to absent myself from Twitter.

I said something on twitter and got 2 RTs, beating my average RT rate by 2

Anyfucker can just imagine you had to. You frequently make me spit out my wine.

Sorry about that. Don't waste good wine

Yy, repulsive.

God almighty when are ITV going to get rid of this mysogynistic victim blaming dinosaur.

I didnt see the programme as i cant stand him anyway but this........makes my skin crawl.

daisychain: Telling me to "spare a thought" for girls who get sexually harrassed, because of one comment I made is also a massive leap across the divide. Like it is down to me, I have caused it (if only I knew, and you're here to educate me, thanks for that!)

Nobody is saying the sexual harassment is down to you or your comments- they are saying your comments are engaging in victim blaming. Comments like this: "But let's say, it doesn't help if everything is on show." which you said earlier.

Perhaps, now, you might like to think about who is responsible for it?*

*(Clue: sexual assault has nothing to do with what you are wearing- women wearing everything from swimsuits to burkas are sexually assaulted).

OMG I just watched the YouTube clip of Alan Titmarshes comments. It really is shocking. I can't believe the audience applauds him. He sort of tries to back peddle but not very well. Laura Bates, the author of Everyday Sexism is rgood. Is she a Mumsnetter?

It's at 5min 20 secs

I love her. She was wonderful.