Self ID women being asked to volunteer in Devon Rape Crisis Centre *Triggering - rape*

[Theendofmyrope]

AIBU to think this is just fucking insane? Is this how it is going to be from now on? As the parent of a rape victim I feel beyond angry. Is no place safe for women now?

I don't think anyone is suggesting TW shouldn't get care after a rape, I think the question is why is the organisation not using the single SEX exemptions specifically set up for this purpose, women can't choose not to have a trauma response (and they do) to any male presence, it seems unjust to me to suggest that female rape survivors have got to be counselled and have male workers, that's not fair, and not what women fought for when they set these places up. For why this matters, see here fairplayforwomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/FPFW_report_19SEPT2018.pdf

The description linked to from Twitter specifically mentions telephone/email support and potentially face to face support

Yes, exactly, and mentions that the support will be to "women (aged 13 and above".

From the Twitter feed;
''You guys really helped me a few years ago. My handle is my real name - I’m sure someone there will remember me and the work we did together in Torquay. My rapist now identifies as a woman and would fucking love this job. He’s still in Devon so it would be a perfect fit.''

it seems unjust to me to suggest that female rape survivors have got to be counselled and have male workers

Right, except that's not been suggested, not what happens.

@whatsthecomingoverthehill
**The centre's cheeserton, and whether women can expect to be counsellor by transwomen or not.

Considering there is no evidence that any of there counsellors are trans or ever will be I suspect that might be difficult to prove either way. However I think it would be highly unusual for anyone to be counselled by anyone that they were comfortable with for any reason so I highly doubt it.

Interestingly @BlueMoonRising at the rape crisis centre I worked in, the volunteers DID do a lot of the one to one work. However, you could request a different counsellor for any reason and people sometimes did on the basis of age, experience etc.

If you stopped calling people nasty and prejudiced cheeserton and actually tried to read what they're saying you might not have so much trouble understanding.

There's no point in arguing about this...we all know women just can't have a single things to themselves including going through this horrific ordeal. To then seek help and be dealt with by a woman with a penis when they are at their most vulnerable.

However, you could request a different counsellor for any reason
This is routine yes. Nobody should have any counsellor they're not happy with for any reason and nobody has suggested they have to. It's just assumption based on prejudice in the case of this thread, even in the knowledge that services are offered to trans and sexual minorities.

If you stopped calling people nasty and prejudiced cheeserton and actually tried to read what they're saying you might not have so much trouble understanding.
I understand very well, you don't. It's the prejudice and incorrect assumption I've called nasty, if you can possibly read and understand that.

@Cheeserton
Want to say nasty prejudice again? It obviously makes you feel better...go ahead...

Considering there is no evidence that any of there counsellors are trans or ever will be I suspect that might be difficult to prove either way. However I think it would be highly unusual for anyone to be counselled by anyone that they were comfortable with for any reason so I highly doubt it.

The whole point is that people who might want that support don't know. And how many people in that position of being uncomfortable with being counselled by a transwoman would feel able to register their discomfort?

Do you think it would be appropriate for a transwoman to be a counsellor for women in a rape crisis centre?

Want to say nasty prejudice again? It obviously makes you feel better...go ahead...
Sorry if it disturbs you calling it what it is. No evidence presented whatsoever for the assumptions made, but you carry on if it makes you feel better.

The only prejudice repeatedly demonstrated on this thread is towards women seeking to ensure other vulnerable women are not going to be retraumatised by men at a rape crisis centre.
Stop waving the prejudice flag to silence worried women, its really rather horrid.

Or they'll be too uncomfortable to ask for another counsellor because they are well aware of being labelled transphobic and just choose not to access the support. Or don't even go there in the first place.

Read the report, in full, and then come back and comment that we're being unreasonable. The equality allows, specifically, for this reason, the single sex exemption for the service, and for the workers, precisely to protect women traumatized by rape. Nobody is suggesting TW traumatized by rape shouldn't be helped, but they should not get women's share of resources, or intrude where women need a female only space. If you haven't got time to read the report, watch the film

Chesserton I've just posted the evidence, read it!

@whatsthecomingoverthehill Yes I think it’s fine for a trans women to be a counsellor at a Rape Crisis Centre. I think it could be quite useful considering high rate of assaults on trans women. I think it’s also ok for them to counsellor women who aren’t trans so long as the women themselves are Ok with that. I think it’s highly HIGHLY unlikely that anyone would forced to work with a trans person.

The rape crisis centre that I worked at was considering taking on a male volunteer towards the end of my time there. To work with male victims. I had no problems with this either.

except that’s not been suggested, not what happens
And yet that has been refuted by Catnip, so clearly your experience, Cheeserton, is not as comprehensive as you’re implying.

@BellyButton85, you are not alone in that thought.

It doesn’t sound like this place has just opened and have been helping males and females for sometime. They will have a system in place that entails that the victims wishes were listened to. If not the victims would have spoke out a long time ago.

I’m surprised that after the Oxfam scandal so many people seem unaware (or don’t care) that absuive men will go to any length to access vulnerable women and girls. And that will include identifying as a woman because so many people have decided that transwomen are a sacred caste that cannot ever do any wrong.

If you work in rape crisis it's vital you read this fairplayforwomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/FPFW_report_19SEPT2018.pdf

And this fovas.wordpress.com/

And THEN tell us we're the unreasonable ones.

It's not just risk it's DIGNITY, the law allows for that, and privacy, and being comfortable, why should any rape surviving female give up one millimetre of her comfort or dignity for anyone male? I don't get it?

Calling people "nasty", "prejudiced", "bigoted", "transphobic", etc. is a silencing technique that's invoked when people start asking difficult questions. It plays on female socialisation that expects women to be nice and to be accommodating. Well, in this case, being nice and accommodating means shutting up and handing over resources that women have set up and paid for themselves, to support some of the most vulnerable in society. So, no, the dogged repetition of the word "nasty" isn't going to work this time, because shutting up means shitting on vulnerable women.