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Original poster

To think being female and white is what meant Lucy Letby could continue her crimes?

267 replies

sociallyanxiouspartone · 27/08/2023 11:18

Let's face it, the reality is as women we are often disadvantaged but being a woman in this case is what meant Lucy went under the radar for so long and the fact she was white combined with this and looked like the 'girl next door' is what meant more babies lost their lives than needed to.

Just imagine, a male non white nurse was in the same position he would have been called out much much earlier

Let's hope this helps people think about how harmful stereotyping can actually be.

Sorry to all the families that lost babies in all of this 💐

OP posts:
Comedycook · 27/08/2023 11:20

Yes I agree with you

TokyoSushi · 27/08/2023 11:22

Yes. I'm sure the fact that she 'didn't look the type' definitely contributed.

Cheeesus · 27/08/2023 11:22

She was described as ‘nice’ too I think. They just couldn’t believe it of her.

AIstolemylunch · 27/08/2023 11:23

I disagree with you. I think she was able to continue for so long because most people don't murder babies and normal people woukdnt suspect anyone of doing that. It's only when the evidence became overwhelming that they realised. I think this would have been the same for a male or non white nurse or doctor.

LordEmsworth · 27/08/2023 11:23

Just imagine, a male non white nurse was in the same position he would have been called out much much earlier
Citation needed. Do you have any evidence or is that pure speculation?

WeetabixTowels · 27/08/2023 11:24

I have a feeling that you’re right OP. If she was a WOC she’d have been pushed out sooner

Ihonestlydontgetit · 27/08/2023 11:24

Please don't bring 'white privilege' into this. Concerns were raised by consultants and these were ignored by a hospital that didn't want bad press.
The hospital managers need to be held to account.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 27/08/2023 11:26

Just imagine, a male non white nurse was in the same position he would have been called out much much earlier

I also think during the trial the majority public opinion would be "he did it", whereas LL had a bit of a split.

Also, if convicted, no one would be asking "why did he do it, what motivated him? What's wrong with him?" It would have been "he is evil, lock him up forever, he didn't need a reason, he is just an evil bastard".

No one would be starting threads asking why, asking what his childhood was like. I imagine no coworkers would be saying "he is innocent" after the fact.

Theborder · 27/08/2023 11:26

I think her whole persona enabled it the fact that she was:

*young

  • a nurse
  • white
  • university educated
  • middle class

AND also the fact that she was a raging, manipulative individual who even had the capacity to get the consultants to apologise to her. Being white was ONE factor of MANY, but in no way was it the full picture.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 27/08/2023 11:26

Ihonestlydontgetit · 27/08/2023 11:24

Please don't bring 'white privilege' into this. Concerns were raised by consultants and these were ignored by a hospital that didn't want bad press.
The hospital managers need to be held to account.

Yes but why were they so keep to cover it up? Not simply because of a raise death count.

WeetabixTowels · 27/08/2023 11:27

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 27/08/2023 11:26

Just imagine, a male non white nurse was in the same position he would have been called out much much earlier

I also think during the trial the majority public opinion would be "he did it", whereas LL had a bit of a split.

Also, if convicted, no one would be asking "why did he do it, what motivated him? What's wrong with him?" It would have been "he is evil, lock him up forever, he didn't need a reason, he is just an evil bastard".

No one would be starting threads asking why, asking what his childhood was like. I imagine no coworkers would be saying "he is innocent" after the fact.

And people would be calling for male nurses to not be allowed to work with children probably

Theborder · 27/08/2023 11:27

The hospital managers were nurses themselves. They were very PRO-nurse.

Original poster
sociallyanxiouspartone · 27/08/2023 11:29

@WeetabixTowels yes I agree - there would be a narrative of aggressive males harming innocent children and keep men away from kids etc etc

OP posts:
Optionyougot · 27/08/2023 11:29

I agree it's a factor. The focus from the media and commentators that she didn't look like the type capable of this suggests her appearance did give her some cover.

That being said, I think her crimes being so unthinkable to begin with and the hospital administrations unwillingness to admit there was an issue / then seek to avoid any type of grievance from her also played significant parts.

Spidey66 · 27/08/2023 11:29

Quite possibly. How many of us have said ‘but she looks so nice’ when talking about her? The implication being she doesn’t look like a murderer who in our heads is more likely to be male and/or black. Racism and sexism but the other way ? Not explaining it very well but the closest I can put it is white, female privilege? And possibly class privilege as well, it’s not like she was long term unemployed and living on a sink estate.

I know what I mean, I’m just not explaining it!

she just doesn’t fit the image of a mass child killer.

Locallady2 · 27/08/2023 11:30

I know what you mean but killing babies is so shocking that I think it would be hard to believe of any doctor/nurse, no matter what they looked like. And I think that's what protected her for so long really, that it is just unbelievable what she did.

SoIinvictus · 27/08/2023 11:31

AIstolemylunch · 27/08/2023 11:23

I disagree with you. I think she was able to continue for so long because most people don't murder babies and normal people woukdnt suspect anyone of doing that. It's only when the evidence became overwhelming that they realised. I think this would have been the same for a male or non white nurse or doctor.

This.

Not everything is about race or sex.

There's a current thread suggesting an elderly man alone in a swimming pool is a paedophile, despite the govt and NSPCC statistics showing that the majority of sexual abusers of children are men under the age of 35 and when the child is under the age of 10 it's almost 80% probable that he's a family member.

Lucy Letby murdered babies because she had means, motive and opportunity. We may never understand the second, other than she's a sociopath, but to put the emphasis on her colour and/or sex is disingenuous.

electriclight · 27/08/2023 11:32

Yes we are all taken in by people who 'seem so nice.' Look at Ted Bundy.

Lantyslee · 27/08/2023 11:32

And yet being Asian allowed the rape gangs in Rotherham and elsewhere get away with their crimes because the authorities thought they might be seen as racist. I think believing LL wasn't investigated sooner because she was white is quite a reach.

Littlemissalone · 27/08/2023 11:33

I actually don't agree. I think it was her whole persona that let her go undetected. She was quiet and unassuming. People don't notice quiet people so much.

Optionyougot · 27/08/2023 11:33

LordEmsworth · 27/08/2023 11:23

Just imagine, a male non white nurse was in the same position he would have been called out much much earlier
Citation needed. Do you have any evidence or is that pure speculation?

The OP said "just imagine". What kind of citation would you expect for an imaginary/hypothetical scenario?

CountTo10 · 27/08/2023 11:33

sociallyanxiouspartone · 27/08/2023 11:18

Let's face it, the reality is as women we are often disadvantaged but being a woman in this case is what meant Lucy went under the radar for so long and the fact she was white combined with this and looked like the 'girl next door' is what meant more babies lost their lives than needed to.

Just imagine, a male non white nurse was in the same position he would have been called out much much earlier

Let's hope this helps people think about how harmful stereotyping can actually be.

Sorry to all the families that lost babies in all of this 💐

Well you clearly know nothing about the nurse at Stepping Hill, Victorian Chua who murdered two patients and poisoned several others. Ironically (in view of this post) it was a white 'girl next door' nurse who was originally arrested for them and spent 6 weeks in Styal.

Walkingtheplank · 27/08/2023 11:36

You can tell it's summer - yet another thread that is anti white women. 🙄

Ws2210 · 27/08/2023 11:37

A non white person would have been pushed out much earlier. White men, on the other hand, get away with much worse for much longer

Comedycook · 27/08/2023 11:37

Walkingtheplank · 27/08/2023 11:36

You can tell it's summer - yet another thread that is anti white women. 🙄

Get a grip...it's nothing of the sort

It's acknowledging the inherent bias we have as a society.

Swipe left for the next trending thread