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MNHQ

We Believe You: we're launching our rape awareness campaign today.

530 replies

KateMumsnet · 09/03/2012 15:56

Today, we're very proud to be launching a new campaign. It's called 'We Believe You', and it's inspired by the many MNers who've asked us to speak out about the prevalence of rape and sexual assault in women's lives.

While we're at it, we're going to try to explode, once and for all, some pernicious myths about rape - about who does it, what it is, and whom it can happen to. These myths mean that many victims are denied justice: our survey confirmed that most don't report their rape or sexual assault, for fear of being disbelieved.

So the message of our campaign is in the title - we believe you. We hope MNers will get behind it, and spread that message far and wide - on Facebook, and on Twitter, using the hashtag #webelieveyou. And don't forget to let us know what you think here on this thread.

We're also giving a shout-out to Rape Crisis, the End Violence Against Women coalition, and Barnardo's - all of whom are supporting our campaign. They all work hard on sexual violence issues - either by supporting those who've experienced it, or campaigning for better prevention strategies - so do see if you can help them out.

MNHQ x

OP posts:
WhatWillSantaBring · 12/03/2012 16:58

Thank you MNHQ - what a great campaign.

Getting people to talk about it and understand the myths is so important, because it may help girls/women protect themselves. I speak from experience in this too. I thought, that because I'd consented to sexual contact, it wasn't rape, even though I said no. I also, in my 17 year old naivety thought that because it wasn't rape, I couldn't try to stop him aned that if I did that would be "unfair" on him. It was only five years later when studying criminal law that I discovered that no means no whenever it gets said. I wish I'd been more aware of the myths so I'd have felt more empowered to try to stop it.

One question for you though, MNHQ, were respondants selected at random (e.g. in the manner of a yougov poll) or were respondants just those who chose to answer your questionnaire?

AliceHurled · 12/03/2012 17:40

Are MNHQ keeping an eye on the facebook page, to deal with rape myths there too? As there's a post with them there currentlty.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 12/03/2012 17:56

Awesome - i can't believe this has finally happened!!!!

Well done MNHQ, all the feminist boarders and everyone who's supported it.

Crossing my fingers so hard for it changing things.

baggiesbabe69 · 12/03/2012 18:12

This is a fantastic campaign.
I was raped by a male "friend" when I was 16 & no-one would have ever believed me if I had told them. I did tell my so called best friend & her reply was "wish we all could be so lucky"!
I can't blog about this openly as my family know nothing of this but may do it as an anon guest blogger post.

Thank you for helping to help the victims.

vesuvia · 12/03/2012 18:13

Thanks to everyone who got this campaign up and running.

SparkleRainbow · 12/03/2012 18:14

Well done Mn, I am so pleased you have taken on this campaign. I really hope this is a first important step to change things. For my beloved friend who has been through this, you are always in my heart xx

CatitaInaHatita · 12/03/2012 18:15

I am really pleased to see this campaign get going. I'm going to repost something I posted on Mme Lindor's thread last night, because it explains why I support the campaign:

"I never reported the years of sexual abuse that I suffered [between the ages of 9 and 14]. This was mainly because I was convinced that noone would believe me and that I would be labelled a trouble-maker and ostracised (and at school I already was for other reasons).

Looking back I realise that my conviction came from the attitudes to rape that I heard. My rapist (he was only a few of years older than me) told rape jokes all the time within his circle of friends within my hearing; his friends laughed and told other such jokes. In fact, I was pretty certain they all knew but didn't care. At least one lad used the abuse i suffered to harass and bully me whenever he could. I was made to feel intimidated and the source of humour and scorn."

The way I felt; the bullying I went through etc are a direct product of a society which does not think that rape is an important crime and that victims are in some why to blame for what happens to them. This is why I think the campaign is important, because if it helps only one person like my younger self it will have been worthwhile. (And I think it has the potential to help many many more).

So Flowers and thanks to all involved.

StewieGriffinsMom · 12/03/2012 18:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ButterPecanMuffin · 12/03/2012 18:25

This is an excellent campaign and one I fully support.

EnsignRo · 12/03/2012 18:35

Just wanted to add my post to the list of those supporting this, such a fantastic cause. Hope it makes a difference.

lionheart · 12/03/2012 19:31

Brilliant Mumsnet.

Becky0609 · 12/03/2012 19:57

I am really glad to see this campaign I am a Mum and I also co-orodinate a not for profit project for people who have experienced sexual abuse and those that support them called into the light www.intothelight.org.uk
It has been really hard work over the years getting the attention and resources put into help people who have experienced sexual violence that they desperately need and deserve.

geekette · 12/03/2012 20:06

Thumbs up MNHQ!

Onesunnymorningin2012 · 12/03/2012 20:10

Thanks MNHQ. This is a great campaign.

Beachcomber · 12/03/2012 20:22

Brilliant stuff. The name of this fantastic campaign is perfect.

PattiMayor · 12/03/2012 20:22

#didnotreport is also trending as well as #webelieveyou

Shocking stories but I'm pleased to see that the campaign is growing

countessbabycham · 12/03/2012 20:44

'I believe you'.

All of you,and we are many.

As a survivor,I want to stand shoulder to shoulder, for us all, and for our daughters.

Mouseface · 12/03/2012 21:26

It's been a tough day for me as it turns out, reading the comments following the article they used about my abuse...... I have to say that there are some very sick people in this world. Very sick.

I'm so very pleased to see those little voices shouting out loud on here today. I want to hold so many of those voices and tell them that it's over, does that make sense? I want to say 'look, you did it, you got out' even though I know that there are posters reading this thread and others and nodding in the very raw realisation that this is their life too.

Sorry, I'm not being patronising, I'm trying to get across that the sudden lifting, the sudden light and air that you feel once you say it out loud really does free you. It takes away the control they have, it takes away the power, the strength that they have. It's not always physical power. The mental abuse is sometimes worse. The two together is so very hard to let go, to move on from.

But once you are out, safe, gone from that situation, then the light dawns. The pain fades, the scares remain, physical or not but they fade too.

I wish that I had a time machine at times, to go back, to never have met him. To never have worked in that place, been in that bar, walked that path home.....

One day, one day it stops.

I'm off to enjoy some tv with my gorgeous husband now. My DS is fast alseep and my DD too. Tonight I am safe in my home, I am safe and I am loved. I know that I am loved because I can feel it.

I'll be back tomorrow. Keep posting please.

Keep supporting the campaign so that we/you/MN/ can keep fighting to stop these animals. Keep fighting the justice system that fails so many of us. Just Keep Fighting.

lazarusb · 12/03/2012 21:26

I think anything which raises awareness of rape and who does it is excellent. The statistics are distressing considering how often rape occurs. I sincerely hope this encourages more people (male and female) to come forward and hopefully the legal system will realise how devastating it is and act accordingly.
Then maybe more of us will identify it for what it is and report it.

Silverthorns · 12/03/2012 21:37

I'm so grateful for the support I've had from MN in the last few years. Made me realise that yes it was rape and that I could do something about it.
So glad this is trending on Twitter.

countessbabycham · 12/03/2012 21:39

So sorry,meant to say 'We believe you'.

MirandaGoshawk · 12/03/2012 21:40

Thank you Mumsnet.

MirandaGoshawk · 12/03/2012 21:42

Btw this campaign got a mention in the Daily Mail today, I believe. Was a positive article. (I think it was the Mail - I work in a newsagents' & read them all!)

Tazjay10 · 12/03/2012 21:57

Hey, I have been reading all of whats been going on with this discussion and I am glad that finally people are stepping up to help rape victims. I myself am a British citizen living in the USA, and when I got with my now separated husband was subject to rape at his hands. I admit, I should've said something, but I was scared and alone in a place that I didn't know. Its been two years, but despite that, I am trying to work past it.

PoppetOne · 12/03/2012 22:08

An amazing campaign, thank you Thanks

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