NOW CLOSED: To all MNers - please take our survey about rape and sexual assault - we'd like to hear from everyone

[AnnMumsnet]

Hello

As you probably know, Mumsnet is planning to launch a rape awareness campaign in the middle of March, and as part of that campaign we're asking Mumsnetters to complete a survey about their own experience, if any, of rape and sexual assault (following last year's informal survey by MNetter CristinedePizan).

Please note the survey is open to all MNers - whether you have been raped and/or sexually assaulted or not.

We've thought carefully about whether to run this survey, and about the wording of the questions that are on it. Indeed we have consulted with leading charities and organisations operating in this field. We're aware that this will be terribly painful for some of you, but we believe that evidence of MNers' own experiences of sexual violence is probably the most powerful way to get our campaign message across - to politicians, to the media and to the wider world.

The survey is open to to all female Mumsnetters, whether you have been raped and/or sexually assaulted or not. We want to get as accurate a picture as possible, so don't feel that you can't take part if this has never happened to you.

For those that do have personal experience, there are inevitably some very difficult and personal questions in the survey which you may find very upsetting to fill out. We're so sorry if that is the case; do feel free to leave without completing it if it becomes too painful.

Please also rest assured that all survey responses will remain completely anonymous, and won't be linked in any way to your MN nickname or RL identity. As a small gesture of thanks for taking part, there is a £50 Amazon voucher to be won.

If you have any thoughts on the campaign you are welcome to post them on this thread.

Here's the link to the survey

Many thanks,
Ann on behalf of the MNHQ Insight and Campaigns Teams

NB: If you've been affected by these issues, Rape Crisis offer support through their national helpline. The number is 0808 802 9999, and it's open every day of the year from 12pm to 2.30pm, and 7pm to 9.30pm. You can also visit their website for details of Rape Crisis Centres in your area //www.rapecrisis.org.uk

[giraffesCantDonateBoneMarrow]

done

[CardgamesFTW]

As a part of the campaign, I'd like to see some information of what counts as sexual assault - I'm not sure of it myself.

[Smurfy1]

Done

[UnnamedFemaleProtagonist]

Done.

[TapirBackRider]

Done.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Done.

[Friendlymum67]

Done

[coff33pot]

what is this campaign actually going to do? I have real reasons for asking. Is it to actually help alter the law? ruling? change the way they consider wether to prosecute?

[CointreauVersial]

Hmmm....I felt a bit fraudulent calling the two minor groping incidents I have experienced "sexual assaults", even though by the letter of the law that's what they were. On neither occasion did I feel scared/assaulted/traumatised, just slightly annoyed/incredulous, and I did not feel the need to report either incident.

[JugglingWithTangentialOranges]

I felt similar Cointreau - I think if the survey had been better put together there would have been room for everyone's experience.

I could have done with more subtlety and sensitivity in this survey.

If the conclusion is (eg) 60% of MNers were sexually assaulted/raped before the age of 25 or whatever then where does that really get any of us ? How does that take things forward ?

[coff33pot]

So is that was this is about? just to find out a % of how many women have been assaulted or raped?

Far better to have a survey on exactly how many incidences actually resulted in a conviction. Then another for how many victims were told honestly how low the rate is and the chances of conviction are when they walk in the door before they went through hell and back......

Then maybe campaign to get the laws changed in how prosecution service looks at cases.

[Joiyuk]

Done.

[msrisotto]

Since i've done it, i keep remembering things. Like how could I forget that in a nightclub a bloke licked and bit my breast? How did that slip my mind?

[areyoumad]

Done - I do think it probably needed to be a bit more in depth, mine didn't really fit into the questions, so I used the box at the end to go into more detail. I had problems with the age brackets so although I came in the Under 10 age bracket, I didn't actually go to the police until I was 22. I hope using the boxes at the end was OK.
I also said I would be happy to talk further about it, does that mean automatically anything I've now said can be published or do you have to check with me (or anyone else who said yes as well) before hand.

[mamadoc]

Definitions are very hard though aren't they?
A lot of people have said that they don't really regard 'groping' as sexual assault but what does that mean and what about the context?
I've experienced some unwanted drunken rubbing of body parts in a nightclub and felt annoyed but not threatened but also experienced a similar level of touching as very threatening when it came from a much older man in a position of responsibility over me at work and in a confined (not public) place.

[Livelongandprosper]

Done

[Bgilly]

Are the findings of this survey going to be available to the general public?

[Riddo]

Done

[LanaJ]

done

[HoneyandHaycorns]

Done

[winnybella]

Done

[UmYeahLikeTotally]

Done

[SparkleRainbow]

done

[BertieBotts]

Oh, oops, I got the defence and prosecution things the wrong way around, I've never been in court so I didn't know which was which and guessed. MNHQ could you swap my answers round please?