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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

The Myths About Women Who "Cry Rape"

718 replies

DontCallMePeanut · 07/07/2011 01:56

From The Telegraph

Sorry, my head's not in the right place to provide any critique of this at the moment, but thought this would interest the members of the feminist section. Will attempt to comment when I have a clearer head.

OP posts:
UsingMainlySpells · 08/07/2011 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SinicalSal · 08/07/2011 16:43

Ha well spotted Peanut.

queenofthecapitalwasteland · 08/07/2011 16:43

I didn't notice DCMP feel a bit stoopid now [hblush]

SinicalSal · 08/07/2011 16:47

Me too.

To think I held back from asking straight out had he ever been acquitted of rape and does that make him think he didn't do it.

Actually, that's a question. Does it make rapists think they didn't do it? We do have a strong faith in rule of law in this part of the world. I suppose it is used as a way of justifying to oneself that what you've done is ok.

DontCallMePeanut · 08/07/2011 16:47

Nope, I'd love to see the general attitude of people changed, or the mindset that makes some men think rape is acceptable improved.

I'd like to see the ways criminal's are rehabilitated improved. For those convicted, find a way to drive it home that rape isn't acceptable.

A ban on pornography. If not a complete ban (although I'd prefer that) a ban on pornogrphy which provides a simulation of rape. Men can access these from a young age. Porn sites, particularly the free one's, don't care who they catch in their audience. It's too easily accessible, and too damaging.

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DontCallMePeanut · 08/07/2011 16:50

Bonus of being someone who studies the evolution of lanuage, I guess... Grin Very observant, Mitchiest.

Sinical, that's a very worthwhile question, I think. Even men convicted of rape have a hard time realising they did it and still victim blame and protest their innocence.

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TheAtomicBludger · 08/07/2011 16:53

Peanut, that's why I've been calling him MissHodgeInHist [hgrin].

DontCallMePeanut · 08/07/2011 16:55

TAB, just noticed... Grin]

Been a bit slow of late, with revision and other things going on.

Please be aware I'm now going to start analysing all your names, just to be sure Wink

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claig · 08/07/2011 16:56

TheAtomicBlunder spotted the name at 14.09

'MissHodgeInHist, those comments are in reference to the fact that 94.5% of defendents get off, and I don't think you can claim that all those are innocent.'

claig · 08/07/2011 16:59

sorry Bludger, not Blunder Smile

TheAtomicBludger · 08/07/2011 17:03

I noticedd it when I saw it yesturday, hence my post to HerbEx:

TheAtomicBum Thu 07-Jul-11 13:27:26
Herb, ignore MisHodge. That is the one an only post ever used under that name, and it was obviously set up to walk in and pick a fight with the fem board. I think it would an idea to report the post to HQ just in case it is you-know-who.

The only other thread it has been on is arguing that asking for maintenance payments from a separated father is treating your kids like pay per view. (Let's not go there).

DontCallMePeanut · 08/07/2011 17:05

Haha! TheAtomicBlunder! Time for a name change, TAB... Grin

(TY, claig. That put a smile on my face for the first time in aa couple of days)

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AliceTwirled · 08/07/2011 17:06

Yep I agree that challenging rape myths is what we do about it.

And I would say that lots of men who rape are as caught up in the myths as anyone else, so don't believe they rape either. So when they get off they believe they didn't rape, and so the cycle continues. And some of them join up with like minded men and start a political campaign about it.

UsingMainlySpells · 08/07/2011 17:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheAtomicBludger · 08/07/2011 17:18

Bludger my Harry Potter name (not very obvious, I guess), I only changed it this morning. I've always been TheAtomicBum.

UMS, it really sounds like it makes us all equal, doesn't it? They really are standing up for the rights that need to be enforced, they're obviously not being treated like human beings.

UsingMainlySpells · 08/07/2011 17:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarySueFTW · 08/07/2011 18:19

Re rape myths as opposed to trolls

In short, I think the battle for public opinion has been won. Only 8% think a woman's sexual history contributes to her culpability. Possibly the same fraction would think wearing a short skirt equals asking for it. Will these people ever have their minds changed? I doubt it. How much effort to sway this tiny minority of idiots?

I remember the attitude to rape in the 70s, it wasn't taken seriously. After much effort, public opinion in this country has changed enormously. I never see these 'myths' trotted out in public, I don't know any newspaper that could get away with suggesting anything that suggested a rape victim deserved it, or that a rapist couldn't help himself. And any shades of grey in between I think might be reasonably considered by most. On a jury, that 8% would be hopelessly outnumbered.

And when we see that today, roughly 50% of rape cases that get to court end in a conviction, then I don't know that disputing rape myths that very few believe is going to get that figure much higher, what with the issues we have discussed about why juries might acquit. Therefore I think the issue is getting more of the reported cases to trial. And some of of the problems there seem fixable - more funding and pressure to get the case investigated, less chance of it being dropped for whatever reason. The criticism that divorce attorneys earn far more than rape or abuse attorneys is an excellent point. I'm not telling anyone not to mock a rape myth if you hear one - but if justice is the aim, getting more cases into the justice system is clearly the priority.

HerBeX · 08/07/2011 18:27

If you think the battle for public opinion has been won, you're living in a parallel universe, one where the majority don't believe that false allegations are more common than rape itself and one where e-mails telling women how not to get raped don't happen.

That's only 2 things off the top of my head I can't be bothered to list all the other stuff.

MarySueFTW · 08/07/2011 18:35

I can be bothered to tell you that the majority don't believe that false claims are more common than rape itself. I don't have any stats to prove that (do you?) but I think it makes you sound like the one living in a parallel universe.

Emails about how not to get raped? Never seen one. Don't know what it proves, I wouldn't tell anyone to put themselves in danger because danger shouldn't exist. I asked you earlier for specific ways the legal system could be changed to get more convictions for rape. If you can be bothered I'm all ears.

HerBeX · 08/07/2011 19:12

You've never seen one because you're a man MarySue and women only send them to each other

MarySueFTW · 08/07/2011 19:16

Message deleted by MarySueFTW's better judgement.

Empusa · 08/07/2011 19:20

While I have had conversations with people who believe that there are no false rape claims (and been called a rape apologist for pointing out they are wrong), I do find claims that the majority of the public do not believe rape myths more delusional.

If you honestly believe that then maybe ask yourself why in newspaper articles about rape the clothing worn by the victim is so often mentioned? Or why women are discouraged from wearing short skirts on a night out?

AliceTwirled · 08/07/2011 19:23

Some pretty mainstream links that debunk the idea that this isn't a problem

The PM in the Guardian

Amnesty

Some Scottish legal dude

The BBC reporting on a Haven report

MarySueFTW · 08/07/2011 19:33

If a newspaper mentions clothing I'd assume they were being salacious rather than suggesting she was asking for it. I'd also have to see examples, I haven't seen it - and if it is common I expect it's very easy to keep a record of this type of reporting to prove the point.

Who is encouraging women not to wear short skirts? Not a rhetorical question, who?

LilBB · 08/07/2011 19:34

I have read several articles in the last few weeks that insinuate rape victims are liars or bring it on themselves. Julian Assange case for one, I read recently that some people think the women accusing him colluded for revenge. The head of the IMF whose name escapes me at the minute, many thought the maid made it up for money and the journalist is criticised for taking so long to come forward, the loophole lawyer who said women who go out in little clothing are asking for it. Not forgetting the sexsomniac. If this is public opinion why do these get coverage in all the national papers?