poster campaign aimed at men cuts rape rate by 10%

[chibi]

in canada

i wish we did this here rather than the terrified woman as prey animal graphic with doomy text about how the onus is on you to prevent your own rape

ps canada i love you

[AyeRobot]

I would have thought the "Be Careful Out There" posters would mean rape reporting is less likely. As I said earlier, smashing rape myths is key, although it's a long game.

The other prongs of the initiative - That article says "The reversal in the trend related to sexual assaults reflected the impact of the new education program, better training for police officers and more effective investigation and enforcement".

On a tangential note, I see that there have been a few cold case convictions of rapists recently. DNA on file from a previously reported but unsolved rape case and then linked via a subsequent conviction, one of which was for domestic violence. Having previously been downhearted about investigative methods and treatment of rape victims and their cases by the police and the judiciary and therefore unsure about reporting, I would now be more inclined to help add to the information for the police to go on, even if I had to play a long game myself.

There are forces out there taking these crimes seriously. Kent Police have started a database of serial domestic abusers. Probably deserves a thread on its own, but I have Fridayitis.

[DilysPrice]

Here's a link to the "Real Men Know The Difference" campaign, which goes into a lot of detail about why they've done it and why they've done it in the way they have.
www.lambeth.gov.uk/KnowTheDifference/index.htm

[BasilRathbone]

Wow. That Lambeth campaign is excellent.

It's really heartening that at last this is beginning to happen.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

anyfucker

I would still like to know why you find males being raped an amusment.

[Vega]

I did see this poster while visiting family over Christmas - not sure if it's only in Liverpool as I haven't noticed it anywhere else.

[AnyFucker]

don't be ridiculous, boney

[edam]

Boney, this thread isn't about male rape. If you want to discuss that, start your own thread. Trying to stop women talking about rape is a. wrong and b. extremely aggressive - not a great approach for someone who is concerned about rape.

[AnyFucker]

and I am finding your persistence in targeting me a little bit unsettling, boney

[SardineQueen]

The initial complaint was that the campaign in the OP did not target female rapists.

I think that complaint deserves a little piss-taking TBH. Where are all these female rapists? How many men are getting drunk and waking up to find a woman penetrating them with something? Really, is it that common that we need to drop the whole men raping men, women and children thing and concentrate on female rapists?

[SardineQueen]

There are some difficulties with the figures that were provided earlier. They include child abuse. I do not think that the poster in the OP is intended to target child abusers, which is a completely different dynamic again.

[SardineQueen]

This piece here for eg

"More than one-quarter of male
victims of completed rape (27.8%)
were first raped when they were
10 years old or younger (data not
shown). With the exception of the
youngest age category (i.e., age 10
or younger), the estimates for age
at first completed rape for male
victims in the other age groups
were based upon numbers too
small to calculate a reliable estimate
and therefore are not reported."

I do think it is a bad idea to grab stats from reports without thinking about them properly.

[SardineQueen]

I really don't understand why we can't talk about and compare current campaigns which focus on male on female acquaintance rape.

What exactly is wrong with doing that?

[TunipTheVegemal]

The Lambeth campaign and the Liverpool poster are very heartening.

[SardineQueen]

It is great that campaigns are out there that focus of the perpetrator rather than the victim.

I really do think these posters will do a lot of good for victims - as CailinDana commented earlier - rather than being bombarded with messages about how it's your fault if you don't follow all the rules - messages putting the blame squarely with the assailant. It's a really big shift actually and I hope it continues and becomes more widespread, it might help to change the views of the public at large as well about who is to blame etc

[BasilRathbone]

SQ - we can't talk about females being raped in a feminist space, because we can't talk about women without referencing males. Because males are more important than females.

Honestly, haven't you learned that yet?

That Liverpool one is again a step forward but this: "Be aware of the need to protect yourself and keep others safe." was slightly odd. I wondered what they are exhorting the target to protect themselves from - accidentally penetrating a woman who hasn't consented to penetration? Accidentally becoming a rapist? Or are they exhorting them to look out for rapists who might target them?

Also for some reason I felt that in a sense it was still resting on rape myths - can't answer? can't consent. Again, it sees consent as a woman in a space with a man who could turn violent, being asked if she wants sex and mumbling OK because she's scared that something else worse than rape could happen. Enthusiastic participation is consent, not being able to answer yes because the consequences of saying no might be horrific. But that sounds a bit curmudgeonly and ungrateful doesn't it. It's a start, but only a start.

[SardineQueen]

Those are good points basil, very good points.

I suppose I just feel so grateful for something which doesn't tell rape victims in a very straightforward way that it's all their own fault and they deserved it, that I've got a bit carried away.

[AnyFucker]

and males coming on to pick up females in this space is rather concerning

twice

[AnyFucker]

pick up meaning pick up their posts

not trap off with them

because that would be even weirder

< must proof read >

[BasilRathbone]

That was exactly my response SQ. Gratitude that at last, the perpetrator is being targeted instead of the victim.

We're so conditioned aren't we?

[BoneyBackJefferson]

anyfucker

I asked a question

if you can't answer it thats fine.

edam

I was replying to a post, if you consider that agressive then report me.

[Dworkin]

Dilys: That's more like it. That is the WOW factor and good on you Lambeth.

[BasilRathbone]

BBJ you asked AF a really crass and stupid question.

She treated it with the disdain it deserves.

Now please grow up. AF obviously does not find the idea of men being raped amusing. I'm guessing she finds it pretty fucking risible though, that some people are outraged that some authorities are targeting some of their messages about rape, on the main perpetrators with reference to the main victims. It's beyond belief that it isn't obvious to some people, why it's valid for resources to be targeted on speaking to potential male perpetrators of potential female victims, rather than on any other group. It's like being furious with the government for targeting their Kill Your Speed messages at motorists instead of cyclists.

You actually couldn't make this up.

[Dworkin]

Vega: that's more like it: sex without consent is rape. Simples.

[edam]

boney, you don't have a God-given right to dominate or derail any discussion, especially not one by women about rape.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

BasilRathbone

so asking someone why they think its ok to make fun of rape victims is crass and stupid, if it was a male making fun of rape victims there would be uproar here.

I haven't made any claim on male rape, resourcing for rape campaigns or derided a campaign that is finally targeting those responsible for rape, I am not putting forward any view that male rape is worse than female rape, because that would be stupid.

I asked a question, pure and simple, of someone who (as far I can see) compared a human being being raped to that of a hamster being raped.

the responses coming from a group that claims to support rape victims is just slightly shocking.