Scottish TV reporting of rape

[mimithemindfull]

Did anyone see a report about a woman being raped in Edinburgh on the 6pm news tonight ? I was absolutely furious at the way it was reported. One of the first things police officer said was that she was wearing headphones - thereby implying she should have been more careful. Secondly the reporter then did a piece to camera in which he said ' the women was not physically hurt but was badly shaken' Not physically hurt???!!!!! I don't know if it was on BBC or STV so if any Scottish mumsnetters can tell me which one I am going to contact them and complain. I'm so sick of women getting the blame for being raped.

I don't know - perhaps I'm reading it my own way but 'unwanted penetration' doesn't feel strong enough.

like calling a stabbing 'unwanted surgery' - not a brilliant example.

I think that calling it rape (at least to me) brings home the seriousness more, rather than dancing around the word - at least when appropriate, as I can see that you would need to be specific sometimes.

Forced is a lot more appropriate than unwanted.

Forced puts the onus on the one doing the penetration.

Unwanted puts the onus on the one who wants or tries to decline the penetration.

Yes.

I think that your suggestion of forced penetration sits better with me (again, it's all just perception).

Force doesn't need to be violent, but it places the onus back on the rapist, rather than 'unwanted' which puts it on the victim.

x-post Think

sometimes I wonder if we over-think language, but then I remember there are people who's whole careers are based on carefully selecting language in order to influence people.

I definitely agree on the word 'sex' - because it's 'sex with' and if you're raped then you're not a participant, you're not 'with'.

I agree with the 'physically hurt' point you made, but mentioning the headphones is actually a fair warning that the rapist is about and using that as a way of sneaking up without being heard.

It isnt "sex" its "sexual abuse". Abuse via the means of sexual acts.

Its like the expression "child pornography" - all manners of wrong. Its child abuse. Abuse.

STV have form for this.

A 24 year old male drugged and was in the process of undressing a vaguely concsious 40 year old woman in a car park behind a local pub here when he was discovered by police due to vigilant CCTV operators.

STV reported that the lady had been "enjoying a night out with friends" and that she had been "spotted on CCTV buying 3 drinks whilst in one bar".

In actual fact she had been out for 45 minutes for a friends birthday and was drinking soft drinks due to being on pain medication for a slipped disc in her back.

I know this because the lady is my mum and I sat by her hospital bed when toxicology results came back negative for alcohol.

Cunts.

Hmmm..

You're also right there Empire. 'Unwanted' should be enough, I shouldn't need to feel that you need the word 'forced'. That's given me something to think about...

I suppose I was thinking of force more as in 'forced pregnancy' - no-ones hurting you, no-one's threatening you, but if that pregnancy is unwanted then by not having access to contraception/abortion you are being forced into pregnancy.

Perhaps 'forced' is for the perpetrators, and 'unwanted' is for victims.

Sorry after reading the whole thread I've just had a bit of an unrelated rant

That's terrible Squtternut and I'm glad you shared. It's totally relevant. I hope she is recovering.

Rape is rape and there should be no escaping what it is. There is no such thing as child pornography only child abuse.

I would avoid using forced penetration simply because of the definition used by the FBI/CDC of forced TO penetrate as a sexual crime against men. Men cannot be raped so that definition of forced to or made to would blur the issues.

It was 6 years ago now and she is on the whole well, thankfully she has no recollection of the events other than the footage they showed in court and physically she bares a few scars from being dragged on the ground but as she says it could have been much worse.

It's little euphemisms like this that make me see red.

Because we have to make rape palatable for the masses, so that they can safely ignore it.