have you seen Ann Widdecombe's article in today's Express?

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It's about a woman who had been sexually assaulted while drunk and a judge who got himself in hot water with "the feminist screechers" over mentioning the fact she was drunk.

Titled "Sorry but it is stupid to be so drunk"

"odd isn't it? We accept advice about taking care of our handbags or locking up our houses and cars but then resist it when it comes to the rather more important issue of our own person's."

Because of course I can leave my vagina in a safe place when I go out!

Ah yes, feminist screechers, such as the women who fought so that Ann Widdecombe could vote, let alone sit as an MP? Those ones? Or ones who's views she fails to comprehend, such as the ones who lay the blame for a criminal's behaviour precisely where it should lie... with the criminal.

If she can come up with a good way to lock up our vaginas, anuses and mouths then she might have a point, but until she does, she should probably limit herself to topics she knows something about.

I'm no Ann Widdecombe fan but I think feminist screechers was her referring to the modern day incarnation of feminism and not the ones who fought so that Ann Widdecombe could vote.

Same thing.

Only we no longer bomb places... do you think we should start again?

Have always admired Anne Widdecombe so this is very disappointing.

Michelle Thompson MP may have gone some way to redress the balance. She recounted her rape aged 14 to the house of commons, reducing John Bercow and others to tears.

She addressed rape myths (freezing at the time and subsequently seeking sex in order to reframe her experience) and spoke movingly and very matter of factly. Radio 2 played the whole speech on air yesterday.

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/08/house-commons-reduced-tears-mp-michelle-thomson-reveals-raped/amp/

Wow. Huge respect to Michelle Thompson, that's a huge thing to have shared. I hope it starts to change stupid attitudes like Widdecombe's.

Widdicombe doesn't surprise me at all.

What provoked Thompson's speech?

She's currently suspended from the SNP whip for dodgy business dealing including, it is alleged, building up a buy to let portfolio on the cheap by buying property under value from mortgage defaulters whilst running an election campaign that she was just an ordinary wife and mother. Her business partner was struck off by the Law Society. She is not an MP I rate.

LassWiTheDelicateAir

I didn't know that Lass.

But as she seems to have made a huge impact recounting her rape, in a very public way and addressing some very entrenched rape myths I'm hoping that nothing happens to undermine that.

Correction, it was the solicitor who acted for her who was struck off for mortgage fraud. Investigations are ongoing re her.

Lass, I don't see what her business dealings have got to do with her very brave speech about rape. It's the first time an MP has made such a speech and should be applauded.

I've always had the impression that Ann Widdiecombe doesn't like women very much.

do you think we should start again?

Now you mention it....

The speech was made in the context of a House of Commons debate on UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. One that was attended by approximately 25 MPs which is, in itself fucking disgusting but not unexpected.

Lass, are you trying to suggest that, because you "don't rate" Ms Thompson, she's lying about being raped? Seems a bit of a leap.

Spartacus I couldn't possibly comment, but as the PP would like us to be more like the women who fought to get the vote, perhaps some light arson? Or vandalism?

I also seem to remember that "screeching" was a pejorative used against those very same women at the time. Plus ca change, eh?

One that was attended by approximately 25 MPs which is, in itself fucking disgusting but not unexpected

Just 25

Jess Phillips gave a very powerful speech a while ago - she read out the names of all the women who had been murdered since the last International Women's day

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/mar/08/jess-phillips-reads-out-list-of-120-women-killed-by-men-in-past-year

I like Jess Phillips. She gets a lot of online abuse and threats for what she does.

I never said she was lying about being raped.

Ms Thompson however has had a lot of coverage in the Scottish press since becoming an MP and nothing I have read about her impresses me. She is my MP. I did not vote for her and would not vote for if she stands again.

Lass, are you trying to suggest that, because you "don't rate" Ms Thompson, she's lying about being raped? Seems a bit of a leap

I agreed Xeno That is a huge leap, but you are the one who made it. As a constituency MP Thompson fails to impress by a considerable way.

Then why comment like that so inappropriately, not a word about what she had said in her speech, just comments about your belief in her untrustworthiness? What purpose did you hope to serve? Other than to introduce the idea that she is not to be trusted?

I know how much you detest everything to do with the SNP, but this probably wasn't the thread to write these comments on.

ami I am not sure quite how many MPs were actually present, but the house was almost empty. Might have been as many as 50 actually there...

I don't like her. My opinion of her has not changed due to this speech.

Re the number of MPs present it's always surprising on what seems like very important debates to see acres of empty green leather. Perhaps that is the way parliament is structured but it does not seem to be unusual.

This will never go away, either you accept that there are steps that can be taken to reduce ones risk of being assaulted or you believe that no steps can be ever be taken. The truth as usual is somewhere in between.

What i find interesting about these views is that they are kind of orthogonal to the ones sometimes expressed on here about how (some) men can be educated into treating women with respect. This is kind of saying that there is no point in that and the world will never be a safe place, especially for women, so they should act accordingly. It's a very common view.

It comes down to doing things as a man or a woman which might protect you, without imposing unreasonable restraints on how you live your life, and not being blamed or being told you brought misfortune on yourself by not doing those things.

It is sensible for me to have contents insurance and to work out how to switch on my burglar alarm.

I am not asking to be burgled, cooperating with the burglars or leading them on if I don't. Their crime is in no way lessened by my failures.

It might not be sensible for a man to get very drunk and walk home late at night in obvious possession of a Rolex but it does not mean he is anyway to blame if he is mugged ; or if he goes home with a strange woman who runs off with his watch.