Misconceptions about rape reporting, false accusations etc

[treaclesoda]

I (probably stupidly) started reading some of the comments on facebook under a newspaper report about a rape case.

About 90% of the comments, from both male and female were of the 'stupid bitch, she was drunk and regretted it' type. Which was, sadly, no surprise.

But the thing that actually took my breath away was how many people (again, male and female) were convinced that most allegations are false and women cry rape for 1) sympathy and 2) money.

A couple of posters pointed out that they'd hardly cry rape for sympathy when a quick glance at the comments being made shows that there is actually very little sympathy for rape victims. Even if it's the type that shocks people (eg jogging in the park and abducted at knife point) the general consensus is often that the women shouldn't have been there on her own. And that the trend on the comments was 'poor man, how awful to be wrongly accused'. No one could see the irony in declaring that the poor man's life was ruined and the woman was lapping up sympathy, and posters who pointed that out were ignored.

Then there was the money. People were declaring that you get around £80k for being the victim of a rape , so it is in women's interests to fake it. Naturally no official stats could be produced to back up these claims of it being a huge moneymaker.

But where do people get these ideas from in the first place?

Because it's so rare it gets a lot of air time.

I'm sure there are also quite a few men who can imagine a situation where enthusiastic consent might be less than 100%. It's fear projection in my opinion.

Because men (as a class) hate women (as a class).

Because men(AAC) think that they are entitled to sex.

Because there are women who have internalized a misogynist world view to such an extent that they enable men who think like that.

NAMALT. NAWALT.

I read a lot of scripts and see a lot of work in development for my job. I cannot tell you how often I have seen/read the story of a man who is either falsely accused, or it's ambiguous. They all think they're telling an original story as well, or being brave for giving a platform to a point of view we never hear, when it's really the main narrative around rape that I come across. The same is true where the victim is a child - there is a lot of 'but was he led on?' around.

IDK where people get their figures from but I'm guessing Reddit. Heres a link to the Criminal Injuries compensation calculator, you do not need a solicitor to claim on your behalf. Conditions apply.
www.criminal-injuries.co.uk/rape-compensation-calculator

If you fall pregnant as a result of a rape, the criminal injuries compensation is around £5,500.
www.criminal-injuries.co.uk/rape-compensation-calculator

If you contract HIV, its about £22,000
www.criminal-injuries.co.uk/rape-compensation-calculator

Basket I'd never thought of that before, with regards m to fiction or drama, but I see exactly what you're saying.

The comments on the article I was reading talked over and over again about a man's life being ruined by an accusation, yet simultaneously most of the comments were dismissive of women and supportive of the accused, so it doesn't even make sense.

Rape/sexual assault are the only crimes where the first reaction for many is to condemn the victim and accuse them of lying. It never happens when it's a burglary or a pensioner gets beaten up.

It's really frustrating and sad. Knowing that if anything like that ever happened to me or my dd's, we probably wouldn't be believed, and would hesitate in reporting it as a result.