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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Can anyone help me please, I want to make a (probably completely pointless) complaint to a newspaper *[Content warning: concerns child sex abuse]

87 replies

UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 12:36

My local newspaper is reporting that this person has been convicted of downloading a video of a two year old being raped. This person also had searched online for information on raping and killing toddlers.

According to the sheriff's comments, this would usually mean a custodial sentence but ".I have to look at whether other options are available and in this case there are. “I will impose a Community Payback Order because of the exceptional circumstances involving mental health and various other reasons."

At a guess these mental health/exceptional circumstances are related to this person changing pronouns. They have also been subjected to the terrible fate of only being allowed ONE phone and laptop. Hmm

I want to complain to the news organisation about how they refer to this person who is legally male and, as far as I can tell, has no GRC. I'm not sure exactly how to come at it, although I feel they're complicit in gaslighting on an epic scale.

Does anyone have any text they've previously used which they could share with me?

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DaddyLangClegs · 12/04/2021 14:58

But it really is fine

We HAVE to worry about offending someone who may be claiming something we know to be untrue.

It is a shame they don’t seem to want us to worry as much about offenders harming children...

CuriousaboutSamphire · 12/04/2021 15:01

@Palavah

Is the natal sex of the offender really the most worrying aspect of the ruling?
After judgement, yes!

You can see why in the ONS data - the number of women sentenced as rapists and pedophiles have risen quite sharply over the last few years.

The first question you have to ask is: Where all of those 'women' female?

Then - what will that do to provision of prisons, secure units; safeguarding measure in and out of school; our understanding of criminality, etc.

If the ONS data cannot be relied upon to be accurate (and it was told to shape up for teh census this year) then all sorts of sex based provisions will be skewed.

It is utterly disingenuous to say that this has no importance, is not of public interest, makes no difference. Because it does. Right now, it is making a difference to the lives of many women.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 12/04/2021 15:02

@Sstrongtn

Yep *@igivein* so a male teenager watched a video of a male rapist. But both attributed to females.
Yes! There can be no other understanding. A 'female' rapist? Even in Scotland that still requires a penis!
UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 15:02

I've emailed the editor. It will be of no consequence, I know that, but I'd like an explanation.

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transbadger · 12/04/2021 15:20

@UnderHisAye

I've emailed the editor. It will be of no consequence, I know that, but I'd like an explanation.

Good luck. Please update us if you get a response.

R0wantrees · 12/04/2021 15:21

I want to complain to the news organisation about how they refer to this person who is legally male and, as far as I can tell, has no GRC. I'm not sure exactly how to come at it, although I feel they're complicit in gaslighting on an epic scale.

The sub heading, "A teenage girl who downloaded a toddler rape video and researched murdering babies has been allowed to walk free from court." is entirely misleading and inaccurate.

I can't access the majority of the article.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 12/04/2021 15:25

Yes! There can be no other understanding. A 'female' rapist? Even in Scotland that still requires a penis!

The Record piece describes the video thus - "There was an indecent video of a male child, around two years old, having penetrative sex with an adult female"

Presumably they are describing the same video as the Courier, in which case I'd suggest the Courier is using the term 'rape' figuratively and not in the literal legal sense of the word.

UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 15:27

In The Courier it says 'raped by an adult woman' Angry

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UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 15:28

I will @transbadger

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R0wantrees · 12/04/2021 15:28

As an aside, The Courier has had previous complaints and questions about its coverage of a male sex offender's conviction.
In 2018 Katie Dolatowski was found guilty of of "voyeurism and sexual assault at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in August 2018. Dolatowski, who was 17 at the time, had attacked two young girls in supermarket toilets in Dumfermline and Kirkcaldy."

The Courier archive

The Courier [https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/819644/mum-of-supermarket-toilet-sex-assault-victim-warns-freed-attacker-could-strike-again/ archive]]

The Courier www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/832849/warning-as-transgender-sex-offender-placed-in-womens-hostel/

The Courier archive

source: transcrimeuk.com/2019/02/02/katie-dolatowski/

thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3496984-Article-in-Dundee-Courier-about-assault-of-10-year-old-girl-in-supermarket-toilets

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 12/04/2021 15:29

In The Courier it says 'raped by an adult woman

Yes, and having re-read the Record piece, they repeat this statement.

That's not at all what the later description of the video suggests though, so again, I think the issue here is that they are using the term 'rape' without understanding the precise legal definition of the term in Scotland.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 12/04/2021 15:32

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

In The Courier it says 'raped by an adult woman

Yes, and having re-read the Record piece, they repeat this statement.

That's not at all what the later description of the video suggests though, so again, I think the issue here is that they are using the term 'rape' without understanding the precise legal definition of the term in Scotland.

Which would be a better cause for a letter of complaint! Bloody stupid, reprehensible journalism!
UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 15:33

It was part of my email!

I looked back at one of the Dolatowski articles and noticed they seemed to have no trouble saying 'he' in 2019, which makes me wonder if the political climate around this has pushed them into compliance.

How depressing.

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Thelnebriati · 12/04/2021 15:34

Why arent IPSO obliged to follow the law like the rest of us?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 12/04/2021 15:34

"There was an indecent video of a male child, around two years old, having penetrative sex with an adult female" Not that I want to but thinking that through again, wtf does that mean?! That was most definitely rhetorical... please don't anyone try and actually answer it!

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 12/04/2021 15:37

Which would be a better cause for a letter of complaint! Bloody stupid, reprehensible journalism!

Yes. They've perhaps painted a misleading picture here in more ways than one. The description is quite unequivocal in the use of the terms 'male child', and 'adult female', which leads me to think it's the use of the term 'rape' which is erroneous. Either way, it's really shoddy journalism.

I can't see the Courier piece, so I can't say whether the Record one is verbatim or not, but I'd expect better of the Courier at least.

UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 15:38

I spent too longer pondering the same thing until it finally clicked...

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UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 15:39

The full piece for anyone who can't see it.

A teenage girl who downloaded a toddler rape video and researched murdering babies has been allowed to walk free from court.

Denen Steven Anderson has been banned from having any contact with children under the age of 18 and prohibited from using social network sites.

Anderson, 18, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for two years.

Sheriff Alistair Carmichael told her: “You pled guilty to a serious matter here.

“It is something which would often require a custodial sentence.

“I have to look at whether other options are available and in this case there are.

“I will impose a Community Payback Order because of the exceptional circumstances involving mental health and various other reasons.”

‘Toddler murder’ notes
Dundee Sheriff Court heard how Anderson was found with horrifying material on her phone including footage of a child aged around two years old being raped by an adult woman.

The teenager admitted downloading the video and a number of graphic still images, when she appeared at the court on a previous occasion.

Dundee Sheriff Court
The court was told Anderson had notes on her phone which referred to “baby torture” and “toddler murder”, among various other similar terms.

Fiscal depute Gavin Burton said: “A search warrant for the locus was granted and officers attended on 6 November last year.

“It was her grandmother’s address and the accused was traced.

“Several items were recovered including a USB hard drive, a computer tower and a mobile phone.

“During the search she said she wished to disclose information and was reminded she was under caution.

“She advised there were images of an indecent nature on one of the devices.”

Forensic search
Mr Burton said: “On 9 November a forensic computer analyst carried out an examination of a blue Samsung mobile phone.

“There was an indecent video of a male child, around two years old, having penetrative sex with an adult female.

“There were at least seven indecent still images, of children from one to five years old, and they were category A, B and C.

“They found deleted notes on ‘kid killers, toddler torture, baby torture, baby abuse, toddler murder, baby killer, child abusers, baby rape, kid rape, toddler rape, suffering animal abuse.’

“On 10 November the accused was arrested and conveyed to police HQ.

“She was cautioned and charged and made no response.”

‘Spent a long time on her computer’
Anderson, Artillery Lane, Dundee, admitted downloading child abuse material at her home between August 24 and November 8 last year.

Denen Anderson
Her defence solicitor Anika Jethwa, told the court earlier this year: “Speaking to her mother, she clearly spent a long time on the computer and unfortunately became involved in these particular offences.

“It was initially chatting to people on various forums and it escalated from there.

“She appreciates she has put herself in an extremely serious position and has been very fearful about appearing in court.

“She accepts responsibility and culpability for this behaviour.

“She is hoping to get some assistance with these particular difficulties. She is anxious to get help.”

Banned from child contact
Anderson was placed under a Community Payback Order for two years as a direct alternative to custody and has been ordered to attend the Tay Project for sex offenders.

I will impose a Community Payback Order because of the exceptional circumstances involving mental health and various other reasons.”

Sheriff Alistair Carmichael

She was also made subject to a wide-ranging conduct requirement, banning her from having contact with children, and restricting her access to the internet.

She has been banned from having more than one phone and computer and has been banned from installing history deleting software or third party apps without her supervising officer’s approval.

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R0wantrees · 12/04/2021 15:40

I looked back at one of the Dolatowski articles and noticed they seemed to have no trouble saying 'he' in 2019, which makes me wonder if the political climate around this has pushed them into compliance.

The first article about Dolatowski was conspicuous in its avoidance of any sex specific terms. There was discussion on FWR about how on that basis the alleged perpetrator was likely male and identified as trans.
This was later confirmed after the convictions.

UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 15:46

Yes I think you're right Rowantrees, the article in which they use 'he' quotes the mother of the child who was assaulted. She says he, which I guess meant they had to too, otherwise it would have looked bonkers. Just an editorial decision really.

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R0wantrees · 12/04/2021 16:08

UnderHisAye They made sex clear by using directly quoted speech.

UnderHisAye · 12/04/2021 16:10

Exactly. I can't work out whether that's an act of Terfy bravery or cowardice.

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picklemewalnuts · 12/04/2021 18:02

This statement is bizarre.
"There was an indecent video of a male child, around two years old, having penetrative sex with an adult female."

There was no need to mention the sex of the adult. 'Penetrative sex' instead of rape could suggest the adult doesn't have a penis.

What a world, where we have to wonder the meaning of a sentence like that!

Ravenclawsome · 13/04/2021 07:51

This - from the head of the paper's courts team (according to his bio) - is telling. Suggests they want to report the sex but can't unless the judge specifically states the fact in court

Can anyone help me please, I want to make a (probably completely pointless) complaint to a newspaper *[Content warning: concerns child sex abuse]
Mugginyouleftrightandcentre · 13/04/2021 08:09

It's funny how those who argue 'the sex of the perpetrator is irrelevant, it is wrong to draw attention to the trans status of a perpetrator etc' are usually the exact same people who argue that single sex provision isn't important because 'women can be just as bad'...