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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Scotland plans for restorative justice - with victims of rape and domestic abuse

33 replies

ResisterRex · 31/05/2022 18:07

This is a rather short article but I have misgivings about the use of restorative justice for cases such as rape and domestic abuse. I can't see how the power imbalance could ever be satisfactorily addressed for this to be used.

It may well be done after the criminal justice process has taken place, but even that seems naive when you think about the domestic murders that happen, following repeated contact with the police.

It feels dangerous.

Victims to meet rapists under new scheme

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/3e1e3e38-e059-11ec-baab-53d14c642149?shareToken=6e6a50b341b28413747cc7b5050664d9

OP posts:

MagnoliaTaint · 31/05/2022 22:51

There will be subtle coercive pressure from the very existence of such a programme - the fact that it's being introduced means the authorities have sanctioned it and are effectively suggesting it's a Good Thing. Of course this kind of subtle coercive pressure is exerted more strongly on women who are socialised to submit more readily to things that aren't in their best interests in order to 'do the right thing' and/or 'be kind'.

MagnoliaTaint · 31/05/2022 22:55

Here's the org quoted in the article. The font colours alone (yellow on cerise) needs a trigger warning:

www.thrivingsurvivors.co.uk/restorative-justice

MagnoliaTaint · 31/05/2022 22:57

They say this, so wtf?

'Cases involving sexual harm raise unique concerns:

Power dynamic
Stigma and shame
Relational context
Long shadow of trauma
Offenders may be highly manipulative, coercive control can be difficult to identify'

nepeta · 31/05/2022 23:03

Rape and domestic abuse should be the very last crimes to be experimented with here; something like burglaries are less likely to trigger PTSD, and burglars are less likely to get a kick from seeing their victim be there.

I understand that participation is supposed to be voluntary, but coercion is very possible in these circumstances, especially with this horrible 'be kind' trend aimed solely at various groups of women and girls.

UkuleleRose · 31/05/2022 23:13

Just read the Julie Bindel article and would very much like to know WHAT THE FUCK is an "anti-rape feminist."

That's as far as I've gotten and I'm already shaking with fury.

UkuleleRose · 31/05/2022 23:18

And why that's supposed to be a bad thing. Sorry, I'm so upset I can't think straight.

nightwakingmoon · 01/06/2022 00:59

MagnoliaTaint · 31/05/2022 21:24

And of course Scotland wants to be a world leader in this (although it's not the first). Of course it does. It's stomach churning what's happening now. The desire to be woke has not only obscured all forms of critical thinking but resulted in a warped sense of "morality".

This does seem to be following a pattern. Women sort everything, for everyone, to be lauded for their forgiveness/strength/the feels. We budge up, we listen, we care, we are kind and in return we get called nice and not singled out for wrongthink.

The needs/wants/feelings of women are just so much firewood to be tossed onto the bonfire of Scotland's Progressive Utopia, aren't they? With a few decorative witches adorning the top just so we can point to who the real evil ones are. Meanwhile the poor silly men who keep falling onto women and accidentally hurting them can't help it, they just need extra compassion to help them come to terms with the guilt. Boys will be boys after all.

I keep getting glimpses out of the corner of my eye of how deeply, deeply entrenched sexism runs. It's a bit horrifying. It's not just Scotland, is it?

This — why do even raped women have to take on the role of Mummy handing out absolution to violent and abusive men?

It’s so fucking misogynist. As if the entire routine of abusers isn’t the repeated “I’m so sorry” ritual just before they go out and do it again. And this gets to be enshrined in a nice legal process just so that these men can repeat their behaviours with impunity and approval.

I feel so angry tonight 😢

MangyInseam · 01/06/2022 02:31

I can't quite see this working in rape.

DV might be more complicated as it can mean a lot of different scenarios, and there are women who will not leave partners even when supported to do so. Possibly some other appraoches might be helpful there.

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