‘JK Rowling wants me fired. I just want to help rape survivors’

[GranolaGal]

Sandy Brindley, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, says the online vitriol and public attacks she has faced mean she’s likely to stand down within a year. She spoke to The Times on Sunday

"Last Friday, Sandy Brindley, the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, was collecting her daughter from primary school when a journalist rang to ask if she would comment on JK Rowling’s demand for her resignation. By the time the reporter hung up, Brindley was in tears.
“I’m never upset in front of my daughter. She said, ‘What’s wrong?’” Brindley recalls. “I said, ‘Someone’s calling for my resignation’. She asked: ‘Who?’ I told her: ‘JK Rowling.’”
Brindley’s little girl looked up at her and said: “That’s one of my favourite authors, Mummy.”
By now Brindley’s eyes are twinkling as she recounts the incident. “What I didn’t then say was: ‘Well, it’s me or her!” she says, dissolving into laughter.
It’s a moment of levity at a serious, defining moment in her life. After years on the wrong end of online campaigns hashtagged #BrindleyMustGo and as the subject of criticism from very prominent online warriors, Brindley, 50, has had enough. She says that she does not expect to be in her post by this time next
year."

Full story is here: ‘JK Rowling wants me fired. I just want to help rape survivors’‘

MissScarletInTheBallroom · Today 19:54

That's not what I've read. I've read that they didn't know who she was and thought she was another survivor until she opened her mouth and started to lecture them all about inclusiveness.

Blimey, I'd had the impression that they'd been told, "Jargon, jargon, waffle rhubarb, is that OK?" before she'd launched her diatribe.

I have only just seen this thread, I am gobsmacked by what brindley allegedly said to her daughter.
Who the fuck does that?
Thats crappy parenting 101.

I've been no paragon bringing up my own children, but ffs you dont worry them about shit like this. If they even know what resignation means. But tears and a long word like resignation which sounds official, must have truly upset the poor child, and yet here she is telling the world about it. I'm beginning to think parenting classes for wannbe parents might be a good idea.

Now to read the rest of the thread to find out, she has left the role and everyone else has said the exact same.

That's not what I've read. I've read that they didn't know who she was and thought she was another survivor until she opened her mouth and started to lecture them all about inclusiveness.

That's absolutely vile and undermining of Cowan and Brindley.

Last Friday, I was collecting my 6 year old granddaughter from primary school and noticed that she seemed glum. I asked her, ‘What’s wrong?’”

The little girl looked up at me and said "Nanna, I'm sad because you support JK Rowling in her quest to erase trans people and deny their existence. Trans people have always existed, and they have a right to be fully validated that they are what they say they are, and your supporting that nasty terf is making me feel highly unsafe."

My eyes are welling up as as I recount this incident. It was a a serious, defining moment in my life.

Nah, that never happened, no more than did the Sandy Brindley story, which could have been written by Transbot GPT.

I have a wry smile that the Royal Society of Edinburgh lists Cowan's discpline as "philosophy, theology and law". Though I expect most (other) academic theologians can take a critical view of their own belief systems.

Cowan is - or was - also active in the Scottish Feminist Judgments Project which evaluates legal judgments from a feminist persepctive. It doesn't seem to have been active since 2019 but I await with interest (and amusement) their feminist reflections on some recent judgments. Such as, ooh, Forstater v GCD Europe Appeal 2021. And Adams vs Edinburgh Rape Crisis 2023.

I am wondering about professional standards and the RSE. Brindley and Cowan may dispute what was said at the meeting but the survivor's account in the Daily Record article implies that Sharon Cowan could not have communicated the law accurately if any women came away thinking they had no right to single-sex counselling. Though perhaps Cowan only meant to deny them moral right. Even in Scotland it remains legal to provide single-sex facilities for rape counselling.

I meant 'consent' for Cowan to attend based on 'waffle, jargon', not that they were told she was Brindleys partner there for some spurious reason (didn't explain myself v well).

Whatever they were told, it clearly wasn't the whole truth. Really disgusting way to treat vulnerable women.

I was one of the women at the meeting and she did not get our consent. She did not introduce Sharon and it was only when Joan McAlpine recognised her that we realised who she was.

I am very sorry that you and the other survivors were treated like that.

@cardigankitty Thanks for clearing that up for those reading the thread. I'm so very sorry that you and other women had to go through this. It's truly shameful.

I'm so sorry @cardigankitty that this happened and they put you through this. I'm also angry that Sandy has still not resigned and there appears to be no repercussions for her or for her odious partner.

Again, I'm so sorry this happened it is awful and none of you deserved this. X💐

cardigankitty · Today 16:16

I'm saddened to hear that you were taken advantage of by that pair, for whatever twisted satisfaction they sough to gain from it.

@cardigankitty

Thank you for that clarification. And, like others, I'm so sorry.

@cardigankitty I am so sorry that happened to you. It should not have done and it is inexcusable.

Are you pursuing this with the press, the trustees and the Scottish authorities @cardigankitty ? How dare they treat you like this. I hope you are doing ok.

Just adding to the chorus of outrage for you and the other women @cardigankitty I'm so sorry you were treated so badly in the place you should have been safe and supported. Wishing you all love and strength ❤️ x

@cardigankitty

Thank you all x

I was one of the women at the meeting and she did not get our consent. She did not introduce Sharon and it was only when Joan McAlpine recognised her that we realised who she was.

How disrespectful of them both, @cardigankitty - Brindley at least should know better than to make vulnerable women feel uncomfortable in such a sensitive environment, but clearly she doesn't care.

cardigankitty I'm so sorry that you were so badly treated and let down by people who are supposed to be supporting you.

@cardigankitty They are both beyond despicable. So sorry you were treated like this.

It also makes me wonder what their post-meeting chat round their dinner table was like? Obviously nothing documented when you are living together and all your collusion goes on in the privacy of your own home.

Prof Shazza would have been delighted with the chance to “re-educate” you.

Brindley should be ashamed and reign. In fact, she should be fired as this is surely misconduct?

@cardigankitty I'm so sorry this happened to you. It was a despicable breach of trust.

I cannot believe she's been allowed to remain in post.

Oh. I got a response to my email complaint to RCS.

Too late I've already raised the GDPR and safeguarding concerns with OSCR.

❤️

Excellent
I'd love it if she saw this.