Rape Crisis Scotland

Guest blog : “Just say no”: MP blames girls for childhood sexual abuse, by Emma Ritch

Nadine Dorries, MP for mid-Bedfordshire, has raised eyebrows recently with her proposal that girls, and not boys, should receive mandatory abstinence-based sex education. The notion that girls should act as the gatekeepers for sexual interaction is as retrograde as it is absurd, and her bill has attracted derision from those working with young people, sexual and reproductive health organisations, and opposition MPs`. Chris Bryant MP described it as “the daftest piece of legislation I have ever seen brought forward”.

It is easy to see Dorries, who operates in what might charitably be called the margins of Westminster, as a caricature of an anti-choice, deeply sexist political operator. Her opposition to abortion and comprehensive sex education takes place amid a whirlwind of misrepresentations and evasions. Her demagoguery has undeniable impact, though. Despite her failure to present a shred of evidence in its support, her claim that seven year olds are being taught to put condoms on bananas was faithfully reproduced across a whole range of media outlets.

Her appearance on yesterday’s Vanessa show went beyond pseudo-science, though, in making the outrageous claim that abstinence education could reduce child sexual abuse. According to Dorries, “some of the evidence that I’ve heard is that if a stronger just say no message was given to children in school that there might be an impact on sex abuse. Because a lot of girls, when sex abuse takes place, don’t realise until later that that was a wrong thing to do.”

The idea that girls are somehow responsible for the violence and abuse perpetrated against them is not a new one. We see this attitude represented in the lawyer who described gang rape victims as ‘Lolitas’ , in the Glasgow City Councillor who said a nine year old rape victim ‘wanted it to happen’ , and in a recent NY Times story which detailed the makeup and clothing an eleven year old gang rape victim wore.

Blaming children, as Dorries does, by suggesting that they are colluding in their own abuse, ignores the reality that responsibility must rest solely on the shoulders of those who perpetrate sexual violence against children. These toxic attitudes pollute our criminal justice system, our political discourse, and our understanding as a society about the catastrophic harms that child abuse does to individuals, families, and communities.

Dorries, a member of the body that frames and shapes the law on sexual violence in England and Wales, must surely consider whether her ideological blinkers allow her to be an effective representative for the abused children, and adult survivors of child abuse, in mid-Bedfordshire.

There have been 7 comments so far

1. L

   24 May 11, 9:42am

   Here we go again.MEP Roger Helmer has joined his colleagues in blaming victims. Its hardly a complex idea-rape IS rape,regardless. What really bothers me is the general consensus that these views are correct, that sometimes, women are 'asking for it'.

2. C

   23 May 11, 3:39pm

   *unsure how [in]appropriate this is to get into.... These comments by Nadine Dorries (and other public statements made by politicians recently) have left me feeling very vulnerable. I was a little girl who said no. I still was made to endure. (Repeated) sexual abuse. Wonder what Nadine Dorries would say to me? I never fought back hard enough? Feel like I've been dumped with more shame and guilt for crimes committed by adults who chose to wreck my childhood.

3. L

   18 May 11, 6:12pm

   ...Wonder if Nadine Dorries has been spending too much time with Ken Clarke, recently? I think I'll be joining Leanne in the forehead slapping.

4. Elizabeth

   18 May 11, 10:16am

   Teaching all children that child sex is wrong and saying no is only a tiny part of their education. What world does this lady live in if she thinks a child saying NO is going to stop child sexual abuse.

5. L

   17 May 11, 7:59pm

   I am at a loss.... I had heard about Nadine Dorries proposal for abstinence only education being mandatory for girls. WTF? How can she possibly suggest that extreme abstinence dictat can possibly reduce Child Sexual Abuse? This woman is adding to the guilt and shame these children are burdened with. In her position of [albeit limited] power, she needs to realise the effect such words could have. I'm sure her 'proposal' will get nowhere, maybe all prospective politicians should have mandatory life skills training or the like before they swallow up time (=money) with such tripe? Just an idea.

6. Lucy

   17 May 11, 4:42pm

   How an MP can insinuate that if more victims just said no then there would be less cases of child abuse is galling. Rape / sexual abuse is one of the lowest reported crimes in this country and this is partly due to the victim blaming culture that is unfortunately prevalent in our society. Her words have only served as adding to the argument that the victim can be held accountable. This is never the case! I think her comments do need to be addressed by her party and the appropriate action taken.

7. Leanne

   17 May 11, 3:47pm

   *slaps own forehead* How do people of her extensive stupidity get to be an MP? I can understand being on the 'idiot box' but an MP? Really?

Post a comment

Name Email Website http:// Comment