Rape Crisis Scotland

Let's be clear

Scottish newspapers can be very powerful allies to campaigners against sexual violence. With audiences numbering millions daily, and an online archive available in perpetuity for later consultation, the accounts and opinions printed within their pages exert enormous influence in shaping public attitudes on every issue.

And there can be few people who need support and for the truth to be told about their experiences more than rape complainers. Myths and prejudices that blame them for what happened and advance the notion that women frequently lie about having been raped are prevalent and extremely damaging both to their recovery from rape and to their chances of obtaining justice. The Evening Times and many other titles frequently publish accounts of sexual violence, and the difficulties survivors face after rape. These can sometimes really help to raise awareness and challenge the myths and misconceptions that survivors continue to face. A recent article in the Evening Times looked at first glance to be just such a piece, with a graphic account of a young woman’s assault and subsequent barbaric treatment at the hands of the legal system laid out in shocking detail. Subsequently, however, serious doubt has been attached to the veracity of this story, and the Evening Times today offered a “clarification” for the benefit of readers.

In this clarification, the Evening Times apologies not for printing a fabricated account but for their failure to subject a woman’s “claims” of rape to “normal scrutiny or checks”. However this story came about – and its origins are very unclear – the Evening Times has perpetuated the myth that women can’t be trusted when they speak out about being raped.  And that’s the last thing anyone interested in justice for rape survivors needs.

There have been 2 comments so far

1. LM

   22 Dec 11, 10:28pm

   Assumptions are also made about rapists. The cases earlier this week in Glasgow, where the police and the media have told us the man was "smartly dressed" who attacked two women. And? He is a dangerous rapist, end of. Is it assumed that rapists are normally not smartly dressed? And in the comments sections of the usual suspects in the media, the usual victim-blaming. Apparently, the two attacks happened in a red-light district. Which seems to mean to many who comment that women who are involved in street prostitution are somewhow lesser victims. Mind you...that`s what the courts say. Depressing.

2. CS

   18 Oct 11, 5:52pm

   I am depressed reading the constant assumptions made about rape survivors. That we somehow `deserved it` by dressing in a certain way / by having more than one white wine spritzer. That`s only in the rare instances when `allegations` result in convictions. Since most rape survivors never see justice done, they are bombarded with the assumption that they are liars. I find it so sad that in the rare instances of a woman being convicted of falsely alleging rape, it takes up pages of the national press. A man found guilty of raping a woman might just get into the local paper, if it happens to be a slow news day. The abject mysoginy expressed in comments under such articles is awful. Any article suggesting women have the right to dress how they choose, not to be objectified, and not to be subject to violence becomes flamed with comments about "bunny boilers", "man haters" and so on. This is something that needs to be challenged far more than it is already. Rape jokes are NOT funny, rapists ARE criminals, survivors of rape are NEVER to blame.

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