Blog
Gillette: Changing the game

Anyone in any doubt as to the need for the new Gillette campaign need look no further than the foaming outrage which has greeted it all over the Twittersphere and other media platforms.
The reaction from many in its (clearly target) audience was instant and visceral, branding the ad part of the ‘current pathetic global assault on masculinity’ ‘cultural Marxism’, ‘belittling or emotionally manipulating men’ as they tossed their razors into the bin, like so many toys out of a pram. Yet a moment’s reflection on the actual content of the ad shows that the range of male behaviour it showcases is not confined to stereotypical displays of bullying, physical assault, groping, sexist mansplaining & demeaning language – also featured are thoughtful intervention, kindness, caring concern, peaceful resolution – bravery, in short, in the form of stepping in when it might be so much easier not to.
Scottish justice system places a higher value on Rolex watches than on raped women and children
Guest blog by @giantyellowbumblebee (Twitter)

The Gleneagles armed robbery case of two men stealing more than £500,000 worth of
luxury watches from a boutique at the five star hotel caught my attention due
to the high sentences given: totalling 29 years between 2 men; 18 years and 11
years.
A Defence lawyer on Radio Scotland said this was due to the 'high value'
of the crime and because it was 'violent in nature'. A discussion evolved with
John Beattie citing rape case sentencing of five years for a perpetrator who
raped a women who was sleeping, compared with the high sentencing given in this
armed robbery. The Judge sentencing in this case stated the criminals carried
out 'an act of serious premeditated criminality'.
A case for human rights

At Rape Crisis Scotland we are sometimes in the position of being critical of the approach of some lawyers, specifically in relation to the cross examination of rape complainers in court. In the past months however we have been impressed by the approach of a number of lawyers to what we consider to be a significant human rights issue.