This weeks podcast gives an important update on the fantastic work @safeinscouting has been doing, the major progress which has been made since the campaign went live and what’s next…. Listen at HJ Talks About Abuse
With the tragic story of a boy who lost his life on a scouting trip in the news this week, we echo Yours In Scouting’s call for the Government to regulate safeguarding in youth organisations.
If you have experienced abuse in the Scouts, please consider sharing your story anonymously at the Yours In Scouting website: https://t.co/QFaOFO4mgP
Did you know that the way a woman looks will impact whether her rapist or abuser is found guilty in a courtroom?
This was one of the most depressing findings of my PhD years ago.
Here’s what I learned:
If a woman is raped or abused, and she is seen as unattractive, overweight, gender non-conforming, if she is Black, if she is disabled or in some other way ‘unconventional’ to the white thin het femme norm, she is more likely for her case to be found not guilty or to be dropped.
When jurors and professionals have been asked why this was, they stated that they didn’t believe unattractive women would be raped or abused by men, and that she was probably lying.
HOWEVER - and here’s the fuckin kicker…
If a woman is raped or abused, and she is seen as very attractive, thin, White, or in some other way seen as beautiful… she is also likely for her case to be found not guilty or to be dropped.
When researchers asked jurors and professionals why this happened, they stated that they felt the woman must have led the man on, and it wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t control himself when she was so attractive. They were also more likely to employ rape myths about her wanting it or asking for it.
Worst of all, these findings apply to children: teenage girls.
So the moral of this vile misogynistic story is that:
Women, we can’t win.
They might pretend it’s about our appearance, but either way, we will be blamed and framed as liars. Our bodies will be used against us whether we are size 8 or size 22. It doesn’t matter whether we have long wavy locks or a short crop, it will be used. It doesn’t matter if we were running on a treadmill or we were in our wheelchair, it will be used against us.
This is misogyny. This is the reality of our courts.
This is why we can’t/won’t/don’t prosecute rape of women and girls.
Because no matter what he did, observers always find a way to blame the woman.
We were delighted that Yours in Scouting’s campaign succeeded in forcing the Scout Association to improve their protections against child abuse.
Sheanna & Lucy from @safeinscouting talk about what this victory means to them:
https://t.co/VBfFs72ySr
We’re delighted that Yours in Scouting’s campaign has succeeded in forcing the Scout Association to improve their protections against child abuse.
Sheanna & Lucy from @safeinscouting talk about what this victory means to them:
https://t.co/VBfFs72ySr
“So thank you to those of you who have supported our campaign, because, thanks to you, children will be a lot safer than I was.” – Sheanna Patelmaster, @safeinscouting
Earlier this year I exposed the prevalence of sexual abuse within the current scounting association. Together with some incredibly brave women that campaign has helped change the scouts safeguarding policies and hopefully will help children in the future. https://t.co/pChWgIWnWw
"The Scout Association is overhauling its safeguarding procedures following a campaign by abuse survivors"
We're so proud to have supported @safeinscouting's campaign 🌟
https://t.co/18R8AJKzks
We're so excited that our campaign has been successful! We are looking forward to seeing how these changes make kids in the @scouts safer. Huge thanks to @GoodLawProject and everyone who shared their story with @safeinscouting.
#safeguarding#children
https://t.co/jNZyPSOanW
I've spoken to two women who sued the Scouts Association over the allege abuse they experienced at the hands of their Scout leader.
Katy and Anna say the charity needs to make urgent changes to safeguard children from predators:
Thank you so much for covering this story, if you've been impacted by abuse in the Scouts or want to learn more about the issue, check out https://t.co/gvtzvmaDLZ
“A review of our cases that took place last summer tells us that 96% of safeguarding claims related to cases where the offences occurred prior to 2013" @scouts
You aren't considering that it takes many years for victims to come forward, post 2013 cases are happening.