Blame where Blame is Due: Ellie Brodie

There is an overwhelming amount of the population who are intolerant of victims of rape and sexual abuse. Views such as “it happened because her skirt was too short” or “she was easy because she was drunk” are unacceptable. Is it okay to assume someone’s intentions by their clothing; is a person in a football shirt a hooligan looking for a fight? If people are asserting “wear high cut tops, don’t get drunk and take taxis home; otherwise it is your own fault if you get attacked,” how can we successfully condemn the persecutors?

A few weeks ago Eammon Holmes from This Morning interviewed a 20-year-old rape victim. She had obviously undergone great trauma when raped at 18 but displayed huge courage and strength to forgo her anonymity, to insure her rapist was caught. As the interview drew to a close Holmes remarked ‘I hope you take a taxi now’. This remark, rightly, caused a huge uproar on the Twittersphere. Some believed that Holmes was suggesting, perhaps unknowingly, that if she had changed her actions, not dared to go outside where rapists are, she would not have been raped. Holmes is just one example of the attitudes that are unfortunately common for a lot of people. What if the taxi driver had raped her? Would the statement have been “I hope you walk home in the dark alone from now on”? Apart from the reality that students do not have the funds to get a £10 taxi every time they head home after a night out – this concept of people having, to change their actions to avoid being  attacked by others is revolting. When people with similar views to Holmes suggest that each rape victim could have done more to prevent their attack, it is really painful for that individual. How careful can we realistically be, and still enjoy life?

Here’s an idea – blame the rapist. Avoid confusion – get a yes, don’t wait for a no. Respect people as their existence is not for your sexual pleasure! To quote an excellent blog on the subject: “If you’re doing something that is more likely to make rapists feel comfortable and/or rape survivors feel uncomfortable, then don’t do it!”