#timetostandup

[confessionsofanassaultvictim]

There is a moment you have to choose whether to be silent or stand up #gettingjustice #timetostandup #waitedlongenough

[stadtstoff]

#timetostandup #stadtstoffbranding #stadtstoff #berlin #fckrothschild #skull #fashion #fashionblogger #fashionista #brand #branding #style #streetwear #streetart #art #artist #awakening #instagram #german #capital #of #germany #special #free #star #vintage #veryimportant #goodvibes (hier: Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/CICmoIXDtYB/?igshid=ocidd374jsrm

[stadtstoff]

#timetostandup #stadtstoffbranding #stadtstoff #berlin #fckrothschild #skull #fashion #fashionblogger #fashionista #brand #branding #style #streetwear #streetart #art #artist #awakening #instagram #german #capital #of #germany #special #free #star #vintage #veryimportant #goodvibes (hier: Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/CICmU97DnW2/?igshid=162w4ppbdwfkd

[stadtstoff]

#timetostandup #stadtstoffbranding #stadtstoff #berlin #fckrothschild #skull #fashion #fashionblogger #fashionista #brand #branding #style #streetwear #streetart #art #artist #awakening #instagram #german #capital #of #germany #special #free #star #vintage #veryimportant #goodvibes (hier: Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/CICmEOuj3JX/?igshid=19cwpbb8oqfk

[stadtstoff]

#timetostandup #stadtstoffbranding #stadtstoff #berlin #fckrothschild #skull #fashion #fashionblogger #fashionista #brand #branding #style #streetwear #streetart #art #artist #awakening #instagram #german #capital #of #germany #special #free #star #vintage #veryimportant #goodvibes (hier: Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHL9T_VDRWz/?igshid=yzngnzt6tsjy

[mzq444-blog]

#timeforchange #timetostandup https://www.instagram.com/p/Br942_UAO0v/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tdwgo5tky6jo

[kittynolan-blog]

[kittynolan-blog]

In 2017 Women Still Blamed For Their Rapes

The Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights, has released the following survey of 8000 adults who were asked: “if a woman goes out late at night, wearing a short skirt, gets drunk and is then the victim of a sexual assault, is she totally or partly to blame?” Fawcett’s analysis reveals:

38% of all men and 34% of all women said that she is totally or partly to blame

41% of men aged 18-24 and 30% of women the same age agree

14% of men aged 18-34 say she is “totally to blame”

Women aged over 65 were more likely to blame her, with 55% saying she is totally (5%) or partly (50%) to blame compared to 48% of men the same age.

Alan Jones of The Huffington Post noted in his 20.01.17 article Women Still Suffering Violence And Misogyny Due To ‘Lad’ Culture

“This resonated with the young women we spoke to who told us about the lad culture they experience on a daily basis and the way they have to manage the situation if they are approached in a bar for example.

“Just saying the word ‘no’ can escalate to violence.

“But what these women called for was education not blame. They just want things to change, which is why we must have statutory age appropriate sex and relationships education across all our schools.” (England and Wales)

Alan Jones added, ‘Almost one in five men aged 25-34 and 14% aged 18-24 said they did not want women in their lives to have equality, adding they would be worse off as a result.’

Education is clearly important, in schools, in the media, and in homes; not just on No means No, and No consent means No when it comes to our sexual relationships, but also in teaching our young folk about taking responsibility from their actions. In order to take responsibility we need to know what is lawful and unlawful; what is right and wrong.  This requires the capacity to reason, and needs an approach to education where young folk are encouraged to explore moral issues, be challenged in their reasoning, and accept that they can be mistaken. But education is not the only strand in dealing with this epidemic of violence against women and girls. We don’t need a degree in philosophy to know that rape is against the law; violence against women is against the law; child sex abuse is against the law - common sense tells us this, therefore declaring that a woman is responsible for her rape is outrageous!

If I forget to lock my back door before leaving home for the weekend, and return to my computer and television missing, my mistake makes it possible for someone to choose to steal my property - my unlocked door is not an invitation to theft, and if the thief is found that person will be prosecuted with the support of the community.  Why do so many people think differently about rape and violence against women? Why is this still excused by some as ‘Boys will be boys?’  This insults women and men.

The fundamental issue is that women and children have been historically regarded as the possessions of their fathers and husbands, and there is a reluctance for some men - and women - to move on from this archaic approach despite laws protecting women and children; despite the European Convention on Human Rights, and the UN Convention on Human Rights; despite basic humanity!  In 2017, all countries signed up to the UN Convention on Human Rights hold that women and men share fundamental human rights equally.  Interestingly, notably the USA is a major country that has not ratified UNCHR ( https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/07/24/united-states-ratification-international-human-rights-treaties).

An issue which has raised it’s head since Mr Trump entered the world stage is a phenomenon called ‘post truth’ - a softer way of calling a lie, a lie.  On Saturday when  a counselor to Trump, Kerry Anne Conway claimed the White House was simply providing ‘alternative facts’. NO the White House Press Secretary was telling verifiable lies!   When people in power, and in the media fudge the truth or tell outright lies, we have developed a culture where anything goes - laws aren’t important if I don’t agree with them, AND I’m backed by people in power.  This has lead to Mr Trump and his henchmen ‘gaslighting’ the people of the US, and, because the media here in the UK say they must present both sides of the argument, we are faced with opinion presented as fact.

Here are some facts:

Fact:  The earth goes round the sun.

Fact:  The rapist is responsible for choosing to commit the crime of rape.

Fact:  A husband choosing to punch his wife is responsible for his crime.

We need to teach our young folk that a spade is a spade, and that rapists choose to rape!

Kitty Nolan