Posts Tagged with ‘sexual violence’
-
BD/SM and the Sexual Reification of Patriarchy (Part 2/2)
14 Apr 2013
Part two of a two part series (part 1), this post explores patriarchy, power, violence and female sexuality, arguing that a BD/SM is not unproblematic, but as a reification of patriarchial sexuality it may be beneficial in making explicit the power dynamics and violence which exist in a less extreme …
-
Sexual Violence and the Greek Left
14 Feb 2013
Article also available in French As anyone who reads this blog, particularly the updates from Greece will know, this is incredibly difficult time in the country's history. The veil of democracy which hides an authoritarian and despotic government is threadbare, and the rise of an openly fascist party, combining thuggery …
-
Rape and Community Response
25 Jan 2013
The recent scandal in the Socialist Workers Party has reignited a lot of issues around rape within radical communities, and more generally. One of the themes raised by this issue has been the establishment of a kangaroo court which exonerated the accused. Commentators have questioned both why the police were …
-
Misogynists and the Left
06 Jan 2013
First Gerry Healy, then Tommy Sheridan, George Galloway and now Martin Smith. Why are so many men who obtain leadership positions within socialist organisations so ignorant of women's rights that they sexually abuse women, excuse sexual violence and participate in sexual exploitation? Article also available in French and Greek Most …
-
Why don’t we just ban sexual abuse?
07 Dec 2012
The BBC ran a story today that 200 Women's Rights Groups are calling for an all out ban on the "right" to sexually abuse people in exchange for payment across the EU. Sweden led the way in this in 1999, and since then fewer men are coercing women into sex from …
-
Covering up Child Rape
13 Nov 2012
Guest Post by El. Senior members of the British Establishment are implicated in the systematic rape and torture of children. If the whole truth were to come out, I believe the British public would be so appalled at the corruption that allows such wicked behaviour, that the future of the …
-
Operation Sapphire: spectacularly missing the point
11 Oct 2012
Operation Sapphire, the specialist unit at the Met designed to cover up prosecute sexual offenses, has been dogged with controversy this year, since it emerged that officers were systematically covering up sex crimes and refusing to investigate, while sexual predators within the force have targetted vulnerable women who have approached …
-
Afghan women and Western values
07 Jul 2012
Afghanistan is the world's most dangerous place for women. Following the 2001 invasion by the US and the UK, the UN established the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), control of which was assumed by NATO in 2003. The pretext of the invasion was to find Osama Bin Laden, a comic …
-
The Policing of Rape
30 Jun 2012
Anyone reading the Guardian's aricle today on the scale of sexual abuse by police officers may be given the impression that the policing of rape isn't very well done. On the contrary, rape is policed very well. We can't tolerate rape in this society - so we don't. We …
-
Paris: Rage du Nuit
13 May 2012
When someone travels alone abroad, you run into the cultural norms of the country that you find yourself in. As a woman travelling abroad alone, one of those norms is the level and manner of sexual harassment that you face. Sexual harassment isn't some bizarre foreign custom, it happens all …
-
Lapdancing, Exploitation and Employment Law
18 Nov 2011
Earlier this week, the Guardian interviewed a former lapdancer who recently published a book of tales from the stripping world. What she found was alarming, with a culture of women masturbating customers and ignoring no-touch policies to pay house fees, while managers and security turned a blind eye to gropes, …
-
Who gets convicted if a rape is reported?
09 Nov 2011
It is estimated that only 10-30% of rapes are reported to the police, while only 6% of those reported end in conviction. Hence as a rapist, you have only about a 1.2% chance of being convicted in any particular incidence of rape. This is really quite good odds - with …
-
The Problem with Occupy
03 Nov 2011
Occupy Glasgow today voted at their General Assembly to move the camp from George Square to Kelvingrove park, where the council have agreed to provide them with facilities including lighting, toilets, heras fencing, CCTV, heaters and a water supply as well as transportation for all tents and materials. At one …
-
Sexual Violence and the Justice System
04 Aug 2011
In May 2011, Ken Clarke caused outrage by remarks made in a media interview. When questioned about the tariffs received for rape convictions, he asserted “A serious rape, with violence and an unwilling woman, the tariff is much longer … Date rape can be as serious as the worst rapes, …
-
On Victims and Sluts
29 May 2011
Reclaim the Night started in the UK as a response to the “Yorkshire Ripper” murders, but took off later particularly in the US in response to exposure of the high incidences of rapes on US campuses. Linked with campaigns for “blue light” emergency phones in dark areas of campus and …
-
Socialism, Feminism & Prostitution
12 Sep 2006
Prostitution is currently a live issue in the Scottish Parliament with Margo McDonald an independent MSP proposing a bill which would legalise prostitution within recognised “Tolerance Zones”. These zones would be established by the local authority following notice and consultation with the police local health board, property owners in the …