Merseyside Women's Movement

A much-reported website out this week claimed that half of London’s women believe a rape victim should accept some responsibility for the crime if she goes back to a man’s house.
I’m on placement this week at a radio station and when I went out, mike in hand, to ask Liverpool’s shoppers ‘are women ever to blame for getting raped?’ the answer was usually a shocked ‘no’ followed by ‘oh, but if she dresses like a slut’ or ‘if she’s offering it on a plate.’
How many times do we have to repeat that women do not ask for rape? There should be no ‘oh, buts’ about it. Non-consensual sex is rape, no matter what the circumstances. Yes, sex can be confusing and fraught with ambiguity. In practice, consent is often implicit rather than stated outright. But in no other crime is the victim blamed. People are not suspected of lying about other crimes in the same way as women are routinely suspected to be lying about rape.
Apparently women are more suspicious than men are of rape victim’s stories. Check the figures for yourself, but I think this may come from growing up with repeated warnings about walking home alone, talking to strangers, dancing in short skirts. We are taught to fear the bogeyman, as if we could annul our chances of being raped simply by acting cautiously.
On Liverpool’s streets on Monday, it was a man who cheered me with the words ‘rape is always the perpetrator’s fault.’ I hope there are many more like him about. Survivors of rape have enough on their plate without needing to justify their allegations, least of all to other women.
This survey has left me a little disillusioned, so I’m looking forward to Germaine Greer’s talk tonight, for a good feminist pick-me-up.

Nalina Eggert

Merseyside Women’s Movement Meeting    Tuesday 16^th February 2010

Prompt start at 5.30pm, finished by 7pm

WHISC, 120 Bold Street

Agenda

Reclaim the Night/Day March Update – Cath & Becky

That Takes Ovaries Update – Nina

METAL Art Exhibition Update – Kaety & Jess

Am I Invisible? Theatre Production Update – Elaine

Women from Palestine visit to Liverpool Update – Gina

Women’s Poetry Night Update – Val

Symposium Update – Vicky

Film Night Update – Jackie & Kat

WHISC IWD Open Day – Carole

Sahir House Women’s Event – Cath & Nina

Publicity & Press Update – Chloe, Nalina & all

Website & finance Update – Carole, Jackie & Chloe

AOB

Date & time of next meeting: Tuesday 2^nd March 5.30pm

All women welcome

In this week’s edition of The New Statesman In this week’s edition of The New Statesman magazine, Samira Shackle argues the British immigration system does little to help vulnerable asylum-seeking women. Using the cases of Esther from Kenya, and Salma from Pakistan, and in discussion with Asylum Aid’s Debora Singer, she looks at the persecution women face which force them to seek asylum and the problems they face after arriving in the UK, including the poor enforcement of gender guidelines by UK Border Agency staff. After raising with officials some of the demands of the Women’s Charter campaign, she concludes, ‘The UKBA says that it is working to ensure that women asylum-seekers are treated fairly, but these answers do not give a real sense of engagement with the complexity of the issue.’ To read the full article click here. You may also wish to comment on the article, which you can do after registering on the New Statesman website. Further information To read more about the Women’s Charter campaign, click here.

A huge thank you to everyone who turned up on Saturday to march! It was a great day and we got our message across loud and clear! 

March against gender inequality!

Sat 10th oct 12 noon, Williamson Sq, all welcome!

Why we need gender equality:

In the UK: 

• Each year, more women die from domestic violence and rape than 

die from cancer.  Two women a week are killed by a current or  

former partner.  

• More than half a million women experience domestic violence 

each year.  

• 1 in 4 women experience sexual assault. The UK currently has the 

lowest rape conviction rates in Europe: out of every 100 reported 

rapes, less than 6 cases end in the rapist being caught and       

convicted.    

• The pay gap between men and women has RISEN to 17.1% in full 

time work, 36% in part time work. 

Join us in a demonstration to promote gender 

equality and end Violence Against Women! 

Where: Williamson Square 

When:  Saturday 10th October  

Time: 12 Noon 

Bring banners, friends, husbands, wives,  

partners, kids, mums, dads, the pet dog…  

everyone is welcome to join  

in the struggle against Violence Against Women! 

PDF leaflet for march- please distribute!