Sexual Assault Sexual Abuse, The Bbc And Other Media

[Lucycat]

In the UK at the moment there seems to be a whole host of stuff in the news about sexual abuse. Various presenters and DJs are being named and shamed, and there is to be a BBC and Government inquiry amongst others. There are literally hundreds of incidents being investigated by the police, involving a huge number of victims. It is in the press every day.

Unfortunately, what is also coming to light is that it is all historical, and some of the victims shouted out when they were children, but they were hushed up and ignored. I have heard it said that it is 'just the way it was then'.

I don't know how others are feeling about all this, but it really makes me angry. I know I was scared of the consequences as a child, and that kept my silence. But to think that many children were complaining about the same man, yet everybody turned a blind eye and deaf ear is horrific.

I will be very interested in the outcome of all this.

 

[cherryblossom]

I completely agree with you, BL. It is disgusting that individuals were brave enough to speak out, and were silenced. That must be so devastating to them.

I think times have changed hugely, and that is not to excuse the way these issues were dealt with in the past, but hopefully, these days, it's not so easy to just brush things under the carpet.

Although I'm aware of all the latest news, if I can, I choose not to read or listen to too much of it, because it makes me both angry and sad.

 

[Lucycat]

I have heard a lot about this. Some through the news - and today - some through 'jokes'. I have had to keep my head down. I care about the victims, but I do not want to stick my head above the parapet just yet,

It seems that it has been in the news so much that there is already compassion fatigue. I have heard it said that it should not matter this far down the line. That it is the fault of victims if they did not speak up before now. Even that 'it is the way things were then'.

I have found all of these hurtful but have kept my mouth shut. Then I think that makes me as bad as the rest for not shouting out and saying ' I believe you'.

I don't know where this will go, but it seems to me that it will do nothing to help people understand what sexual abuse does to children for the rest of their lives.

 

[Lisa]

I've found the news really difficult lately too.

Sadly, I'm a cynic and agree with Brucielucy. The victims will get some form of apology, for those perpetrators who are alive there will be some form of justice. But no real changes will be made. Because, by and large, Britain does not care. The justice system does not care. The general public here, generally, does not care. They do not understand, and I find that largely speaking, it is true that there really is a nasty cutural style of British 'stiff upper lip' judgementalism.

When all the Jimmy Savile stuff first came out a couple of weeks ago, the tone of the generic response from the public and media was 'If they were really abused, why are they speaking up now he is dead? They are just lying.' My mother rang me, to tell me that she thinks it's "disgusting" that all these accusations have "begun" when "he is dead and can't defend himself", and how all her workmates thought the same. The callers at the radio stations were saying similar. People were angry, because those who have spoken up have spoiled the 'good memory' that came from a man who donated to charity and spent a lot of time in hospitals. It suited no one to believe. The 'times were different then' line is true, but the real point is that it's always been wrong, it was illegal, times are different NOW and have been for some time. There is no excuse. Yet, only now, when there is a number so large that it is undeniable, do they reluctantly believe.It says it all. How different are the times, really?

 

[anndeb]

I think this is a subject that is very difficult for the media and people in general to wrap their heads around (not to mention their hearts)..

First of all, to most people the thot that defenseless children can be so horrifically treated is just plain hard. I think that most of them would rather just deny as a defense against pain. It's just too much injustice for them to take in or have a frame of reference for. Therefore they go on the attack, blaming the victims, making weak excuses and generally refusing to believe or even take it all in. It's pretty disgusting and very disappointing but there you have it.

I guess that is why it is still pretty much up to us to tell our stories, here among friends and co-survivors if nowhere else. I know I speak up very little outside of places like this and I if I did I wouldn't expect much support.

Just my two cents worth.