Sex Crimes: How Much Does The Public Need To Know?

I hope we’d all agree that it’s better for crimes against women – especially sexual crimes – to be vigorously prosecuted, and for the details of these shocking offences to be made public so that the perpetrators are publicly shamed and in general these issues are talked about rather than swept under the carpet.

That said, there’s also a line between reporting a sex crime and finding its details titillating. I found the extreme detail in this report about the 2007 gang rape of a 13-year-old Sydney girl pretty upsetting to read:

Over the next few hours, the boys took turns entering the toilet cubicle, where they had oral sex with her.

One 15-year-old announced to the others “I’m going to root her”, but it took several unsuccessful attempts before he penetrated her while she experienced a tearing sensation that she said felt “terrible”.

When council workers interrupted them, they moved to a different public toilet in a nearby reserve where the activity continued, while outside the cubicle the boys made comments such as “smile like you’re enjoying it”.

They made her take off her clothes and watched one another violate her, causing her to bleed.

The issue here, I think, is to what extent journalists are obliged to report the particulars of a crime, especially if it involves children. (The victim in this case was 13; the perpetrators’ ages were not specified but at least one was 15.) I feel uncomfortable with the possibility that reporting of court cases like these is deliberately lurid because that way, the story is considered more ‘newsworthy’.

It’s illegal to name minors involved in court proceedings, but I can’t help but feel that the anonymity of both victim and perpetrator, coupled with the detailed description of the crime, dehumanises the crime. Does this then desensitise readers to horrific crimes in general? Elsewhere in journalism, it’s becoming common practice not to refer to the method of a suicide in case you give depressed people ideas, but what about giving potential sex offenders ideas?

This is an ethical issue I haven’t really worked out for myself yet, and I’m keen to hear your thoughts.

What Makes Perez Hilton The #1 Gossip Blogger? Oh, Comparing Women To Dogs

I have been planning a long-form post for some time regarding the gratuitous sexism, fattism, misogyny and – yes – homophobia of Perez Hilton, and I will eventually get around to it. In the meantime, have a look at his most recent effort to inform his millions of readers:

How do you think that woman and her family felt when millions of people saw her compared to a whelping bitch?

When The Dawn Chorus first launched, we received some flak about our occasional-to-regular focus on sexism within the media and, in particular, in popular culture (i.e. the “celebrity” realm).

But what bothers me about this ‘ignore it and it will go away’ stance is that it turns a blind eye to the casual sexism that tells Hilton’s many readers (a high percentage of them female) that it’s okay to call women whores, sluts, fatties, homewreckers and, yes, dogs. Bear in mind that this is a man heralded by many major media outlets, syndicated across commercial radio and tabloid magazines, and even given publishing and A&R contracts, all based on his “work” on his infamous gossip blog. His is one of the biggest blogs out there; he is ranked highly in lists of influential web entities by Forbes and Time Magazine. He has made millions from his “brand”.

Obviously the appeal of PerezHilton.com is its very shabby bitchiness – so is a great deal of material online – but when will the major media wake up and realise exactly what it is they’re supporting?

Pregnant Woman Stripsearched In QLD Bottleshop

We hope you’ll forgive the infrequent posting this week; all but one of the Chorus are based in Melbourne and we’re currently in the middle of a 100-year heatwave! It’s not condusive to particularly rational or eloquent thought, but I could certainly tell heat-stress from pure rage when I read this story this morning: a woman, eight months pregnant, has been forced to undergo a stripsearch – in full public view – in a Queensland bottleshop after staff became suspicious that she was shoplifting:

A 40-year old Ipswich woman, who was eight-and-a-half months’ pregnant, was forced to lift her shirt after being wrongly accused of shoplifting at the Springfield Lakes 1st Choice Liquor store on Monday.

The woman, who was taking her time with her purchase, was buying a birthday present for a friend.

The distraught woman was told if she refused the search in full view of other customers, police would be called.

[...]

Queensland Consumer Watch spokesman and Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully described the incident as totally appalling and an invasion of individual rights.

“This is a matter for the police, not voyeurs working in liquor stores forcing pregnant women to undertake partial strip searches in front of other beady-eyed customers,” he said.

Incredible! The store’s feeble excuse for the gross invasion of privacy was that there had been an incident a week or so earlier when a shoplifter posed as a pregnant woman in order to cart out stolen goods.

I’m completely zonked from heat right now and my knowledge of the intricacies of Queensland law in these instances is limited; can any Sunshine State readers shed any light on whether this is even legal?

Does ‘The Pill’ affect your sex drive?

Pillowtalk Study

Currently recruiting

A Multi-centre, double-blind, randomized study to investigate the impact of a sequential oral contraceptive containing oestradiol valerate and dienogest (SH T00658ID) compared to a monophasic contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel (Microgynon) over 6 treatment cycles on alleviating complaints of reduced libido in women with acquired female sexual dysfunction (FSD) associated with oral contraceptive use.

Principal researchers:

• Professor Susan Davis
• Dr Fiona Jane

Associate researchers:

• Associate Professor Robin Bell

For some years now, some women taking the oral contraceptive pill have noticed a decrease in their libido. This problem has been investigated by The Women’s Health Program who are conducting a study into a new oral contraceptive pill that it hopes will lessen this problem.

Volunteers are required for this study to visit the Alfred campus (Prahran) on 4 occasions over a 6 month period.

If you are on the pill already, having recently noticed your libido disappearing, aged between 18-50 and in good health, we want to talk to you.

Please call +61 3 9903 0833 to speak with Jenny or Corallee or email womens.health@med.monash.edu.au

 

*I’m actually writing an article for a women’s journal in the UK about women and low libido. I find the term Female Sexual Dysfunction problematic, but this doesn’t negate the value of research into this area of women’s lives and well being.

The Dead Women of Juárez

At the end of 1993 the United States, Canada and Mexico created a trilateral trade agreement called NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). As a result of this a lot of multinationals from the United States moved their factories and production lines over the border from the U.S. in Mexico. In particular to a city called Ciudad Juárez in Mexico. Currently over 400 maquiladoras (factories that import materials and equipment on a duty-free and tariff-free basis for assembly or manufacturing and then re-exports the assembled product, usually back to the originating country) operate in Juárez and produce tens of billions of dollars in goods for export [into the U.S.] annually. Maquiladoras often employ young women – who flock to the town with the hope of finding work and economic security. Many of these women experience long commutes to their jobs and work long shifts for low pay. They work in areas that are a long walk from transport, are badly lit and not particularly populated.

The result? Over the last 15 years Ciudad Juárez has seen over 400 women fall victim to sexual homicides.

According to the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights:

“The victims of these crimes have preponderantly been the state of young women, between 12 and 22 years of age. Many were students, and most were maquiladora workers. A number were relative newcomers to Ciudad Juárez who had migrated from other areas of Mexico. The victims were generally reported missing by their families, with their bodies found days or months later abandoned in vacant lots or outlying areas. In most of these cases there were signs of sexual violence, abuse, torture or in some cases mutilation.”

In 2005 Amnesty estimated that more than 370 women’s bodies have been found and that more than 400 women were still missing. That was three years ago. To date the number of women has risen to approximately 600.

No More Gag Rule

This has very little to do with Australia directly but as it affects women all over the world I’m posting on it. And because I’m so excited and happy it has happened I want to share it with everyone!

Barack Obama on Friday struck down the Bush administration’s ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information. These are usually clinics that also work on other aspects of reproductive health care and HIV/AIDS and the result of the ban is generally the closure of free and/or low-cost rural clinics. Bush’s policy made it more difficult for women around the world to gain access to information and health care services, meaning many women are deprived of contraception and other health services in poor countries, leading to back-alley abortions and deaths

“Rather than limiting women’s ability to receive reproductive health services, we should be supporting programs that help women and their partners make decisions to ensure their health and the health of their families.”

- Hillary Clinton

ALSO! Obama also said he would restore funding to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programs that attempt to reduce poverty, protect women’s health, prevent HIV/AIDS, and ensure that “every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.” They’re big on gender equality being a human right and the importance of empowering women, supporting projects that improve women’s health and expand their choices in life. 180 other nations are already involved and the U.S. Congress has approved $40 million every year to go to the fund. Every single time the Bush administration blocked the funds.

Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of the U.N. Population Fund responded to the action with the following:

“The president’s actions send a strong message about his leadership and his desire to support causes that will promote peace and dignity, equality for women and girls and economic development in the poorest regions of the world. We are confident that under the new president’s direction, the U.S. will resume its leadership in promoting and protecting women’s reproductive health and rights worldwide.”

This signals fantastic things for women in the world, particularly those living in poorer nations. I am so excited that these actions are some of the first Obama would take and it signals to me a continuation of his wider commitment to women’s rights. With Obama, Biden and Clinton is such powerful positions I’m really excited about the progress that could be made in women’s rights internationally in the next four years

P.s. Think this isn’t that big a step? Check out the major league voices of dissent… oh Charmaine Yoest, how you make my uterus bleed. (We won’t even go into the comments from Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell or the House Minority Leader John Boehner. Ick.)

Acid Survivors Foundation

This is just a short message about the Acid Survivors Foundation. They’re a group in Pakistan that provide support to people who have been attacked with acid/had acid thrown at them. They cover the medical, surgical, psychological, legal and rehabilitation needs of victims, including costs (which are pretty big).

Acid throwing is a particularly vicious and damaging form of violence, wherein acid is thrown on a persons body – especially on women’s faces. It has catastrophic effects on the human body causing the skin tissue to melt, often exposing the bones below the flesh and sometimes dissolving the bone. It leaves the victim disfigured and is often psychologically shattering.

Acid throwing is becoming more common in areas of Asia and Africa where acid is cheap and often readily available. It some areas it is used as a pesticide for cotton seeds and is present in a lot of homes. As such it is being more frequently as a weapon during domestic violence disputes. Most often it is men throwing it at their wives.

It occurs in remote villages of Bangladesh where women (often young adolescent girls) have acid thrown at their faces for refusing to marry a certain man. It is happening in increasing numbers in Afghanistan, as men still loyal to the Taliban react to the increase in women’s liberties there. Last year several girls were maimed on their way to school. The ASF website documents the story of one woman in Pakistan who was forced to marry her attacker.

These attacks are rarely reported and even then do not go to trial or result in a conviction.

Statistics how many women have been victims but the foundation has treated about 170 women, more than double the number of men, since it was established in early 2006 by a Frenchwoman, Valerie Khan.

Their website has information on how you can help the foundation including donating materials like clothes and toys, money for their medical programs or, if you are in Pakistan, donating some of your time.

Additionally here are some articles about acid throwing from Womens eNews and the New York Times.

The Keys To A Successful Marriage = Physical And Sexual Violence

You may have seen this news popping up in the media today – the story of a 2003 lecture by Melbourne cleric  Samir Abu Hamza (titled ‘The Keys To A Successful Marriage’) in which he allegedly claims men are entitled to be physically and sexually violent with their wives. I can’t say I’m surprised – there always seems to be people about happy to spread this kind of repulsive thought. And I do take heart that the issue of violence against women is apparently important enough for the Prime Minister to speak out against Hamza’s statements – even though he said Hamza’s comments had no place in modern Australia…which insinuates that they DO have a place elsewhere, or in another time…which I would beg to differ with!

I’ve been thinking about this story all day, and thinking about how to channel my angry response into some constructive action. Any ideas? Letter writing? Turning up at one of Hamza’s lectures and attempting to engage in a dialogue? Or something less reactive, supporting White Ribbon Day? Fundraising for a women’s shelter? I sometimes feel overwhelmed by this kind of hatred against women and just want to throw up my hands.

Myer Lingerie Department And Breast Cancer Institute Pair Up

i was interested to read today that the Breast Cancer Institute and Myer have paired up to provide free Breast Cancer Screenings for women in the lingerie departments of four Myer NSW stores:

The mammograms are then transmitted in seconds to the BCI Breast Centre at Westmead, where they are read by two doctors.

The clinics — the first of which opened at Parramatta yesterday — will be fitted with the latest digital screening equipment to reduce examination time and improve accuracy, reporting time and image quality.

Hopefully the locale of the mammogram testing will encourage more women to be tested whilst increasing a general positive image about breasts and women’s health. I’m a big fan of multitasking and like to idea of doing something mundane and with something pleasurable. What professional services would you like to be combined with retail or other so called leisure pursuits? I hate going to the doctor for repeat prescriptions so I would enjoy a cocktail bar that employed a general practitioner on staff I think…

*Also, kudos to the media for resisting the urge to include photographs of women in lingerie as part of their reporting.

Defensive Homicide Laws: It’s Time To See How They Work

Dawn Chorus readers will be as horrifed as I was to read of the ongoing murder trial where a young woman  shot her stepfather dead then dismembered and buried him after many years  of daily sexual abuse.

In 2005 the Crimes Act changed to remove ‘provocation’ as a defense, partially because it was regularly used as a defense by men who murdered their partners under the guise that they were ‘provoked’ to anger.  Whilst men traditionally have found it easy to claim ‘provocation’, women in turn, have found it extremely difficult to use the notion of self defense in ending the life of a persistently abusive partner. Readers may remember the case of Heather Osland who was was convicted of murder for her part in the killing of her violent husband, Frank Osland. Heather was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison and served the minimum, despite clear evidence of ongoing violence and sexual abuse.

Provocation is now replaced by defensive homicide, and one advantage is that the law allows jurors to hear evidence about family violence perpetrated on an accused person to show the context in which a homicide occurred. Hopefully this will be a clear determinent in demonstrating self defense.

On another note, friends of the accused told the court they had reported the abuse to teachers and counsellors at the school in 2005, but claim the school did nothing. I wonder if there will be any repercussions for their failure to adhere to ‘mandatory’ reporting laws concerning the reporting of child abuse?