Rape conviction rate won’t improve until women stop drinking heavily

[Jazzy]

A female ex-judge is facing a storm of criticism after saying that the rape conviction rate will not improve unless women stop ‘getting so drunk’.

Mary Jane Mowat’s comments were branded ‘outrageous’ and ‘dangerous’, and she was accused of contributing to the women-blaming culture that surrounds sexual assault.

In the interview, which came as she retired after 18 years as a circuit judge, Ms Mowat said she expected to be ‘pilloried’ for her comments, before saying that the law required certainty to convict – something made difficult when the victim had been drinking heavily.

‘I will also say, and I will be pilloried for saying so, but the rape conviction statistics will not improve until women stop getting so drunk,’ she said.

‘I’m not saying it’s right to rape a drunken woman, I’m not saying for a moment that it’s allowable to take advantage of a drunken woman.’

The 66-year-old added that a jury was put in a difficult position whenever a victim said they couldn’t remember ‘what I was doing, what I said, if I consented or not’.

Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre service manager Natalie Brook called the comments ‘frankly dangerous’.

‘Suggesting that rape conviction statistics will not improve until women stop getting so drunk is an outrageous, misguided and frankly dangerous statement to make, she said.

However, some defended Ms Mowat’s comments, saying they were made in the context of the law.

Source

Your thoughts on what she said?

 

[Dee]

Okay. Yes, I can understand where she is coming from. Essentially, she is saying that women can do things to prevent themselves from being raped, such as not getting so drunk that you're incapable of fighting back or at the very least saying no. It's about what precautions WOMEN can take as an individual in this society where rape occurs quite a bit, not so much focusing on changing the whole. However, I think it's partly bullshit because that would be like just brushing off the fact that some men and women think it's perfectly okay to take someone against their will.

It's a double-edged sword, really, but the actions shouldn't fall on women themselves to prevent rape. Rape doesn't always and only occur when a woman gets drunk, so this comment is also very misguided and only works in the scenario of like a house party, which is only one of the many places and situations where rape happens. Alcohol isn't always a factor, and that is why I think she needs to do a little more research.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

No excuse for rape. But all the judge is saying is take some personal responsibility so you do not become a victim of some scum bag. The judge is in no way saying if you do get drunk is it all right for a guy to rape a woman.

 

[Jazzy]

The 66-year-old added that a jury was put in a difficult position whenever a victim said they couldn't remember ‘what I was doing, what I said, if I consented or not’.

From a legal standpoint I 100% agree with the quoted statement. How can a 'victim' expect justice when they themselves don't know if they were a willing victim or not?