Dear editor, it was good to see Dr Simon Opher’s account of his meeting with Chrissie Lowery from the Night Angels – women working hard to provide front line support and, impressively, funding this themselves. We really admire and respect the women doing this important work.
However, we were concerned that Simon’s piece revealed some common misconceptions in respect of male violence against women and girls. Simon made the point that the effect of drink and drugs can leave women at greater risk of being subjected to violence. But what was missing from his commentary was the perpetrator. There is only an increased risk if there is a perpetrator who takes advantage.
We are still seeing too much focus on the behaviour of women (what was she wearing? How much did she have to drink?) and not enough focus on the predatory behaviour of men. Simon is quite right to highlight prevention as a vital way to reduce male violence against women and girls.
But by saying men and boys who choose to use violence against women and girls need ‘treating’, Simon is suggesting they are ill. The reality is, however, that they are choosing to exert power and control through violence and abuse.
And for as long as society tolerates this, male violence will continue. So, work with perpetrators is only part of the solution. In respect of reporting to the police, women who have had their autonomy destroyed through acts of violence and abuse, should not be put under pressure to report. Women must have total control over whether they report or not.
Currently, confidence in the police is incredibly low. Women cannot be certain that they will be fully supported when they report and that the crimes committed against them will be properly investigated. Involvement with the criminal justice system is frequently re-traumatising and rarely results in justice for female victims.
The focus must be on improving police responses to women’s reports of men’s violence. There are early, positive signs that Operation Soteria is bringing about these changes, but it is only when this can be clearly demonstrated, that we may see an increase in reporting from women.
We encourage Simon and those in government who are serious about meeting their target of halving violence against women and girls to keep talking to and learning from women and girls and think deeply about how, as a society, we continue to blame women (and excuse men) for the violence women are subjected to.
GlosWomen
Dr Opher replied: “This is a difficult subject, and I am grateful for the feedback.
“‘Treating’, with it’s medical connotations, didn’t properly convey Jess Phillips’ meaning, and I apologise. Violence against women is not an illness.
“Misogyny and male violence against women is the result both of choices made by individuals, as well as being the consequence of wider attitudes and inequalities in society that we need to address.
“Building trust and understanding is an ongoing process. I will continue to listen to and learn from the victims of male violence so that I am better able to tackle both the immediate and longer term causal problems.”
