Rape Crisis Centers

Just reading the article brings back so many vivid memories of women I have met over the years, at conferences, court, on helplines, during training events, who have disclosed what happened to them and how they were treated when they tried to report it. The testimonies of survivors of sexual attacks, who speak to professionals at conferences in order to promote the work of organisations like Rape Crisis, are harrowing. I, too, received a helpline call from an old lady who just wanted to tell someone before she died. It makes me cry now to think about her.

Apart from court, the majority of women sharing their stories had not seen the person who attacked them brought to justice, even though most knew about Rape Crisis, and some had visited a centre to get help. If every woman or child who has suffered a sexual attack was to use the fantastic services provided by Rape Crisis, we'd need hundreds of premises across the UK. If every incident was brought to court, we'd need more courts and prisons to be built.

Yes, I've been involved in similar work too, when.
When stories of terrible rapes are headlined, it can often trigger or re-trigger the experiences of previous sexual violence, so I just thought the centers worth mentioning on here in order to maintain information on available support.

Thanks Butty

Thought I would just link this. Worth reading.

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/dec/18/rape-crisis-40-years-on

I used to work for Women's Aid in the 70s/80s, and knew women in the local Rape Crisis group. Some women needed both, of course.

Alie - That's the same link I started the thread with. Perhaps you'll get more of a response.

Alie I too worked for Women's Aid - late 70s to early 90s - and noted, over this period, a marked increase in reporting of sexual abuse and rape within marriages or by current and former partners. I think this was due to the change in attitude that occurred in 'society' when 'rape in marriage' cases were first brought to court and women realised that this was also 'abuse' rather than something so shameful that they had to suffer in silence.

When funding was withdrawn from the local Rape Crisis Group they tried to continue on a voluntarily basis but that proved impossible (one former worker even had her benefits withdrawn for continuing to 'work' without pay). The need for Rape Crisis services had been established, the flood gates had opened and the burden fell on the local WA group, still soldiering on in spite of our budget being hit in the same round Local Authority cutbacks. As a seasoned, but not hardened, WA worker I can only say that I found working with rape victims, even more harrowing than working with survivors of other types of abuse. The stories and emotional traumas live with me yet. I could indeed write a book but the stories are not mine to tell.

All power to Rape Crisis, the spity is that their work is still so desperatey needed in our so called civilized, post feminist society.

That term bothers me - sounds as if there had been a 'feminist society'....
....I think once you start seeing the reality of the 'civilised' you can't go back, can you?

I have lost track of what is happening re any Women's Aid groups these days - any information? Ditto Rape Crisis? I certainly don't hear much.

butty I have avoided commenting on this thread because I find it so depressing. I'm sorry. The topic does deserve an airing so I'm bumping it.

That's kind of you, ga but it is a sensitive subject. Talking about sexual violence is still pretty much a no-go area for discussion and yes, it is a very depressing subject - and maybe this forum isn't the place. There still remains a deafening silence around the subject generally though. I find that very sad.

Rape is one of those taboo topics that people steer away from, because it's too painful to contemplate and could happen to anyone, like cancer and death. Some people see discussing it as prurient, and don't want to be associated with it. Our heads can't take in the images of this violent act, and to cope we find ourselves re-framing it as an erotic event, which can be shocking and even arousing. No wonder we back away! Professionals who work with the subject need careful supervision and counselling, to enable them to remain emotionally grounded, as they can get burnt out, traumatised by what they learn, inappropriately aroused to violence, their personal relationships can be damaged, or they can become blase and too matter of fact, which might help them to cope but is no use at all for the people who have suffered rape, or the perpetrators.

Talking about rape can help us banish all this baggage and learn how to help the next generations understand issues like consent and how to manage feelings of anger and need for control.

I think by the time one gets to our age most of us will have first hand experience of this, or know someone who has - and therefore it touches our emotions deeply.