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Now I would answer the question very<br />
differently, I would ask the professor<br />
to imagine how I’d put two years of<br />
guesswork into how he may be feeling<br />
at any given time, usually because so<br />
much depended on guessing his mood,<br />
it had become second nature to me. It<br />
had dictated family life.<br />
One in four women will experience<br />
abuse in their lifetime, and many will<br />
not report but live as best as they can<br />
with the scars whether this be physical<br />
or emotional. There is a reason for this<br />
and in this is the reason why I write…<br />
“If someone is powerful – some of the<br />
agents may have said, he is a little bit<br />
oily, a little bit…he might pester you,<br />
but don’t worry go in…”<br />
Explaining further Thompson tells us<br />
of a system built with “blind eyes”. One<br />
which makes the victims responsible<br />
for what has happened to them.<br />
But what has to happen is society must<br />
open their eyes and say, “this is<br />
happening, and it must stop”.<br />
“Society must open their eyes and say, “this is<br />
happening, and it must stop”.<br />
We live in a climate of misogyny, a<br />
climate where violence against women<br />
is ignored or minimised, much the<br />
same as abuse itself is. In the news at<br />
the moment we are publicly privy to<br />
what had been the private torment of<br />
many women – the abuse towards<br />
them from Harvey Weinstein.<br />
Numerous stars have now come<br />
forward with their stories – Kate<br />
Beckinsdale has told how she was<br />
called a ‘cunt’ when she resisted his<br />
advances. And Emma Thompson also<br />
spoke powerfully on a system that<br />
expects women to firstly be quiet, and<br />
then to pray it goes away and then to<br />
be the ones who call out on the abuse.<br />
Maybe you disagree with this mixing<br />
up rape, sexual assault and Harvey<br />
Weinstein. There is a connection<br />
though and it is always based on power<br />
and control and a deep dislike and fear<br />
of women.<br />
Weinstein believed his position gave<br />
him the power to abuse the women<br />
and the girls. And he believed his<br />
power and prestige would be enough<br />
to keep him from consequence, would<br />
ensure their silence. This is the same<br />
in a rape in an alley, a rape carried out<br />
by an intimate partner or<br />
acquaintance.<br />
Rebecca
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