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One of the aims of the site is to dispel the myth that rapist are strangers. As the site illustrates, most of the men who committed rape were not perverts or obvious predators lurking in dark alleyways – they were men that the victims trusted.
Since ‘I know a rapist’ was launched at the end of August, more than 1000 accounts of rape has been submitted by women wanting to speak out.
The aim of the site is threefold:
1. Women are able to share their stories in a community that can relate and support each other.
2. Victims of such violent acts are able to find therapy in speaking out and taking a stand.
3. The stories of rape survivors on the site teaches women that rape is not only committed by big-scary villainous men – It can be a family acquaintance, a friend or even your partner.
The purpose of the site is to dispel myths about rape and rapists by asking victims to describe their attackers rather than go into the details of their rapes, explains The Mail online.
Pauline, a 27-year old student who created the site says that she spends two hours a day correcting mistakes without altering the essence of their stories. And, because Pauline feels that the creation of the site was not about revenge, the anonymity of the women and their rapists is preserved.
Many of the stories contain similar scenarios and confessions of guilt, also, many of the perpetrators used slut shaming as an excuse for their crime – as a justification for violating women.
Either their skirts were too short, their blouses too tight or they behaved in a ‘seductive’ manner.
One victim wrote: “His hands were on my mouth, around my neck as he was saying ‘it will be OK. Shut up’ as he went on and on.”
Other women blame themselves for their rape feeling guilty for having too much to drink on the night of their rape.
A number of others also spoke about their regret at having done nothing to speak up and seek justice about their ordeal, as the majority of the rapes spoken about on the site have not been reported.
“I did not go to the police,” says a victim. “I remained silent for a long time. I recently heard that he had spent some months in prison for rape. But not my rape.”
We think that this site is a good way to help women rehabilitate and seek advice however painful their ordeals were. Speaking up and taking a stand takes courage and strength, which many of the women who wrote for the site already display by the very act of writing about it.
We hope many more victims will feel inspired by this site and follow its suit.
Article by: Gadeeja Abbas
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Since ‘I know a rapist’ was launched at the end of August, more than 1000 accounts of rape has been submitted by women wanting to speak out.
The aim of the site is threefold:
1. Women are able to share their stories in a community that can relate and support each other.
2. Victims of such violent acts are able to find therapy in speaking out and taking a stand.
3. The stories of rape survivors on the site teaches women that rape is not only committed by big-scary villainous men – It can be a family acquaintance, a friend or even your partner.
The purpose of the site is to dispel myths about rape and rapists by asking victims to describe their attackers rather than go into the details of their rapes, explains The Mail online.
Pauline, a 27-year old student who created the site says that she spends two hours a day correcting mistakes without altering the essence of their stories. And, because Pauline feels that the creation of the site was not about revenge, the anonymity of the women and their rapists is preserved.
Many of the stories contain similar scenarios and confessions of guilt, also, many of the perpetrators used slut shaming as an excuse for their crime – as a justification for violating women.
Either their skirts were too short, their blouses too tight or they behaved in a ‘seductive’ manner.
One victim wrote: “His hands were on my mouth, around my neck as he was saying ‘it will be OK. Shut up’ as he went on and on.”
Other women blame themselves for their rape feeling guilty for having too much to drink on the night of their rape.
A number of others also spoke about their regret at having done nothing to speak up and seek justice about their ordeal, as the majority of the rapes spoken about on the site have not been reported.
“I did not go to the police,” says a victim. “I remained silent for a long time. I recently heard that he had spent some months in prison for rape. But not my rape.”
We think that this site is a good way to help women rehabilitate and seek advice however painful their ordeals were. Speaking up and taking a stand takes courage and strength, which many of the women who wrote for the site already display by the very act of writing about it.
We hope many more victims will feel inspired by this site and follow its suit.
Article by: Gadeeja Abbas
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
