Brett Stewart says he didn’t indecently assault a teenager. He says she tried to kiss him, and that she’s making up these allegations because he rejected her come-on. (Hmm, where have I heard that before?)
The linked article was the first I’d read about this case, and my first thought was “pity his girlfriend was in the kitchen; if she’d been with him maybe none of this would have happened.” Which is not to say that I think Stewart committed the assaults – I don’t know; let’s wait until the jury tells us what they think.
But whatever the jury finds, whatever happened probably wouldn’t have happened had Jamie Baker, Stewart’s girlfriend, been present rather than in the kitchen. That’s because either: (a) if he did assault the teenager: presumably he would not have done so had Baker been present; or (b) if he did not assault the teenager: presumably the teenager’s allegations would not have stood up had Baker been present at the time of the alleged offences.
The take-home message, then, is: men, don’t go out alone. You might be accused of, and/or commit, indecent assault, sexual assault, rape or other sexual violence.
This post was inspired by this post and this one over at blue milk.
Nice twist on the usual victim-blaming conclusion.
[…] at Wallaby suggests that men should not go out alone otherwise they might, “be accused of, and/or […]
Here via the carnival.
I think the take-home message needs to be expanded, as men who have other men walk them home (:P) are not necessarily safe either. Men: make sure you get a woman to walk you home, to ensure you are truly safe, a woman you know and trust. A stranger won’t protect you from this kind of thing, and in fact you are in more danger from a stranger (stranger danger!)
Thanks, blue milk.
Katherine: HA! Very true!
In fact, men: even a woman you know and trust may not be able to protect you from committing, or being accused of, sexual violence – especially if you’re walking home drunk at night. Better walk home with two (or more!) women you know and trust.
(For that matter, even a woman you know and trust may not be able to protect you from committing, or being accused of, sexual violence even when you’re at home with her, whether you’re sober or drunk.)
Geez, where can men be safe from the worry of committing, or being accused of, sexual violence?
[…] So he then says he will never ever support “female abuse” whatever that means, and then proceeds into some victim blaming – women shouldn’t get drunk or use drugs because it is dangerous! Because men clearly cannot be held responsible for THEIR behaviour. […]
[…] ETA: Jo Tamar at Wallaby […]