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It should not be considered ‘normal’ to see a young girl hurriedly walking home at night, alone and with her keys placed in between her fingers, and fear evident in her eyes. This is an epidemic that is experienced by many women all over Northern Ireland. The stigma surrounding speaking out about cases of sexual harassment and assault only adds to this issue, with there being the added fear of being labelled a “liar”. It is this very problem that campaigns such as #MeToo are trying to combat.
Following the sexual misconduct allegations made against Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein, the #MeToo campaign has worked to denounce sexual harassment and assault, demonstrating to those in society just how many women are affected by these issues every day. The response to this campaign has raised the importance of speaking out about sexual assault to diminish the stigma surrounding it. The impact of the hashtag can clearly be seen as it trended in 85 countries worldwide, with one Twitter user stating in surprise that “My entire Twitter and Facebook feeds are full of women I know saying #MeToo”, showing users that these experiences should not be seen as commonplace. More locally, the CEO of Women’s Aid Federation NI, Jan Melia, responded to the #MeToo campaign and emphasised that it brings home the way in which these are ordinary men, with ordinary lives committing these acts of violence and abuse; and, in return, our culture and society engages in a series of victim-blaming: What was she wearing? What did she do to lead him on? Had she been drinking? This was furthered by actress Evan Rachel Wood, who tweeted “Because I was shamed and considered a ‘party girl’ I felt I deserved it. I shouldn’t have been there, I shouldn’t have been ‘bad’ #MeToo”. Melia states that “We need a cultural shift at all levels”, with “the #MeToo campaign being evidence that women are ready to speak, all we have to do is listen”.
More locally, the Reclaim the Night Movement held a march during November in Belfast. The movement aims to raise awareness for the need of action against street harassment and gender violence, working as part of the campaign for The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. Unfortunately, during the speeches before marching, many of the walkers and supporters were subject to both verbal and physical assault. A spokesperson for the movement responded to this on their official Facebook page, stating that events such as these “highlight exactly why we march. Even in a group of 200 people, even wrapped in coats and scarves and escorted by police, we are still not safe to walk the streets of our city”.
In Northern Ireland, sexual harassment and assault are vastly increasing issues, with 43 cases of rape reported in 2015/16 compared to the staggering number of 823 cases within the last year – the highest number of reported cases recorded by the PSNI since the initial data collection in 1998/99. Furthermore, since last year, there has been an increase of 32 more sexual assault cases. MLA Pam Cameron, who is also Chairperson for the All-Party Group on Domestic Violence, looks at this from a more positive perspective, establishing that “as sexual assault is such an underreported crime, we actually welcome in seeing the numbers rise in reporting… It may be a case of, not more crime being committed, but more crimes being reported, which just shows us that victims of sexual assault are more readily prepared to talk about these issues”. However, despite these increases, statistics show that the outcome rates for crimes of this nature have fallen, with the current outcome rate being 14.1% and less than 1 in 10 cases resulting in prosecution this year. Cameron stated that there are times in which “the justice system in Northern Ireland fails victims of sexual assault. It requires these people to see their abuser and relive traumatic experiences, while also coming under extreme scrutiny from the court. It’s bound to put victims off from seeking justice. Although, support from organisations such as Women’s Aid has proven effective, as they walk with victims and are alongside them during court experiences. It’s up to use to make sure we support the groups who support the victims”.
Despite these advancements, there is still work to be done. It is imperative that we continue our ongoing work to raise awareness and challenge the gender stereotypes and norms that harm women. We must work to convince women that all accounts of harassment are significant.
If you have been affected by sexual violence, the 24 Hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline is here to listen and support. Freephone 0808 802 1414 any time of the day or night for a listening ear, emotional support, and a range of information and signposting services.