Why not to read the news in the morning

[theatokos]

I came across this news story (in a nutshell: Aboriginal 10 yr old girl gang raped by many teens, including some in their 20s, judge says girl probably agreed, boys go free after admitting guilt) over the weekend on a feminist blog. The only possible reaction is outrage. One commenter tried to say that perhaps the judge was trying to mitigate the culture of incarceration in Aboriginal culture. I don't buy that for a second. It's enough to make any female burst into tears, huddle in the corner and pray that she never has to go to trial for anything like this. Because the law is not on the side of women.

However, this morning the BBC reports that Australia, including the new (awesome) Prime Minister and senior lawyers are up in arms over the ruling. GOOD. Were they not it would be a disgrace to Australia.

Why I check the news headlines in the morning, I just don't know. It breaks my heart to think that this sort of thing - the assault and the weak ruling - happen regularly all over the world.

Comments

[chiv.livejournal.com]

Did it mention that the judge was also a woman *boggles* (That should mean something shouldn't it?)

There is still a lot of racism between white Australian culture and Aboriginal culture and an attempt to meld the cultures but even so, this ruling made no sense whatsoever.

The BBC made the point that the judges statement was irrelevant since Australian law makes the point (as does British law and as far as I'm aware most western law)that a child od that age cannot give consent. Fingers crossed the judge will be reprimanded for, at least, some sort of negligence and the ruling reheard.

The trouble is though that if the government gets involved in the courts there's furthers problem for the validity of a second ruling.
Fingers crossed though that common sense prevails.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Follow up reports that all sorts of negligence has taken place in this girl's life. This isn't the first time she's been gang-raped! (God, it makes me want to cry right now.) Many heads are rolling, as they should.

May justice and compassion prevail.

[hrafntinna.livejournal.com]

I know. It's horrible. And elsewhere women are sentenced to death for adultery for having been gang-raped. It's ironic that even saying Fuck the Patriarchy serves to re-inscribe a metaphor of sexual violence.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

No need to fuck the patriarchy - they'll fuck us!