"Rape Is Not Always Rape" - Nick Ross Triggers Outrage And Defends Rape Comments

[Valentinez A. Kaiser]

Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22677513

Former Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross has issued a statement defending himself against criticism over comments he made about rape.

In his book, Crime, he said it had become "sacrilege to suggest that there can be any gradation: rape is rape".

"The real experts, the victims, know otherwise," he said.

After criticism from anti-rape campaigners and on social media, he said rape was "one of the most defiling crimes" and could never be justified.

The controversy comes after extracts from the "Sex" chapter of his book Crime - subtitled "how to solve it and why so much of what we're told is wrong" - were published in the Mail on Sunday.

'False storm'

After publication, a number of newspapers reported that he had suggested "rape isn't always rape".

Sarah Green, campaigner with the End Violence Against Women charity, said: "It's really disappointing - more than that, it's horrible - that a reputable journalist like Nick Ross, with expertise associated with crime through Crimewatch, is trotting out with the same spurious myths about rape."

'Sickens and appals'

And Jacqui Hames, who presented Crimewatch with Ross for 16 years, tweeted: ".@nickrosscom Just caught up with the MOS - struggling to match the man I know with the comments!!!! What on earth is going on?"

In a statement released on Sunday, Ross - who left BBC One's Crimewatch in 2007 - said the reaction to his writing was "a false storm".

He said it "sickens and appals" him that people could suggest he blamed rape victims or "belittle what they suffer", adding that "the opposite is true".

"For the record, lest it needs saying, and, as I make clear in the published extracts, anyone who suffers such a violating crime should be the centre of our concerns."

Jill Saward, a campaigner for victims' rights, said she had some sympathy for Ross. His message had not been portrayed well by the media, she argued.

"I have supported women who don't realise they've been raped," she told the BBC.

"When you talk to them, sometimes it's because they can't actually face the fact that they have been raped, because if they don't have to think about it they don't have to acknowledge it. And some don't realise, because they don't actually realise what rape is.

"That was the message that maybe he was trying to get across, but it hasn't come across well."

'Ironic'

The book cited research which found many victims did not regard what happened to them as rape, "even though in law it plainly was", Ross had added.

"In other words victims themselves plainly see gradations in rape."

He said that, "far from taking a chauvinistic view, my chapter on sexual crime disparages the patronising views of women that still too often prevail".

He said: "Far from blaming people, my book says we are too quick to blame and that it tends to distract us from finding solutions to crime.

"While I acknowledge the self-evident truth that we - all of us - may, through our actions, make ourselves safer or more vulnerable to crime, that is not even remotely the same thing as justifying assault."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5live, Jo Wood, a trustee of Rape Crisis, drew attention to the "pretty pathetic" conviction rate for rape.

Of Ross, she said: "I find it quite ironic that he's claiming he's been taken out of context and that's not actually what he meant, etc, because that is exactly what a rape victim goes through: 'I didn't mean it that way, you're twisting my words.'

"That occurred to me last night, listening to him: he sounded like a rape victim on a stand in court, exactly the same."

 

[7figz]

He's right.

 

[BoldChild]

All I read was the title.

 

[Valentinez A. Kaiser]

All I read was the title.

I ain't gone lie, the title drew me in...

I thought to myself, "Is Rick Ross in 'Rape' trouble again? Did they misspell his name too?"

 

[jono]

Hip-hop has the rape culture though....

 

The user and all related content has been deleted.

 

[bambu]

Everybody wants to fuck, nobody want rape........

 

[Gold_Certificate]

Cosign.

Decriminalize rape.

 

[SleepwalkingInJapan]

didnt read.

clicked LOL for the name Nick Ross alone

 

[jono]

The former journalist, who is now

involved in the academic study of crime,

relies on academic research for the claim

that many women who have been subject

to non-compliant sex do not regard

themselves as having been raped.

This is like saying a 14 year old can consent to sex and thus it can't be called rape. Rape is rape B, whether she files a formal complaint or not. How is "non-compliant" sex NOT rape? Lol ridiculous, that's exactly what it is.

 

[theBlackbeard]

Some women like getting raped. Like sexual fantasies. They like when a nigga grab em pin em up against the wall pull they panties down and go in without permission. They be wet as fuck. I wonder what those no dick getting bitches feel about that?

 

[Gold_Certificate]

The former journalist, who is now

involved in the academic study of crime,

relies on academic research for the claim

that many women who have been subject

to non-compliant sex do not regard

themselves as having been raped.

This is like saying a 14 year old can consent to sex and thus it can't be called rape. Rape is rape B, whether she files a formal complaint or not. How is "non-compliant" sex NOT rape? Lol ridiculous, that's exactly what it is.

A 14 year-old can consent to sex, and thus it can't be called "rape".

That is a valid statement.

 

[jono]

The former journalist, who is now

involved in the academic study of crime,

relies on academic research for the claim

that many women who have been subject

to non-compliant sex do not regard

themselves as having been raped.

This is like saying a 14 year old can consent to sex and thus it can't be called rape. Rape is rape B, whether she files a formal complaint or not. How is "non-compliant" sex NOT rape? Lol ridiculous, that's exactly what it is.

A 14 year-old can consent to sex, and thus it can't be called "rape".

That is a valid statement.

Not legally. Even with a 14yr olds permission its still a crime.

 

[Ounceman]

He's absolutely right. a bitch has nobody to fault but herself for not keeping her eye on her champagne. regardless of who puts what in it

 

[theBlackbeard]

The former journalist, who is now

involved in the academic study of crime,

relies on academic research for the claim

that many women who have been subject

to non-compliant sex do not regard

themselves as having been raped.

This is like saying a 14 year old can consent to sex and thus it can't be called rape. Rape is rape B, whether she files a formal complaint or not. How is "non-compliant" sex NOT rape? Lol ridiculous, that's exactly what it is.

A 14 year-old can consent to sex, and thus it can't be called "rape".

That is a valid statement.

Not legally. Even with a 14yr olds permission its still a crime.

Why?

 

The user and all related content has been deleted.

 

[Valentinez A. Kaiser]

The former journalist, who is now

involved in the academic study of crime,

relies on academic research for the claim

that many women who have been subject

to non-compliant sex do not regard

themselves as having been raped.

This is like saying a 14 year old can consent to sex and thus it can't be called rape. Rape is rape B, whether she files a formal complaint or not. How is "non-compliant" sex NOT rape? Lol ridiculous, that's exactly what it is.

I think what his stance is that based on the studies of the crime, certain "victims" of what society considers rape don't necessarily feel they were raped in their own specific circumstance.

‘Half of all women who have had penetrative sex unwillingly do not think they were raped and this proportion rises strongly when the assault involves a boyfriend, or if the woman is drunk or high on drugs: they led him on, they went too far, it wasn’t forcible, they didn’t make themselves clear. . .

‘For them, rape isn’t always rape and, however upsetting, they feel it is a long way removed from being systematically violated or snatched off the street.’

 

[jono]

The former journalist, who is now

involved in the academic study of crime,

relies on academic research for the claim

that many women who have been subject

to non-compliant sex do not regard

themselves as having been raped.

This is like saying a 14 year old can consent to sex and thus it can't be called rape. Rape is rape B, whether she files a formal complaint or not. How is "non-compliant" sex NOT rape? Lol ridiculous, that's exactly what it is.

A 14 year-old can consent to sex, and thus it can't be called "rape".

That is a valid statement.

Not legally. Even with a 14yr olds permission its still a crime.

Why?

A minor can consent to sex, Is that your position?

 

[jono]

The former journalist, who is now

involved in the academic study of crime,

relies on academic research for the claim

that many women who have been subject

to non-compliant sex do not regard

themselves as having been raped.

This is like saying a 14 year old can consent to sex and thus it can't be called rape. Rape is rape B, whether she files a formal complaint or not. How is "non-compliant" sex NOT rape? Lol ridiculous, that's exactly what it is.

I think what his stance is that based on the studies of the crime, certain "victims" of what society considers rape don't necessarily feel they were raped in their own specific circumstance.

‘Half of all women who have had penetrative sex unwillingly do not think they were raped and this proportion rises strongly when the assault involves a boyfriend, or if the woman is drunk or high on drugs: they led him on, they went too far, it wasn’t forcible, they didn’t make themselves clear. . .

‘For them, rape isn’t always rape and, however upsetting, they feel it is a long way removed from being systematically violated or snatched off the street.’

I know what he said. That's the choice of the victim to file a complaint, if she doesn't no harm is being claimed but don't think for a second you won't get a rape charge for that shit.

 

[Valentinez A. Kaiser]

If they're underage regardless of implied consent from the person, it's still statutory rape