[Content warning: discussion of rape and sexual assault] –Russel Brand, GUILTY

One of the things that interests me with this thread is that with the exception of Sharon Mod, who's posting because of her job, that all the posts I can see are from men and none appear to be from women and I'm wondering why that is?

Could it be that even here women are afraid to speak up for fear of being gaslit and/or judged?

I haven't commented because I have little to add. However, as you've prompted me... back in the late 60s, the first women's refuge was opened close to where I lived. I read Erin Pizzy's book about the work and supported it. Years later, I gave to my local refuge while I lived in that town. I've read many books on domestic abuse and have spoken about it in real life, as well as keeping up on mean murdering their wives and children when said wives gained the courage to leave them, cases of male rape and the various celbrity abusers who have hit the headlines over the years. I've studied paraphilia, rape and abnormal psychology. The Pelicot case was horrendous and I applaud Madame Pelicot for exposing this depravity. 

Fifty years ago, when I was working for the predecessor to the DWP, I encountered an educated woman who married a French film director. He attempted to abuse her on the first night as a married couple. She ran out of the house, was ignored by the police she called (back then, it was regarded as a 'domestic' and none of their business) and never went back. Moving forward 40 years, I was one of a few who supported a young woman suffering abuse for a coupel of years, until she gained her freedom. Thankfully, she found a lovely woung man, got married and is very happy.

I suffered serious non-physical abuse at the end of one relationship and put up with it (with help) because had I walked out of the house before we sold it, it would have led to a series of injunctions to force a sale and I have no doubt he would have trashed the house. As that would have seriously damaged me, I preferred to cope with a limited period of abuse to ensure that, once the house was sold, I could forget him for the rest of my life rather than live with the effects of his potential actions haunting me for many years. It was highly unpleasant in many ways, but when the house was sold, I was entirely free of the b*****d.

I haven't commented because I have little to add. However, as you've prompted me... back in the late 60s, the first women's refuge was opened close to where I lived. I read Erin Pizzy's book about the work and supported it. Years later, I gave to my local refuge while I lived in that town. I've read many books on domestic abuse and have spoken about it in real life, as well as keeping up on mean murdering their wives and children when said wives gained the courage to leave them, cases of male rape and the various celbrity abusers who have hit the headlines over the years. I've studied paraphilia, rape and abnormal psychology. The Pelicot case was horrendous and I applaud Madame Pelicot for exposing this depravity. 

Fifty years ago, when I was working for the predecessor to the DWP, I encountered an educated woman who married a French film director. He attempted to abuse her on the first night as a married couple. She ran out of the house, was ignored by the police she called (back then, it was regarded as a 'domestic' and none of their business) and never went back. Moving forward 40 years, I was one of a few who supported a young woman suffering abuse for a coupel of years, until she gained her freedom. Thankfully, she found a lovely woung man, got married and is very happy.

I suffered serious non-physical abuse at the end of one relationship and put up with it (with help) because had I walked out of the house before we sold it, it would have led to a series of injunctions to force a sale and I have no doubt he would have trashed the house. As that would have seriously damaged me, I preferred to cope with a limited period of abuse to ensure that, once the house was sold, I could forget him for the rest of my life rather than live with the effects of his potential actions haunting me for many years. It was highly unpleasant in many ways, but when the house was sold, I was entirely free of the b*****d.