Feminist campaigner Gemma Aitchison was attacked in broad daylight outside Manchester Civil Justice Centre after staging a one woman protest. Make More Noise decided to catch up with her and find out more.
DJ Lippy.
Hi Gemma. I’d be interested to know more about the protest: was it about the police and CPS taking rape victims phones as evidence?
Gemma Aitchison
Yes, in part. Also the historically low conviction rates and the police being found to sexually exploit and perpete domestic abuse without consequence. Women reporting stalkers and ignored and ends up dead. All but 1 terrorists since 2001 had domestic abuse in their history. If women were taken seriously, as people and not collateral damage, what could be prevented?
I was outside the Justice Centre in Manchester, near Salford Central. I was there from 9 til 6. The “women are slags and liars” with spitting and the drinks was a group of three blokes. The other comments about putting my “fucking face straight” and it “not being Halloween” were separate - other men throughout the day.
DJ Lippy
Were you alone?
Gemma Aitchison
Yeah just me stood outside the court. Stood still and silently.
DJ Lippy
How long have you been a feminist campaigner for?
Gemma Aitchison
I'd say since 2013 when I founded YES Matters because of my sister’s murder. I met (Ed) Miliband in September about getting sex education compulsory.
DJ Lippy
That's fantastic: I think a decent sex education curriculum that focuses on issues like consent and porn is vitally important.
Gemma Aitchison
Yes that was my thinking. Proper consent-based sex education instead of porn. Trying to prevent sexual objectification and all the harm that goes with it.
I think that the problem with Liberal feminism is its lack of critical analysis. The context is forgotten. Radical feminists that I've come across are very critically aware. I think gender stereotypes and sexual objectification are bad and damaging things that reinforce sexism. So in that respect I agree a radical fem sex education would be great
DJ Lippy
Just to go back to the event in question - Saturday yes? What was the response in general to your silent protest?
Gemma Aitchison
II heard a few people saying things like “Oh the new rape phone thing” and “it's because women don't get justice when they're raped” One woman in a wheelchair asked if she could take my picture and said thank you for protesting. Another woman with two daughters asked if she could hug me and told her girls I was there for them. People on buses and walking past took pictures and it started conversations importantly
DJ Lippy
Amazing. Did you have a placard or flyer?
Gemma Aitchison
No, nothing else. Just me, my tiny scales, dodgy sword and glued mouth 😂
DJ Lippy
Haha
Gemma Aitchison
I think I just wanted to show that we are not stupid, we do see this and I'm angry.
One of the basics of citizenship is access to justice but as we are seen in society as objects - in justice we are seen as collateral damage. It’s a manmade system, predating our vote. The CPS - instead of addressing victim blaming myths that enable perpetrators, they reinforce them by refusing cases based on those myths
*sorry, I'll stop ranting now 😂
DJ Lippy
Haha no its all great. Just to go back to the day in question, can you tell us a bit more about the incident with the three blokes?
Gemma Aitchison
One of them just said something like “what's this mad bitch doing, look at the state” but was laughing and walked behind me. Then the main guy of the three saw me and just seemed pissed off as soon as he saw me. He was defensive and very aggressive in his tone. The other two were cocky with laughing but they weren't angry like him. He just got in my face, close but not touching me. He said that women are raped because they are slags and liars.
DJ Lippy
Were you scared?
Gemma Aitchison
I was afraid, because of how he was but I was angry too. I could feel like adrenaline, it took alot for me to stay stood there, because I couldn't speak. I wanted to seem like he didn't matter to me by seeming unaffected if that makes sense?
DJ Lippy
Yeah totally
Gemma Aitchison
Then he stood away from me and took another drink of his can and said “as if anyone would want to rape you.” To which his mates laughed. I don't think men have had an original response since the suffragettes, it's literally the same crap.
DJ Lippy
Yeah never heard that one before have we 🙄
Gemma Aitchison
He seemed encouraged by the laughing and spat on the left side of my face 😔 Anyway then he poured some drink on my hair and then the other two kind of chucked theirs on me from further away - you know like you do in a water fight? I was intimidated but tried not to show it, so I just carried on staring forward
DJ Lippy
Did anyone intervene? Where there any bystanders?7
Gemma Aitchison
Two men stopped on the corner and watched but didn't say anything. Well they just laughed and walked off after that down towards the centre. I stayed still until they couldn't see me and then let myself cry and go home.
DJ Lippy
Have you ever been attacked or had similar incidents occur when you've done other feminist protests?
Gemma Aitchison
I get the usual online threats and shouting abuse at me at protests but that goes with the territory. I've encountered angry men at Reclaim the Streets marches. When in fancy dress for fundraising I have had angry but not original arguments with men.
DJ Lippy
Yeah we wrote a piece about a woman who was attacked at a vigil last year to mark the women killed by their male partners.
Gemma Aitchison
Ahh yeah I think that was Laura?
DJ Lippy
Yeah the irony meter is broken nowadays isn't it?
Gemma Aitchison
I know!! When they were referring to #metoo as a witch hunt my brain wanted to explode!!!
DJ Lippy
Do you think that such incidents are becoming more commonplace? I know the incident last year was the first time a protester has been physically attacked.
Gemma Aitchison
The way I see it, drivers don't get defensive about drink driving campaigns because they don't drink and drive. There's nothing to get defensive about unless the cap fits. I never said anything to anyone, I literally couldn't.
My protest was peaceful and I spent four years researching and writing a paper on the impact of sexual objectification on access to justice for women and girls. There is evidenced reason for it. But what it highlighted to me is that he had no concern about doing this in daylight in front of a court in public. No concern at all.
I think the “who would rape you” crap goes against the “but she was wearing this” nonsense. It shows it’s not lack of self control or naivety. And it proves my point that it's pretty much legal to rape in the UK.
I don't trust the system and didn't report my last rape. I don't encourage young people I work with to either because they believe that because they are telling the truth they will get justice and it’s just not realistic.
DJ Lippy
It's so scary to realise how vulnerable you are when law and order will let you down. Also, sorry about that - this stuff makes me so angry.
Gemma Aitchison
Oh me too. I remember a clear moment the last time I was sexually assaulted (underhanding) and as he was doing it, before I reacted I knew that no matter how I respond to this he will act like I'm making a fuss. No women never ever consider telling the police or security about assaults like that do they?
DJ Lippy
It amazes me men’s reaction is always surprise that you didn't think to tell anyone. It's just a normal occurrence on a night out. Every single time I go to a bar or a club I am assaulted or something weird and creepy happens. Sadly too many men seem just psychopathic but other men just seem to look the other way and pretend it's not happening.
Gemma Aitchison
I tell men that if they are confused, to pretend they are in a prison shower room. You are vulnerable and have to be vigilant. That's what being a woman is like. So don't do or say anything to a woman that you wouldn't want done or said to you in that shower room. It's like they don't grasp that we are people. They are solely entitled and predatory on nights out aren't they?
DJ Lippy
They are getting worse.
Gemma Aitchison
I definitely think it's porn related. It's become shameful not to accept porn now. Orgasm is a pretty powerful positive reinforcement of hating women
DJ Lippy
Thanks so much for talking to us today
Gemma Aitchison
And thank you :) I'm at an event at Salford uni on the 15th, I like doing Northern events :)
D.J. Lippy
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