Looking at the BBC’s timeline of recent reviews, resignations and investigations, I find myself forgetting how all of this began in the first place.
When the reports of Jimmy Savile’s shocking crimes began to unfold, there was a mere handful of alleged victims of his sexual abuse. This number rapidly rose to dozens and we are now talking hundreds of possible victims- and this accounts only for those who have been able to speak out about their ordeal. However, given the focus of today’s media, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear if people didn’t know what events actually led up to the crisis that the BBC seems to be having.
Before I criticise a programme as longstanding as Panorama, I will admit that I admire the BBC’s apparent readiness to admit to its own errors, but as I watched the special on Jimmy Savile a few weeks ago, I was disappointed by what they had to offer. The focus had shifted away from the victims entirely and onto the BBC and its downfalls, and how on earth it was going to regain the lost trust of its followers. But this was only the beginning of it. People are now talking about celebrity and gay “witch-hunts” and directors at the corporation seem to be dropping like flies over the scandals faster than the newest one can surface.
What about the victims? When the BBC interviewed people out on the streets, the public often referred to the scandal as “the whole Jimmy Savile thing”. This, in addition to widespread allegations against public figures has done victims of sexual assault no favours. I personally believe that if the media is not careful with this delicate subject, it could single-handedly ruin the credibility of any rape or sexual abuse victim, or indeed sentence them to silence.
Speaking to my grandmother and her friends recently, they talked about sexual abuse as if it were something new to this world. “In our day, that’s what a girl was for, we just pulled ourselves together and got on with it”, said one of them. I don’t doubt that this was the voice of an era full of taboos as another piped up and said “I didn’t know what a homosexual was until I was 35”.
People need to wake up and realise that we now live in an era where sexual assault is no longer a matter to be covered up. Regardless of generational gaps in opinion, sexual assault is a heinous crime and victims deserve a voice, support and solidarity.
There has been a distinct lack of support surrounding the issue, and news articles related to it rarely lead the reader to a support network, a crisis line or advice pages.
If you, or anyone you know has been affected by crimes of sexual assault, there is hope. There are a number of online resources (see below) that can help you to understand what has happened, how you can get support, and most importantly: you are not alone.
Just a few examples of the help that is available:
Project Unbreakable (video link); This is Abuse; Help after rape- NHS; Rape Crisis
Kate Townend
exeposedev 