JK Rowling launches sex abuse centre for women only

Kagedeah · 2022-12-12T13:15:48+00:00

JK Rowling launches women-only service for sex abuse victims

Janice Turner

Monday December 12 2022, 9.00am, The Times

JK Rowling is founding and personally funding a new service for women survivors of sexual violence. Launched days before Nicola Sturgeon’s controversial Gender Recognition Reform Bill is expected to pass through the Scottish parliament, the Edinburgh-based centre, Beira’s Place, will be female-only.

The author, who has written about the sexual and domestic abuse she suffered in her twenties, believes there is an “unmet need” for Scottish women who want “women-centred and women-delivered care at such a vulnerable time”. She hopes Beira’s Place, which will employ professional staff to provide free one-to-one and group counselling, “will enable more women to process and recover from their trauma”.

Rowling’s board of directors are all vocal opponents of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which will permit anyone to change the legal sex on their birth certificate by making a simple statutory declaration, a process known as self-identification. Feminists, including Reem Alsalem, UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, have raised grave concerns it will open up women’s services and private spaces to abuse by male predators.

Beira’s board comprises Rhona Hotchkiss, a former prison governor, who has opposed the Scottish government’s policy of moving trans-identified male sex offenders to women’s jails; Johann Lamont, a former leader of the Scottish Labour Party and a lawyer; Dr Margaret McCartney, an academic, broadcaster and Glasgow GP; and Susan Smith, director of For Women Scotland, a grassroots feminist group founded to fight the gender reform bill. Beira’s chief executive is Isabelle Kerr, a former manager of Glasgow Rape Crisis who received an MBE in 2020 for her work supporting British citizens who had been raped overseas.

The provision of single-sex services has been a key battleground of the gender reform bill. Already in Scotland, most domestic violence refuges and rape support services are “trans inclusive” and accept referrals from both sexes. In recent years councils have removed grants from women-only refuges in favour of generic organisations. Monklands Women’s Aid in North Lanarkshire, which was set up more than 40 years ago, had its council funding withdrawn in favour of a social justice charity which also helps men.

Most controversial is Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre whose chief executive, Mridul Wadhwa, a trans woman, told the Guilty Feminist podcast that women sexual assault victims who request female-only care will be “challenged on your prejudices” and told to “reframe your trauma”.

Yet in her recent book Defending Women’s Spaces, veteran campaigner Karen Ingala Smith, the chief executive of Nia, a domestic abuse charity in London, describes how women traumatised by male violence fare better and feel safer in female therapeutic spaces.

Beira’s Place is legally permitted to exclude males under the exemptions of the 2010 Equality Act, which allows single-sex services if they are “a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate end”.

It is named after Beira, the Scottish goddess of winter. JK Rowling said: “Beira rules over the dark part of the year, handing over to her sister, Bride, when summer comes again. Beira represents female wisdom, power, and regeneration. Hers is a strength that endures during the difficult times, but her myth contains the promise that they will not last for ever.”

The service is not a charity, but privately funded by Rowling, a noted philanthropist. The amount she will donate to set up and run Beira’s Place has not been disclosed.

_BlueShark87 · 2022-12-12T21:02:59+00:00

There’s nothing wrong with womens only spaces but denying them to men like Erin pizzeys abuse shelter for men was(fact check me on this). That’s where they enter the wrong.

secret_tiger101 · 2022-12-12T20:12:43+00:00

I’m okay with this - I just wish we had the same for men

odysseytree · 2022-12-12T15:04:51+00:00

I don't expect her to open it for men because of her gender.

Candid-Dish-4415 · 2022-12-12T16:06:08+00:00

Honestly hot take:

Men shouldn't critique Rowling for this .

They should critique wealthy men who haven't done this for men.

63daddy · 2022-12-12T13:46:57+00:00

They are creating this shelter due to fears other female only shelters might actually admit and help a small number of biological males. In other words, existing shelters while hugely discriminatory aren’t discriminatory enough.

This whole situation is being driven by the false premise that women are always the victims and men always the perpetrators. Studies show women initiate at least as much domestic violence as men do. Studies similarly show that lesbian couples have proportionality more domestic violence than straight or gay couples.

We don’t assume it will be traumatic for women who were attacked by other women to be in a shelter with other women. Victims of battery are often treated in hospitals with people of the same sex of their attacker.

Not all female victims were attacked by men. Women initiate as much or more domestic violence. Men can be victims too. This whole thing reeks of misandry justifying male victims be denied help. Victim resources should help all victims regardless of sex.

athanc · 2022-12-12T17:52:11+00:00

It’s her money, she can spend it on whatever she wants.

It’s like seeing “JK Rowling goes to grocery store to feed herself” and being upset that you’re being denied a meal.

N3IVO · 2022-12-12T15:24:43+00:00

If it's a true safe space for only biological women then I have no issue with this.

Bland-fantasie · 2022-12-12T14:49:10+00:00

I have to respectfully disagree that this is a men’s rights issue. She is using her own money. We should be able to use our own money to open a male version.

I do acknowledge there is a big imbalance of resources available to DV victims, by gender.

Notdeadsleepy · 2022-12-12T14:42:20+00:00

Guys I don’t think having only woman shelters is bad in this situation. Not everything needs to be mixed, but of course there should be places like this for men also.

astrodonnie · 2022-12-12T23:16:22+00:00

I am unironically happy for her. A private individual can set up a shelter for whomever they please. What upsets me is when a government decides it only needs to help women, or helps women in a disproportionate way. The article is behind a paywall so it is unclear if she will receive government funding. If so I see it as discrimination, but once again on behalf of the government, not her.

njjb-1111 · 2022-12-12T16:59:43+00:00

Is it wrong that I don’t see this as a detriment to Mens Right? JKR has done something that in todays world has gotten her crucified - speaking up for biological women, a lot of BW’s feel their space is being invaded by TW’s, JKR is against TW having access to biological women only spaces.

And that is fine, what also should be fine is spaces for Males only, we have to change minds and put studies out there for men who are abused and open safe havens for abused men, especially if they’re trapped financially.

I used to volunteer at a men’s mental health charity and it’s become hugely popular, many women support it and it is a men only space.

This is a positive step in the right direction, and it can spread.

For anyone interested the charity it’s called HUMEN.

Kingofthebugs115 · 2022-12-13T01:12:59+00:00

I really don’t see a problem with this.

Lupus_Noir · 2022-12-12T17:42:25+00:00

How is this an issue? She is free to do whatever she wants with her money, she doesn't have an obligation to cater to male victims as well. It would be a problem if she actively opposed men only shelters, but she isn't. She is simply focusing on a group of people with whom she shares experiences. Seriously, this woman can't even breathe without being criticized for doing it wrong.

daymitjim · 2022-12-12T15:13:33+00:00

J.K. Rowling supporting women doesn't hurt me at all.
If you care about abused men, open your house to one or better yet contribute to having mens shelters built. We all deserve help and protection and a "right" is just a privilege, and it's a responsibility to do the things necessary for people to have access to privileges.
We can all take more responsibility for ourselves and one another.
J.K. Rowling is putting her money to good use, let's make sure we see more of that.

mikesteane · 2022-12-12T14:26:58+00:00

I await the time she concludes that the women taking advantage of it are just as violent as the men they left.

FrodoBaggginz · 2022-12-12T14:06:09+00:00

This is going to help women and not in any way hurt men. Not something worth being mad about if that’s where the Harry Potter girl wants to spend her money.

ERiC_693 · 2022-12-12T17:16:40+00:00

If shes funding it she can block who she wants. If she gets government funding it would be subject to equality laws.

UnfurtletDawn · 2022-12-12T23:04:02+00:00

Good.

Like what is there to complain?

I would understand if it was heavily funded by government as sex base discrimination or something but it's her own money and she can do whatever she wants with it.

1TARDIS2RuleThemAll · 2022-12-12T14:40:11+00:00

Why is this controversial?

matrixislife · 2022-12-12T14:36:32+00:00

I'm assuming that the funding that would normally go to these shelters won't be needed so can go towards men's shelters instead?

Jay_Hardy · 2022-12-12T19:49:45+00:00

It’s her money and I see no problem with this.
Is she against men only shelters?
If not, then I don’t see a problem with her.
It’s ok that they have their own space.

hottake_toothache · 2022-12-12T17:16:07+00:00

Women almost always prioritize other women.

MyOldNameSucked · 2022-12-12T13:31:29+00:00

Yeah no this is one of those things where it's important to segregate based on gender.

GltyUntlPrvnInncnt · 2022-12-12T18:00:06+00:00

Well, of course she does.

TomDuBois2002 · 2022-12-13T04:24:34+00:00

I don't mean to be transphobic, but I fully support her efforts in this.

EngineerWorth2490 · 2022-12-13T05:07:14+00:00

Why exactly is this a problem? JK Rowling is a woman supporting a shelter for women…only.

Admittedly, I can’t imagine cause for this story to significantly impact men’s rights in any way shape or form. Can someone fill me in here?

If the issue is inclusion, launching a sex abuse center for women that includes men seems problematic to me for many reasons, but the primary reason being that inclusion of men-regardless of their story during a time where victims of abuse are particularly vulnerable would totally undermine the trauma those women have experienced at the hands of abusive men…even to the point that women requiring assistance may avoid the center entirely.

Where I live (US, but in my specific state) advocacy support centers; specifically those functioning like shelters are gender-specific. Even our court-ordered-diversion programs and batterer intervention programs designed to rehab perpetrators of DV/SV are non-mixed, gender specific. Female abusers are required to attend all female LGBTQ BIP groups (W-W & W-M violence) and male abusers are req’d to attend all-male BIP groups (M-W) and (I believe) LGBTQ male abusers are req’d to attend all-male LGBTQ BIP groups (M-M). To my knowledge, with 10 or less total reported cases of W on M IPV-specifically SV cases reported over the last few years, the one group that doesn’t exist (but should because woman perpetrated IPV is particularly significant here when factoring for W-perp’ed DV in general) is a non-mixed gender specific all-female BIP group specifically addressing W on M perp’ed violence.

The only centers here that are inclusive of all genders, are those with advocacy services specific to Domestic Violence victims & IPV that occurs in a domestic setting. They do help victims of non-IPV related crimes especially by providing Legal services specific to non-IPV cases, but all-inclusive centers for all victims primarily serve as a hub for groups willing to provide gender-specific satellite services at smaller outreach centers.

That said, there is an underwhelming amount of regional advocacy services dedicated specifically to heterosexual men as victims of W-M perpetrated DV/SV in my state. Regional/decentralized advocacy programs catering to male victims are primarily focused on male LGBTQ victims (M-M violence)—although there are a few that offer mixed-gender group therapy for ALL heterosexual victims and others dedicated to ALL LGBTQ victims non-specific to gender. However, there are no women-perpetrated male victim groups that I am currently aware of, but plenty of M-W female-victim ONLY support/advocacy groups. I suppose I attributed the prevalence of available resources in my state as a function directly related to crime victimization relevance/state-wide reporting in order to accurately predict demand for a particular service. This theory would explain why W-M male victimization advocacy services are so low that services for male victims are typically included with other groups.

In the case of JK Rowling; if she was building a center exclusively for women by women in my state, would I have an issue with that? No.

Would I prefer a private citizen fund a private center exclusively for straight men victimized by women? Absolutely, but JK Rowling hypothetically spending her money on a private institution to support a cause specifically affecting a different demographic would not stoke any sense of opposition or disdain for the author for not hypothetically supporting my cause.

As a victim of W-perp’ed DV and SV, it would be nice to be able to have a place specifically dedicated to my experience helping me make sense of my emotions—already largely influenced by social misconceptions and social stigma—that would make things much easier to accept and aid in my recovery if I were surrounded by other individuals that I could more closely identify with. While the trauma experienced may differ person to person, being able to relate with other straight men who experienced violence and abuse specifically by a woman, dealing with the reality of the experience having advocates that I could engage me without simply seeing a victim making any assumptions about my sexuality or my gender that reflect any of the myths largely held by society is an extraordinary service that mixed group scenarios—whatever that may be simply cannot provide or address. Having advocacy groups available that share the same experience on the same basic level of shared identity establishes a greater sense of trust and acceptance that unfortunately cannot be matched any other way. It took me a very long time to even accept what I had been through myself before I even attempted to open up about it to anyone and unsurprisingly, the same rules didn’t apply to straight male victims of female DV/SV and a significant amount of victim blaming—even from one female therapist—significantly delayed and actually reversed progress I had made in my own, leading me to question my own truth.

So as far as JK Rowling privately opening up a sex abuse center and wanting to run it privately for women, by women fearing possible issues arising from being all-inclusive; I think that is an extremely reasonable thing for a person with a particular identity that wants to help people matching her particular identity that have experienced similar particular types of abuse by similarly particular people of another particular identity to do and by funding her venture privately, I see no reason why or how that would affect men or men’s rights in any way shape or form.

TLDR; As far as I’m concerned, a private person investing their own money in a sex abuse center dedicated to any specific demographic women, men, silverback gorilla, etc. is that persons personal choice and completely 100% irrelevant to men’s rights.

ThrowAway29307845034 · 2022-12-13T05:40:54+00:00

JK Rowling is like a Platonic Bigot. Perfectly bigoted in every way against everyone who isn't exactly like her.

koksomil12XD · 2022-12-13T08:22:13+00:00

What can you expect from this feminist-wannabe transphobic potato head…

xxTheMagicBulleT · 2022-12-12T15:13:11+00:00

Hmm, nothing new, basicly all only allows women. So one more or less means nothing when there are almost 300 of them with only 1 for men

ERiC_693 · 2022-12-12T17:25:53+00:00

Looks like a white, middle-class lesbian centre. The idea of trans exclusionary is really a prejudice toward males. Males are wicked and dangerous, females are holy victims.

McShagg88 · 2022-12-12T17:18:29+00:00

AengusK · 2022-12-12T16:10:23+00:00

I can understand this. If I was a young girl who was raped by a man I'd feel more comfortable surrounded by women for the next while.

I'm not saying women don't sexually abuse people. If a little boy was raped by a woman I would have no problem with him only working with the male rape crisis staff until he became comfortable enough around women to receive care from them.

Not every charity focused on helping women should be viewed as an attack on men. There are several charities for male sexual abuse survivors (Most of which are launched by women), but we don't hear women pretending that somehow is an attack on them.

Come on guys, you're better than this, some of the comments on here are absolutely pathetic, many of you sound like the male equivalent of a radical feminist

Sbeast · 2022-12-12T15:49:36+00:00

Seems sexist and unnecessary.

1) Men are victims also.

2) Sometimes women are abused by other women. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic\_violence\_in\_lesbian\_relationships)

sleepypuppy15 · 2022-12-12T17:47:47+00:00

Don’t necessarily have an issue with gender specific abuse center, as long as there are other options in the community for both male and female. Problem is there aren’t and pretty sure a male only abuse center would get crucified.

TheSittingTraveller · 2022-12-12T20:26:29+00:00

I think this is fine, freedom of association.

FunkTheFreak · 2022-12-12T15:59:08+00:00

honestly, this makes sense.

However, she should make on for only men aswell. Al genders need a safe space.

Black-Patrick · 2022-12-12T17:29:56+00:00

Good

Jumping3 · 2022-12-12T21:19:52+00:00

She's only a trasnphobe because she's a misandrist remember that when you support her

BungyStudios · 2022-12-13T00:21:01+00:00

Trans women's rights are men's rights.

rabel111 · 2022-12-13T02:35:38+00:00

There is a name for people who discriminate against people on the basis of their sex, denying victims of abuse services and assistance. Its "sexist pig".

DamianDev · 2022-12-12T16:03:10+00:00

Well I hope when the toilet brakes and they need a plumber or the roof leaks or there's a gas leak they will only call a female roofer/plumber etc. But it shouldn't be an issue, there's plenty females in those fields...

TheSnesLord · 2022-12-12T16:00:15+00:00

And to think, some cretins on the Anti-SJW side were actually in support of Rowling after she was targeted and attacked by SJWs over the T**** debate.

She is an SJW man-hating misandrist herself. Therefore she got attacked by her own kind.

Just goes to show you that just because someone gets attacked by SJWs, it does not mean that they are not SJWs themselves.

Uncle_Touchy1987 · 2022-12-12T16:17:41+00:00

Oh no one is coming to help men? Well golly gee ain’t that just par for the course eh? Don’t care changes nothing.

Spare_Development615 · 2022-12-12T18:12:35+00:00

On the one hand, it's JK's money, she can do with it what she wants.

On the other hand, we all know the kind of double-standards feminists operate on, if men so much as received a free scoop of ice cream, women would demand 10 scoops for equality.

Any man who thinks he's gonna get any help or sympathy in this world is a fool.

Take whatever you can get from the system and give nothing back.

The rest is noise.

undagroundmyth · 2022-12-12T16:20:47+00:00

I'm about to open one for men who have gotten there ass beaten by their wives. And then I'll spit on JK for being a closed-minded individual.

Women get away with it, and then the man goes to jail, which sounds like a broken system we live in.

boomboxspence · 2022-12-12T14:48:11+00:00

This proves that she and her transphobia has always been rooted in misandry. We should support trans women, they face the same stereotypes as men. They're seen as dangers to women for just existing. Misandry can have serious affects

My_Butt_Itches_24_7 · 2022-12-12T20:12:40+00:00

I don't think isolating women from men after a traumatic event like that is a good thing. It has the potential to create a phobia of men, because by blaming "a man", and as pathetic as I am about to sound, as I do have point, we aren't blaming a person, we are blaming a whole gender. We should be seeking out any and all individuals who have a passion for providing post traumatic event care, because they will do the best job.

Sure a man did commit the crime, but by stating "a man" did it instead of saying "that man" did it, we begin to blame an adjective instead of a noun. If that wasnt clear, the statement places the blame on a whole gender, rather than an individual by saying "a man did it".

Not having any trust worthy men around or making it seem like you have to be in a "male free zone" to be safe from sexual abuse, is the start to the creation of a phobia of men.

DestructionIsBliss · 2022-12-12T19:04:47+00:00

Little bit off topic but it's just so depressing to see what Joanne Rowling has turned into. Just to be clear, I'm not defending her or her politics at all, but it's worth noting that JK Rowling has written a surprising lot about male sexual assault. It's a plot point for multiple characters in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was possibly the first time in my life that I was confronted with the idea that female-on-male rape can be a thing. Sure, it's not much but compared to the utter lack of mention this usually gets in most fantasy stories it might as well be a truckload to have it happen to not just one but two characters.

DevOwner · 2022-12-12T19:44:45+00:00

So the qualifications for the job include having a vagina? Not sure how UK law views this, but I am sure there is a “vaginal carve out” to exclude any men from ever working there (not that we would want to, but….).

And also, ignoring male abuse survivors again….

EpicHajsownik · 2022-12-12T15:14:11+00:00

The worst thing men cant even cheat it by saying theyre women. Thats why terfs are the worst. They basically want only privileged women who were lucky to be born women to be treated with privileges

rocker12341234 · 2022-12-12T20:18:53+00:00

lets be real, shes probs only doing it to get people off her ass about the trans comments

Cagalhone · 2022-12-12T18:18:47+00:00

Probably gets some State aid ££

aknabi · 2022-12-12T20:55:10+00:00

Given how women need their own safe space from toxic (aka all) men we could help them by creating our own clubs so we can be kept out of public… they’ll love that… how about a golf club? Let’s call it Augusta? Women should cheer that those predators have their own place… oh yeah, nope forgot about feminist hypocrisy

rudbek-of-rudbek · 2022-12-12T22:11:58+00:00

I don't see the problem. If she is funding it she can serve the demographic she wants. If it was a public center that said women only, that's a totally different issue

martinbv95 · 2022-12-12T22:48:25+00:00

You know. Sexual abuse towards women is at least historically more common, and it is also assumed more harmful to a woman, than a man. That is not to say there should'nt be help for men, just that it is not wrong to open one for women, especially not if those who work there specialize in abuse towards women and how to handle that, as abuse towards women in many cases would be different from abuse towards men. Abuse towards men is also very real and something that needs to be addressed, but not necessarily on the same foundings as abuse towards women. So, you know, as long as this center for women includes all women, and not just. White, Middle class women in heterosexual relationships. I see no problem with it. Not everything has to be gender neutral, although it is a political wiev that it should.

equalRights111 · 2022-12-13T00:16:17+00:00

Because there weren’t enough already…

Saerain · 2022-12-13T00:20:16+00:00

It's so fascinating to watch as feminists panic about effects of feminism and use it to justify more feminism because it means we're not feminist enough.

Reminiscent of some other infamous ideologies.

YesYesYesVeryGood · 2022-12-13T03:21:05+00:00

Women supporting women is a great thing. Let them go their own way and do what they have to for happiness.

Men supporting men is a great thing. Let them go their own way and do what they have to for happiness.

ThatGIRLkimT · 2022-12-13T07:04:59+00:00

It is fine. It's her decision.

jacobeatsavocados · 2022-12-13T11:11:00+00:00

I don’t see an issue with this but she’s also a TERF.

2022-12-14T17:20:15+00:00

Will be funny when some "trans women" decide to crash the party.

samuraishill · 2023-01-01T10:12:13+00:00

Well done to JK advocating for women who have suffered sexual violence in the past.

If only men would step up and advocate for other men in the same way. Where are the male organised and led groups??

We should just step up and create our own sex abuse centre. Can we not do that?

Oh wait, I forgot that woman are responsible for comforting us emotionally and creating safe spaces for us.

/S.

What a stupid thing to complain about. We are just as capable as women in making the effort. That doesn't mean we should shoot down a woman who is helping other women.

Where are the rich powerful male role models? All with their heads in the sand.

Title	JK Rowling launches sex abuse centre for women only
Author	Kagedeah
Upvotes	883
Comments	266
Date	December 12, 2022 1:13 PM UTC (3 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/zjys32/jk_rowling_launches_sex_abuse_centre_for_women/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/jk-rowling-launches-sex-abuse-centre-for-women.1144156 https://theredarchive.com/post/1144156

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