1. Gender neutral services do not work for women who have suffered #DomesticAbuse #sexualassault. A thread about a woman who stayed at one of our refuges and her experience
*posted with permission
*posted with permission
2. Eleanor (not real name) reached out for help to a service for victims of #DomesticAbuse. Her male advocate met her in person. He said in a meeting that she was flirtatious. She immediately felt like she had done something wrong.
3. Her instinct was that he was interested in her sexually but after he said she was flirting she immediately thought it was her fault. He then proceeded to breach other professional boundaries by messaging her inappropriately about other things not related to #DomesticAbuse
4. This led to Eleanor withdrawing from the service and remaining in a dangerous situation with her abuser for years. All the time, blaming herself. She couldn't approach the original service again because she didn't want the male advocate involved and didn't have confidence
5. In her own judgment of the situation.
Eventually, after years of abuse she came to one of our refuges. After realising through our support that she was not to blame she has thrived. She is a strong woman who has flourished. BUT if she had not reached out to us
Eventually, after years of abuse she came to one of our refuges. After realising through our support that she was not to blame she has thrived. She is a strong woman who has flourished. BUT if she had not reached out to us
6. She may have been killed. And this is why, services for women led by women are critical. A gender neutral approach is not suitable for victims of #DomesticAbuse and #sexualassault
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