Tracey Barnett: RAPE DEBATES HAVE MISSED THE POINT!

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5:00AM Monday October 01, 2007

Sometimes we just get it wrong. As readers, on a daily basis we watch a news story such as the Rotorua police rape case of Louise Nicholas unfurl in scattered pieces over months, even years.

Just as we are able to pull up to survey the big picture, the next noisier instalment diverts our attention.

In the thick of it, we argue over whether Clint Rickards is innocent, or if Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws’ declaration of “don’t give me moral coppers – give me effective ones” is frightening, foul or fair.

Only now, far too late, do I realise why the entire national conversation about this case feels sorely off-target. We have missed the point.

Yes, these trials may be about a dirty bunch of cops who were allowed to abuse their position of power criminally. It is also about a system that may or may not have been tragically flawed, allowing impotent litigation to drag on for years.

But the pivotal piece that holds the most power for me is that most of us – in the media, in the courts, and at dinner conversations – have forgotten one essential thing.

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AdvertisementThis story started with an innocent 13-year-old girl. Ultimately, it will end with another 13-year-old girl, Louise Nicholas’ daughter, and mine, and yours.

Louise Nicholas was first raped by a cop before she had even begun menstruating. She was a young, scared girl boarding with her abuser and his family. It took her decades to grow into a woman sophisticated enough to understand the abuse of the institutionalised corruption she would have to fight long after that first rape.

For a moment, put aside whether Clint Rickards needs to be out on the street stripped of his new $50,000 Government wheels. Put aside whether John Dewar’s counter-accusations will be upheld, and even put aside whether Louise Nicholas was telling the truth. Instead consider this.

One woman has been on the witness stand seven times through five trials and three depositions. Thousands of pre-trial hours have been spent on what her decision to speak out as a young girl has now unearthed decades later.

She has been called “the town bike” and a “media whore” by people who have never known her, though there has never been proof that she was sexually promiscuous in any way outside of the police rape incidents.

She has had the guts, the strength, the tenacity, and the tremendous inner resolve to choose to fight this case through intermittent litigation on and off for the past 14 years.

How would one person ever have had the strength to put herself through this?

Even if you discount her entire case, no one can ignore almost two dozen women who eventually came forward with similar stories of abuse uncovered as a result of the Operation Austin investigation in the years that followed. The handfuls of victims who chose not to confront the cruel agitator of the courts or the media are today symbolised in just one woman.

Louise Nicholas lost the trials she always believed would rebalance justice. But she won something much bigger than her own experience. She won a different future for her daughter – one that was stolen from her past. What I and many others in this country have forgotten amid the combustible discourse is how to change the conversation. We forgot how to ask: What should be valued here?

There is a former dairy milker living quietly in the North Island with three daughters and a new baby son who embodies what is best about this country. She has fought – despite being stripped of personal power taken from her since she was a young teenager – against the police, against the courts, and against public opinion to do what she knew was right, to find justice.

She lost once, twice, three times, then four, and even today it appears that this fifth trial conviction will be contested.

Louise Nicholas, I hope your 12-year-old daughter has begun to understand the importance of the woman you have become.

Tell her what you have done for her future. Tell her what you have done for the thousands of silent victims who are now a part of your singular voice.

Then this country can remember to say what we should have understood all along. Thank you.

* Tracey. Barnett@xtra.co.nz

Louise Nicholas is speaking at 8pm tomorrow, at the Dorothy Winstone Theatre, Auckland Girls Grammar School. For tickets benefiting Rape Crisis phone (09) 376-4399.

4 thoughts on “Tracey Barnett: RAPE DEBATES HAVE MISSED THE POINT!

  1. Iokapeta 213

    its an inspirational text. personally i wasnt aware of the severity of the case, i didnt know how young Louise was, (althoughit does not matter about how old you are.. its still horrible!!).. im proud of her, as a woman.. she was a victim, but she’s using that to benefit young women that too have faced the same experience.. to help prepare them, its great!!

    i think its true, that we down play the “rape” cases.. media in general.. i dont understand how though.. we think alcohol and other stories are more news worthy than education about rape..

    i think that as children go through primary school and learn to “STOP, DROP AND ROLL” they should be taught about “MEN”.. and whats not normal, and that its okay to tell someone..

    its serious, and i think completely inexcusable!! if i was in charge of penalties in NZ it would come with a life sentence!!!

    theres no way that anyone can with that!!!

    i hope it will begin to change now, thanks to Louise’s choice to speak out 🙂

  2. Will - 213

    It takes a special kind of someone to be able to speak truth to power for as long as Louise Nicholas has; to stand up to the power of the police, the courts and public opinion.

    We surprisingly wonder why most sexual assault or rape victims (some studies suggest 8/10) don’t report the crime, but it is stories like this that should make the reason obvious.

    I was shocked when I read that Louise Nicholas had been depicted in the media as the ‘town bike’ or as a ‘media whore’. Why is it that the first instinct for the media is to make the victim of a high profile rape case culpable for the incident? I don’t know the answer to that, but we see it more often than not, especially in the United States. When Laker’s basketball player Kobe Bryant had been accused of raping a woman in a hotel room while he was away on holiday, the instinct of the media was to eventually question how culpable the woman was, how promiscuous she was, ignoring the obvious truth, that just because he’s a famous basketball player, or just because these men were cops doesn’t mean they’re not capable of rape. (sports and law enforcement are two very masculine careers, two very aggressive careers).

    But when women read about these stories and watch as a hail of insults and accusations come down on the victims of, in my opinion, one of the most heinous crimes, it’s no wonder why women don’t step forward to report abuse.

    Louise Nicholas is an inspiration, a model to follow and a beacon of hope for women everywhere. In the face of power she’s stood her ground, and as I imagine will, as she’s done well, keep fighting for justice and not be discouraged. One can only hope that more women will follow in her footsteps.

  3. Cherie

    I followed the legal case of Louise Nicholos, out of interest (while studying law) and I must say….I admire that women for her courage – dispite much opposition. I mean, we live in a society in which so easily passes judgment….while she stood in Court reliving the most horific crime….which you wouldn’t want to inflict even on your worse enemy (if you had one). But, where reasonable doubt existed, it raises the question: ‘when before the Court, who should we believe?’ Based on the evidence of one women…standing firming, against (in the view of many)…an outstanding Police Man? Mmm, well – at least justice prevails with sheer determination, or – with good lawyers. Did she have outstanding legal team and support, one must ask? Not really, I don’t think…or a lot of money – Yet, on the balance of probabilities….it almost seems like an uneven scale. While those who raised their hand, to put forward similar complaints…retreated – under the seemingly impossible. One women – ‘pushed forward’ for what? Money….No! Public Recognition of some sort? No. Not that her own needs or self be recognised…..she stood strong when she was painted by the media as the ‘town bike’. Not many women could stand that….but yet, she persisted – not once, not twice…but again & again – till justice preveiled. For whom? That our legal system ‘balance the scales’ again that ‘yes’ even the most horrific crimes can exist in the place, and among the people, whom wear justice, as a hallmark of their job & whose character is meant to be inbreed firmly into personal integrity of their character.

    Sometimes it makes me wonder….I recently read an article
    from an MP who spoke on how the Government was investing & making available 9 million dollars into the schools to counter bullying in schools for gay and lesbian youth. This the MP stated this will take strong leadership of principles who recognise that there is a problem for GLBT students, and deal with it head on, for the Govt.programme against bullying to work. I read this article & I thought ‘great’….there’s a need….then provide resources & create social policy to administer programmes. Then, I read how Eden is administering a programme & appointing a social worker to administer this, within the schools, to raise awareness of eating disorders. Once again….great!….its a problem – so lets address it. But, as I reflect on the issue of ‘rape’ among youth (especially teenage girls)….I think – ‘well, lets do more about this’. If we could draw the comparison of statistical analysis of various issues among youth (such as rape, queer bullying, and eating disorders, etc)….then couldn’t be equally distribute Government funding into each area? Because,….doesn’t each issue youth/young people face…..carry the same significant requirement of education within the schools & therefore….equally the same amount of Government funding.?? Maybe just dependent on independent focus.

    I mention this, as I’m inspired the the courage of one women who didn’t have much support…but she fought. Had (as a 13year old women) there been support and awareness of ‘rape’ for her….then maybe the results would have been different. Am, I saying that rape crisis doesn’t do enough? No…..they do. What I do think….is for every 13-20year old….wouldn’t it be great if we could raise more awareness. Why? Because, If we can spend $9 million dollars to raise awareness of bullying in schools. Then if statistical results show such concern for rape among 13+year olds….wouldn’t it be great to even the scales and spend $9 million on rape education in the schools. Mmm….well – I just think we could do more!!!!

  4. Olivia

    Hey, this is a great website btw – i am doing a speech on feminism soon and am just researching but i wasn’t sure about the comment you made lokapeta about educating young children on the dangers of ‘men’.

    My friend was telling me that she was shown a whole bunch of videos (in school) showing an uncle touching his niece inappropriately and other ‘stranger danger’ films.

    The thing is that she refused to go near her own relatives for years because she was scared. they never had (and never would) do anything too her but the video installed an unhealthy paranoia of men in general which is not the way to live our lives – in fear!

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