Stacey Dooley’s admission is sadly incredibly relatable
This article mentions rape and assault and some people may find it triggering
Stacey Dooley has opened up about seeking support as a victim of rape with the documentary maker saying she wouldn’t go to the police if she was a rape victim.
Explaining the heartbreaking admission, Stacey said that she wouldn’t feel confident going to the police.
The journalist had the realisation after working on her new BBC programme Rape On Trial.
The show investigates UK rape court cases and the concerning waiting times victims face.
After speaking to victims of rape and seeing what they’ve gone through, Dooley admitted she doesn’t feel like she would seek support from the police if she was a victim of rape.
She shared: “If somebody raped me, I don’t think I would go to the police, which is so bleak and such a disappointing realisation.
She added, “But in terms of what I’ve witnessed, I wouldn’t feel confident.”
Stacey worked on the documentary for over three years with the journalist speaking to three women about their experiences.
She said speaking to the courageous victims during filming made her lose faith in the system.
Will we ever have the system’s support?
Many women will be all too familiar with how Stacey feels. How can we trust the system when women are always met with criticism and shame when they come forward.
Other women will believe us because they’ve likely been victims too but society as a whole will label us hysterical or attention seeking.
Seeing the abuse Natasha O’Brien and Nikita Hand faced when they bravely came forward about their personal experiences proves there’s still a stigma to overcome, but there’s still so far for society to go when it comes to believing victims.
Women will continue to come forward and raise their voices, even if the system fails to listen to us.
We may not have the system on our side, but knowing other women will always support us is a comfort many of us need.
If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, help is available. The Women’s Aid 24-hour National Helpline can be reached at 1800 341 900.
