[wccrawford]

I was once told (very emphatically) that no woman would lie about being raped because it's such a horrible thing. I just stood agape.

People like about horrible things all the time to hide things that they think are more horrible.

Worse, some people don't care about anyone but themselves, and will lie for any advantage or benefit.

[bonerman69]

#BelieveAllWomen was in fact a real thing, a year ago....

[mschuster91]

As a reaction to a system where literally thousands of women's rape kits are not tested for years due to a combination of mismanagement, underfunding and understaffing, as well to structural issues such as male police officers not taking sexual assault accusations seriously or subjecting victims of assault to traumatizing questioning with no care about their mental well-being.

Back then, the status quo was "if you're a woman and you got raped, good luck getting justice".

[justinjlynn]

It's still that way, no matter how you present. If you're a woman, good luck getting justice after going through the horror of an exam and a police report in which you have to relive that same experience and a trial in which you often have to face your assailant directly, reliving it yet again. If you're a man, good luck even having your initial report recorded in the official record and then receiving no support in dealing with the trauma and violation and then risk being outed and treated like you're a weak subhuman if you dare try to reach out for help. It's one hell of a sick joke all around.

Believe everyone when they say that they were assaulted, full stop. Everyone is entitled to compassion and care. In terms of making sure no one else is assaulted by the same person who assaulted them again? Collect all evidence, with all care, every single time, process it in a speedy manor and let the usual standards of criminal justice apply, as they always must. Anything less is a direct menace to society.

[jeffdavis]

How to deal with uncertainty:

If you are not in a position of judgement or power, give all parties the benefit of the doubt -- accuser and accused -- and show compassion. Especially if they are personally right in front of you.

If you are in a position of judgement or power, like a reporter, a judge, a prosecutor, or a juror; then use a fair and impartial process.

[BonerBoi420]

#testallkits seems more appropriate than #believeallwomen.

[bonerman69]

Yep, exactly my point! The believe all women hashtag was literally a real thing... Literally referring to rape claims!