Sociologist Sandrine Ricci, who co-wrote the expert report on sexual violence – with Professor Karine Baril – testified before the court on Tuesday, taking over from her colleague. She spoke about the myths which tend to normalize this violence, but also about the mechanics of power relations.
Posted at 7:38 p.m.
Several myths about rape minimize the importance of sexual violence, began by saying Sandrine Ricci, who teaches in the sociology department at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). “When we say that women exaggerate, for example, or when we say: it’s not violence, it’s flirting, all of this minimizes the scope of sexual violence. »
Professor Ricci spoke of the “real rape script”. A stranger who comes out of an alley with a weapon and attacks a woman who is walking alone at night, she illustrated. “In our imagination, that’s what rape is. »
“However, we know that in reality it doesn’t happen like that,” she continued. It’s often someone we know, a parent, a teacher, a boss. And it happens in private places or in public places like his workplace, his university. But as we are confronted with a scenario other than the one we have internalized, we have difficulty recognizing gestures as aggression. »
In his report, Mme Ricci also cites a study (Fricker, 2007), which evokes this phenomenon which consists of not recognizing one’s status as a victim. “A large proportion of victims of sexual violence do not report an action, in particular because their frame of reference does not allow them to recognize certain experiences as being an attack,” she writes in her report.
Sandrine Ricci also explained that adherence to myths and prejudices is more likely to lead to acts of sexual assault. “As much with the intention of committing an attack as to justify it,” she clarified.
Mme Ricci also addressed the issue of power relations. She cited a study by researcher Jennifer Freyd, which suggests that abusers confronted by their victims employ a three-point strategy “to evade any guilt.” They deny or minimize the facts. They attack the credibility of the victim. And they reverse the roles to assume that of victim.
The model called DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) reflects a logic of domination and manipulation, summarized Sandrine Ricci.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Gilbert Rozon attended without flinching the testimonies of the two experts on sexual violence.
In a context where the blame falls on the victims, not only will they have difficulty accepting the violence they have suffered, but as a result, they will have even more difficulty denouncing their attacker by filing a complaint with the police, -she said in substance.
The #metoo effect
In this context, the denunciations on social networks and the #metoo movement had an effect of “historic mobilization”, explained the sociologist, who made a link with the civil rights movement.
“Sharing similar experiences has allowed many women to benefit from important mutual support,” she said, also mentioning the story of producer Harvey Weinstein, convicted of several sexual crimes. It gave them courage to denounce their attacker. To put him out of harm’s way. »
False allegations
Since Monday, false allegations of sexual assault have also been discussed. During her testimony, Professor Karine Baril indicated that false allegations existed, but that they were marginal.
She cited an American study (David Lisak, 2010), which speaks of a prevalence of 2% to 10%. A percentage which includes involuntary false allegations, she clarified, which arise for example when a victim is “in good faith” mistaken about the identity of their attacker.
In cross-examination, Me Pascal-Alexandre Pelletier submitted to Professor Baril that those who had lied were not necessarily inclined to make confessions, knowing that there were significant consequences that would result from it.
Other interesting information: the famous memory lapses, often perceived as a lack of credibility on the part of the victim, would on the contrary be linked to greater credibility.
“Research in science forensic indicate that self-confessed memory lapses and uncertainties during testimony by victims are factors associated with greater plausibility in the testimony of an adult. » (Amado et al., 2016)
