With sexual offenses – in particular, pedophilia – currently in the local spotlight, the subject of “rape” will be the focus of Pepperpot tonight, October 7, on Progressive FM.
Bringing her knowledge and expertise to the discussion will be Joy-Ann Harrigan, who is a subject specialist in the Ministry of Education and a professional counselor, among several other academic and career qualifications.
“This topic is not new in our society,” says Pepperpot co-host D.Gisele Isaac, “but it is under-exposed and, too often, misunderstood.
“I’ve heard excuses from older men who have described rape as ‘just wrassling’ when a girl said no to sex. I’ve heard it described as ‘likkle rudeness’ between playing children. I’ve known women who blame themselves for being raped and I’ve also heard the community put more questions to the victim than they have to the rapist,” Isaac continues.
She says the topic needs more education – including the fact that boys and men are also victims of rape and sexual assault and that most rapists are “actually NOT strangers.”
