We are getting a head start on International Falsely Accused day on Sept 9th!
How many false allegations of sexual abuse are there? We are often told they are extremely rare—perhaps only one to three percent. But those numbers depend on an extraordinarily narrow definition of what qualifies as a false allegation. They usually count only allegations proven to have been deliberately fabricated. Mistaken identity, contaminated memories, misunderstandings, suggestive interviewing, unsupported accusations and even recanted allegations may not be included.
In this conversation, Janice Fiamengo and I speak with Dr. Felicity Goodyear-Smith, a physician, forensic medical examiner and professor at the University of Auckland who has studied wrongful allegations for more than three decades. Felicity explains the many different ways an innocent person can be accused, separating deliberate fabrications from allegations that are sincerely believed but untrue.
We also examine how “believe the victim” has affected police investigations, forensic medicine and the courts. When the accuser is called a victim and the accused a perpetrator before the evidence has even been heard, has the presumption of innocence already begun to disappear?
This is not an argument that sexual abuse does not occur. It does, and both male and female victims deserve compassion and justice. But the accused deserve fairness as well. An allegation is a claim to be investigated—not a verdict.
Prof Felicity Goodyear-Smith’s University of Auckland website https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/f-goodyear-smith
Prof Felicity Goodyear-Smith’s personal website
https://goodyearsmith.com/
Felicity (and husband, John Potter)
Masculinist Evolution New Zealand - - promoting a clearer understanding of men's experience - https://menz.org.nz/
COSA Newsletters and publications - Casualties Of Sexual Allegations 1994 – 2000 Archive https://menz.org.nz/cosa/newsletters/
Janice
Janices new book The Goddess that Failed is now available on Amazon. It is the first book I have seen that chronicles and explains the feminist takeover in a way that is both instructive and simple to understand. Consider buying a copy for someone who is on the fence! They will be moved by it.
