TV review Shocking and disturbing to see how raped women are treated

After murder and manslaughter, rape is the toughest crime, says the man of Zeeland’s sex police. And it is much more common than murder: almost a quarter of women in the Netherlands have ever been raped. At the same time, this only leads to a conviction in 0.4 percent of the cases. Sunny Bergman investigates in Blue balls and other rape myths (NPO 2) why that is.

Bergman is best known for Black as a soother documentary about Zwarte Piet and racism. But sex and sexism are actually the common thread through her oeuvre. For example, she made Man made About masculinity, Lacquer About the double sexual morality, and Limited About the beauty ideal. Hopefully Blue balls and other rape myths just as influential as Black as a soot Because what Bergman puts down in this is shocking and disturbing.

The main part is the interviews with ordinary burgers who interviews Bergman in a kind of confessional: a mobile cabin of mirror metal on the outside, and warmly stained wood on the inside. She also films with the Zeeland venue, in a school class, a police class and a talking group for raped women.

The women tell about their rapes, how it has influenced their lives, the shame, the frustration that the perpetrator went freely. Bergman lights two women: Lydia who was drugged in a club. She was poorly treated by the police who refused to investigate her with a Rape Kit. Now she is still looking for justice with a criminal lawyer and a private detective. She also tells a police class how harmful this is for law; Few women dare to report a declaration. « There are two perpetrators here: the rapist and the police. »

Kimberly was drugged and raped by a colleague. During the police investigation, she had to lie naked on a table while men in packs with cotton swab of DNA material gathered on her body. « I thought that was more intense than that whole rape. » Despite a lot of forensic evidence – she scratched the perpetrator and had his DNA under her nails – the perpetrator was acquitted.

The poor treatment by the police of rape victims always comes back. When Bergman films with the vice police you will soon get an impression why. When Bergman tells them about the rape that she experienced as a seventeen year old on a Greek party island – where the perpetrator first removed her tampon – the male investigators react to show their loud aversion to sex during menstruation. « Very filthy. »

The legal description of rape has been expanded in the new sexual crimes Act. Violence or threat with violence is no longer a necessary part. All sex without explicit permission is now punishable. Given the stories in this documentary, that is a much needed adjustment. Many rapes are not recognized and recognized as such. Violence is often not there because the victims freeze or participate, out of death fear. Most rapes are not done by unknown, violent psychopaths, but by, for example, good friends. A researcher says: « It is usually relatively normal men who make a fatal mistake under the influence of alcohol and drugs. »

The men of the vice police find the new law « difficult » and « complicated ». On Bergmans suggestion to believe the victims on their word, they say, « Then the men are outlaw. » Bergman responds with: « But now we are outlaws. » Criminal lawyer Spong also criticizes the new law: « One wrong touch and you’re the dick. » Spong plays the villain in this story anyway, because immediately he says: « It strikes me that women get raped quickly. » Women, he poses, should resist more: « A good resilient woman would greatly reduce the number of rapes. »

Laughing atmosphere

Here we come to the most painful part of the documentary: the men’s reactions. Almost all men say they don’t know anyone who has ever raped someone. While one in five men does this, a researcher says. The atmosphere among the men interviewed is often laughy. Two older men, once enthusiastic participants in the sexual revolution, find the current attention to sexual violence at all blown nonsense.

Young boys in a social studies lesson state that a woman who dresses or behaves sexy asks for it herself. So blaming the victim is in a young age. The teacher corrects them. She stands on a table and says, « Even when I stand naked on a table, no one has the right to touch me. »

Men think they are entitled to sex, says a researcher. In an interview with Doctalks (NPO Start) says Bergman: « For a long time, women were made responsible for the man’s orgasm. » Just like Gisèle Pelicot, the French woman who was drugged by her husband and was raped by fifty men, Bergman says: « I want to blame and shame with those they belong to. » We are the men.

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