But, for the record, not all feminists feel this way and the people who victim-shamed Katie Price aren’t possibly “true feminists.” I consider myself a feminist, and I know several other feminists who would never dream of putting that type of pressure on a rape victim for any reason.

Those were my first impressions, however. Thinking on it further, I think I DO believe her on this (although not on all the stuff she makes claims about). To be honest, but in a completely non-judgmental, non-victim-blaming way, I’d imagine that her career trajectory has probably put her in situations where this sort of thing could have happened to her. (I mean this wholly without condoning that fact, or the rapist’s behaviour in ANY way. I may not like Katie Price, but she deserves to be respected and to determine what happens in her own life and to her own body.)

I also don’t think that Katie has any responsibility except to do precisely what she’s done: put the matter of rape squarely at the front of society’s consciousness and force us to ask questions about how to prevent it from happening. By refusing to shoulder the blame (“responsibility”) for the later behaviour of that man, I think she’s setting a good example. The criminal justice system is NOT the way we are going to change society; perhaps Katie’s confession will at least push us toward thinking about ways in which we can do so.

And, of course, all excellent points.

People are vile. I recently fell out with a best friend over something minor and her response was to post all over my facebook what had happened to me, and how funny it was, and how I’d probably loved it because I’m a filthy whore. There’s basically no possible benefit in telling a person you probably don’t know something like that. We as women do not have responsibility from ‘keeping a man from raping’ – the responsibility lies with him and him alone.

1. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more instances than not in which the new girlfriend calls the old girlfriend a liar who is just jealous of the new relationship. People are very reluctant to believe that someone they know can be an abuser, especially when it’s someone they’re already involved with romantically.

2. The fact that any individual woman is not publicly naming her rapist doesn’t mean that she’s not doing this. I’m kind of confused about such an assumption, and if such an assumption is not being made, why it is relevant here.