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http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/01/itv-loose-women-poll-rape
ITV has issued an apology after a backlash over an online poll for its Loose Women programme, which asked whether women were ever to blame for being raped.
Results of the poll, carried out in light of comments by the Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde last week, were overwhelmingly negative but the fact the question was even asked sparked anger.
One volunteer for a charity that supports rape survivors said the poll had already led to clients contacting her with concerns and warned it could stop others from coming forward to report crimes against them. Rape Crisis called the poll ill-considered, insensitive and insulting and said responsibility for rape always lay with the perpetrator.
The poll was published online before a panel discussion about Hyndes remarks on the daytime programme. Hynde had told the Sunday Times magazine that when she was 21 a motorcycle gang member promised to take her to a party but instead took her to an empty house where she was assaulted.
But, she added, she took full responsibility for what happened, and she went on to say that women who dress provocatively while walking down the street drunk were also to blame if they were attacked. If Im walking around in my underwear and Im drunk? Who elses fault can it be? she said.
In light of Hyndes comments, the Loose Women poll asked: Is it ever a womans fault if she is raped? An overwhelming 87.85% of respondents said no.
Katie Russell, the national spokeswoman for Rape Crisis England & Wales, called the poll completely inappropriate and said her organisation was disappointed that the ITV show could think otherwise even for a moment.
Legally, not to mention morally, rape is always 100% the responsibility of its perpetrator and no one else, she said in an emailed statement, adding that self-blame and shame were a major reason for many victims not reporting attacks to police.
A programme like Loose Women could choose to use its high profile to raise awareness and understanding of rape, its impacts and prevalence, and to support and encourage survivors to seek services like those Rape Crisis offers, she added. Instead, theyve reinforced myths and stereotypes with this ill-considered, insensitive and insulting poll.
Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, said it had received more than a dozen complaints in the three hours after the poll was published online. We will assess these complaints before deciding whether to investigate or not, a spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for ITVs Loose Women apologised for a misjudgment in the way the poll had been worded. The spokesperson said: Loose Women is a daily talk show centred around topical debate and this discussion, linked to a recent news story, involved a full and frank range of views from the panellists.
We always want to know what our viewers think about topical issues, however, we accept that the wording of the online poll was misjudged and we apologise for any offence caused.
For our international posters, Loose Women is the UK version of The View.