Policy and Law

The culture of fear surrounding rape accusations

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

The culture of fear surrounding rape accusations

Are men living in perilous times where they may be falsely accused of rape at any moment? You would think so. A recent poll showed that...

A decade of false dawns: Why the new VAWG strategy feels all too familiar

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

A decade of false dawns: Why the new VAWG strategy feels all too familiar

Last month, the Home Secretary announced a new strategy for tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG). Within this was a raft of...

Overhauling UKs rape response: Include greater public access to interview data and survivor input

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Overhauling UKs rape response: Include greater public access to interview data and survivor input

Overhauling the UKs rape response - why we need greater public access to interview data and survivor input

The reality of rape: reframing the discussion

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

The reality of rape: reframing the discussion

The stories that are presented to us give a highly skewed picture about the reality of rape.

Science on trial: Weinstein, memory, and the chasm between science and law

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Science on trial: Weinstein, memory, and the chasm between science and law

We have come a long way in our understanding of memory. Yet we are still deferring to decades-old legal precedents built on myths.

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Enough talking, time for action

This could only be unprecedented if you have simply not been listening.

GRCF cuts and broken promises – a first look at ‘Global Britain’

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

GRCF cuts and broken promises – a first look at ‘Global Britain’

Cuts to the UK’s overseas aid budget will carry a heavy price indeed.

The anti-climatic quality of iConsent is far from the only criticism to be made

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

The anti-climatic quality of iConsent is far from the only criticism to be made

“iConsent is symptomatic of a culture that puts the onus on sexual assault victims to both protect themselves from attack, and then to...

Kenya's worrying trend of sexual violence during COVID-19 requires a swift, significant response

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Kenya's worrying trend of sexual violence during COVID-19 requires a swift, significant response

In times of humanitarian crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic that has dominated 2020, women and girls are especially vulnerable to...

How to reduce violence against women? Follow the science.

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

How to reduce violence against women? Follow the science.

There is no short-term fix to solving the problem of violence against women. We can, and must, go further.

Tonic immobility: Why it shouldn't be a part of rape law reform

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Tonic immobility: Why it shouldn't be a part of rape law reform

Tonic immobility – the idea that someone enters a state of involuntary paralysis when being sexually assaulted – is a popular concept in...

US Election 2020: A troubling standoff on sexual violence

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

US Election 2020: A troubling standoff on sexual violence

Sadly, the loudest voices in the US in 2020 are staying quiet because of their own history. Their silence speaks volumes.

# MeToo: Violence Against Women, Progress, and the Digital Gap

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

# MeToo: Violence Against Women, Progress, and the Digital Gap

This week marked three years since actor Alyssa Milano raised the profile of the Me Too movement in the wake of sexual assault...

Alcohol and sexual assault: Do victims remember rape less accurately than other life events?

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Alcohol and sexual assault: Do victims remember rape less accurately than other life events?

What sexual assault victims remember about rape has been the subject of much research and courtroom debate, especially when there is...

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

The myth of corroboration

The Corroboration Debate and the Word of a Rape Survivor In Scotland, the corroboration requirement necessitates that there must be two...

Alcohol, Rape and Lineup Identification Accuracy

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Alcohol, Rape and Lineup Identification Accuracy

Suppose you were a juror in a rape trial where the complainant was alcohol-intoxicated during the alleged attack. The complainant...

Introducing a new blog: Remembering Rape

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Introducing a new blog: Remembering Rape

Why this blog? When Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court, many people took this to mean that this proves his innocence. In cases...

Dr Ford, alcohol, and remembering sexual assault: What do we know?

Heather D. Flowe, PhD

Dr Ford, alcohol, and remembering sexual assault: What do we know?

The blog I wrote about Kavanaugh v Ford can be found on the BPS website.