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Let’s talk about rape culture & how it applies to sex workers.
My friend was raped at work in a brothel. She decided on justice, to set an example of how it’s unacceptable for men to rape sex workers.
However, rather than break the cycle of rape culture, the media mocked her.
My friend was raped at work in a brothel. She decided on justice, to set an example of how it’s unacceptable for men to rape sex workers.
However, rather than break the cycle of rape culture, the media mocked her.
Here’s an article on the case: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/mornington-man-michael-dragojlovic-sentenced-for-removing-condom-during-sex/news-story/25ca94bfc73b46d26eed539e93cccbd7?amp
There is no doubt that she was raped. He was tried and found guilty. However, rape culture persists with the support of the media and men in higher places circumventing responsibility and accountability for their harm.
There is no doubt that she was raped. He was tried and found guilty. However, rape culture persists with the support of the media and men in higher places circumventing responsibility and accountability for their harm.
Here’s what happened. Michael Dragojlovic went into a brothel with the intent of raping a sex worker. My friend was the unfortunate victim. He stealthed her and when she confronted him, he said:
‘That’s just what I do to prostitutes.’
‘That’s just what I do to prostitutes.’
There is no question that he sought to rape, target and violate a sex worker. When she reported the incident, the police and DPP assured her that he would be put behind bars.
That’s not what happened.
That’s not what happened.
Even though he was a serial offender, by his own admission, even though he wilfully put a woman at risk of STI’s and pregnancy, even though he violated and traumatised her, he won’t see a day behind bars.
Why?
Because his daddy is in high places.
Why?
Because his daddy is in high places.
The law is not supposed to be negotiable & applicable to some people & not others.
My friend was a victim like any other, her sex working doesn’t remove any of the trauma or violation she experienced.
He is a serial rapist with barely any punishment. All because of daddy.
My friend was a victim like any other, her sex working doesn’t remove any of the trauma or violation she experienced.
He is a serial rapist with barely any punishment. All because of daddy.
Who’s Michael Dragojlovic’s dad? Drago Dragojlovic is a former top sergeant & now a lawyer.
My friend was assured that because this case was tried in the county court, he’d be behind bars. Dragojlovic’s lawyers negotiated a guilty plea if she omitted the ‘to prostitutes’ part.
My friend was assured that because this case was tried in the county court, he’d be behind bars. Dragojlovic’s lawyers negotiated a guilty plea if she omitted the ‘to prostitutes’ part.
As a result he got 3 years community correction service, and if you know anything about the justice system you know that’s an inconvenience to your schedule at best. It’s not rehabilitation, it’s not punishment, it’s an annoying consequence to your actions.
This man is dangerous
This man is dangerous
To cause insult to injury, after going through the courts & reliving her trauma over & over again, my friend and the awful experience she went through is reported in a disrespectful, salacious, dismissive manner by the media.
My friend feels humiliated, trivialised and let down.
My friend feels humiliated, trivialised and let down.
Since when did we start reporting on crimes, convicted crimes, in such an insensitive manner? Where’s our empathy? Where’s our outrage? Where’s our solidarity for victims of crimes?
Oh that’s right. Rape culture. One set of rules for some people and another for the rest.
Oh that’s right. Rape culture. One set of rules for some people and another for the rest.
Sex workers are seen as inevitable victims in their profession and this belief is a product of rape culture. When we recycle this belief, others adopt it and hold it true. The media had an opportunity to report a crime unbiased, to break the cycle, and instead the perpetuated it
This wasn’t a ‘nerdy’ son of a former cop. He is a calculating rapist.
He didn’t find himself in a ‘stick situation’. He literally raped someone.
He wasn’t ‘prostitute-addicted’ he was a serial offender.
It wasn’t done ‘spontaneously’, he said he always did it.
He didn’t find himself in a ‘stick situation’. He literally raped someone.
He wasn’t ‘prostitute-addicted’ he was a serial offender.
It wasn’t done ‘spontaneously’, he said he always did it.
He only regretted his decision because he got caught, not because of any semblance of humanity.
The newspaper continues to outline the poor circumstances that led him to this crime ‘never having a healthy relationship’, ‘bullied’ and ‘small’.
That doesn’t excuse rape!
The newspaper continues to outline the poor circumstances that led him to this crime ‘never having a healthy relationship’, ‘bullied’ and ‘small’.
That doesn’t excuse rape!
Prison was thought to be too onerous on him given he’s socially awkward. Did he give such leeway & consideration to his victim?
Why not spend a paragraph dismantling rape culture rather than excusing it?
He sent a letter to a the court apologising? He’s NOT new man.
Why not spend a paragraph dismantling rape culture rather than excusing it?
He sent a letter to a the court apologising? He’s NOT new man.
I am outraged by how my friend was treated by the likes of Michael Dragojlovic, who make no mistake, will reoffend. I am outraged that she was misled by the DPP. She’d never had gone with it had she known this was the outcome. What’s sadder is that this is a relative good outcome
But what I found unforgivable is how the media treats cases like this and enables rape culture. Your puns and ‘clever wording’ are a disgrace and you should be ashamed for preying upon a traumatic incident and turning it into clickbait. And for what? What do you gain?
Your narrow vision is an embarrassment. You feed a culture that needs to be starved, you humiliate victims of crime, you trivialise convicted cases, you have an opportunity to tell a story in a respectful manner and instead throw innocents under the bus.
Shameful @paul_shapiro
Shameful @paul_shapiro
I hope I’ve done a better job of telling my friends story. I hope she feels acknowledged, heard & respected as every victim should. I hope I can repair the damage the media has done.
As for Dragojlovic, no sex worker will ever see you again. I’ll make sure of it, you vile pig.
As for Dragojlovic, no sex worker will ever see you again. I’ll make sure of it, you vile pig.
What’s more?
His lawyers wanted to see if my friend was drug dependent or uneducated. They were hoping she was underprivileged so they could attack her on the stand. When they saw she wasn’t, they encouraged him to plead guilty.
If that’s not rape culture, I don’t know what is
His lawyers wanted to see if my friend was drug dependent or uneducated. They were hoping she was underprivileged so they could attack her on the stand. When they saw she wasn’t, they encouraged him to plead guilty.
If that’s not rape culture, I don’t know what is
I tagged the wrong journalist (as the newspaper couldn’t even publish their own reporters twitter correctly). I think @paul_shapiro2 is the right one
