Had It Coming: What's Fair in the Age of #metoo?

by Robyn Doolittle

An illuminating, timely look at the changing landscape of sexual politics by a popular journalist.

For nearly two years, Globe and Mail reporter Robyn Doolittle investigated how Canadian police handle sexual assault cases. Her findings were shocking: across the country, in big cities and small towns, the system was dismissing a high number of allegations as "unfounded." A police officer would simply view the claim as baseless and no investigation would follow. Of the 26,500 reported cases of sexual assault in 2015, only 1,400 resulted in convictions.

The response to Doolittle's groundbreaking Unfounded series was swift. Federal ministers immediately vowed to establish better oversight, training, and policies; Prime Minister Trudeau announced $100 million to combat gender-based violence; Statistics Canada began to collect and publish unfounded rates; and to date, about a third of the country's forces have pledged to review more than 10,000 sex-assault cases dating back to 2010.

Had It Coming picks up where the Unfounded series left off. Doolittle brings a personal voice to what has been a turning point for most women: the #MeToo movement and its aftermath. The world is now increasingly aware of the pervasiveness of rape culture in which powerful men got away with sexual assault and harassment for years: from Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Bill O'Reilly, and Matt Lauer, to Charlie Rose and Jian Ghomeshi. But Doolittle looks beyond specific cases to the big picture. The issue of "consent" figures largely: not only is the public confused about what it means, but an astounding number of police officers and judges do not understand Canadian consent law. The brain's reaction to trauma and how it affects memory is also crucial to understanding victim statements. Surprisingly, Canada has the most progressive sexual assault laws in the developed world, yet the system is failing victims at every stage.

Had It Coming is not a diatribe or manifesto, but a nuanced and informed look at how attitudes around sexual behaviour have changed and still need to change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Canada, Audiobook, Social Justice, Book Club, Journalism

Audiobook

First published September 24, 2019

About the author

Robyn Doolittle is an investigative reporter with the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper. She began her career at the Toronto Star, covering crime and later municipal politics.

Her two-year investigation into Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s substance abuse issues garnered worldwide attention, and in 2014, the Star’s Ford investigation was nominated for a Canadian Association of Journalists award and a Michener Award for public service journalism.

A graduate of Ryerson University, Doolittle has lived in Toronto since 2002.

Reviews

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was...ok. I’m so familiar with all the stories in this book and familiar with the author’s other work that it just seemed like a mash of all the things that are happening. It’s ‘well researched’ I guess. But anyone following any of the metoo movement or does any work in sexual violence prevention will find this redundant. Also. No intersectionality or mention of it other than small sentences or mentions in a case. I thought I would get more Canadian context and critical analysis (like Desmond Cole’s The Skin We’re In) but no. Probably a good book to give someone who says ‘but women and men are equally’ or your dad who tries to be liberal but still makes unconscious rape culture jokes at Thanksgiving.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shied away from reading this book for too long, thinking I would only be furious coming out of it. I did feel furious frequently throughout my reading of this because of the many backward and terrible, deeply ingrained and incredibly harmful ideas there are about women that permeate how law enforcement and the judicial system, and basically every culture, deal with sexual assault cases. As in, mostly really, really poorly.
Robyn Doolittle's book does talk about the tiny baby steps forward these branches of the legal system are making, how they are slowly pivoting around to taking women a little more seriously. In particular because of an investigation Doolittle made of how police forces across Canada treated sexual assault cases and how many they totally dismissed with minimal investigation (a disgustingly high number). She also considers a number of other things that are feeding into this slow change (#MeToo, some high profile sexual assault cases in Canada, etc.) and though the overall picture in Canada is pretty disheartening, there are tiny examples of positive change.
But not so much still if you're BIPoC, unsurprisingly. One can only hope that eventually all the current examinations of the legal system, including the many past and ongoing examples of policing, mean that all kinds of sexual assault, regardless of colour or gender, are handled seriously and thoroughly.

[Rachel Stienberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother worked as a police dispatcher for years before retiring, and remembers Robin Doolittle’s original email inquiries seeking information for her Unfounded series. My mother’s opinions of Robin Doolittle and her intentions were very low.

Which I never really got, because all Doolittle managed with her work was to provide thoughtful insight, valid and fair critiques of the current system, and give way to future progress.

After that, though, I mostly forgot about the author and her impressive collection of work, until Margaret Atwood posted a photo of this book on Instagram, making it a valid necessity to pick up. And, this book is amazing.

It’s a stunning analysis of the past two years of the #MeToo movement, with clever weaving of sciences to understand the impact of trauma on the brain. Society has adjusted to act as the judge, jury, and the executioner by using public shaming strategies as a platform.

[Victoria]

I saw Doolittle speak at a conference and was very excited by her talk so I went and put her books on hold at the library. I was so excited! Her projects have made such a huge impact but there were many times I felt let down by how much she focused on how these issues also impact men and how men need to feel included in these conversations. There was an entire section that focused on how men’s lives have been ruined by false reporting sexual assault. I could not believe that she has this platform and chose to focus so much time on women who false report. It left me feeling cold.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent well-researched book about #metoo, sexual assault and how it is handled by courts and police, and sexual politics. Doolittle bases a lot of this on the Unfounded series she wrote about sexual assault for the Globe and Mail. I hadn't read the series, so her references to it went over my head.

This book is unabashedly feminist, and Doolittle even tries to look at her own biases when talking or covering sexual assault. She interviews Robin Camp, an Alberta judge who was disbarred for his comments, and a crew of teens promoting consent.

There's a lot of good information in here, and a lot to ponder. I just recommended this book to my dad, and we'll see what he thinks.

[Paniz K · Rating 3 out of 5]

great book but @ author: if you’re reading this please please stop being that heterosexual woman that refers to her female friends as “girlfriends.”

[diytrasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

cw: mentions of sexual assault

Writers like Doolittle make me think — for a very brief second — that I want to be a journalist. Her investigative reporting is so thorough, analytical, and profound that it inspires policing bodies to change its practices (shocking!!!). In a lot of ways, this book is a great companion piece to She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement, because both break down the #MeToo movement in very different ways. Whereas Kantor and Twohey's book — or even Farrow's Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators look into exposing sexual assailants (and empowering survivors), Doolittle is focused on breaking down the many barriers that exist for those who choose to report. Her perspective includes new (and controversial) topics such as the validity of a trauma-informed approach, the dangerous nature of call-out/cancel culture, and the generational divide in understanding sexual assault.

Despite Doolittle's creative and careful analysis of legal literature and social discussions surrounding sexual assault, she really misses the mark from one (VERY IMPORTANT) aspect — intersectionality. There are a few sentences peppered in the epilogue to acknowledge this, but it's clear that her analysis of sexual assault cases in Canada is overwhelmingly focused on white, cis women. I understand that women of colour and queer people are less likely to come forward with allegations of sexual assault, but this is heavily due to the fact that these stories are ignored or underrepresented in our media. It's so pertinent to conversations of sexual assault to better understand the complicated dynamics of race, sexuality, and gender and the roles they play in sexual assault. Even the examples discussing unhoused women failed to acknowledge how their economic status (unfortunately) undermines their experiences within a paternalistic legal system.

The reality is that the #MeToo movement has left marginalized women and people behind. This is slowly changing, which is why I think it's important to share stories like Chanel Miller's. Until then, I'm going to take my anger over our society's discarding of women and do a cathartic re-watch of Sweet/Vicious.

[Dawn Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is fine. As an enraged feminist, it didn't teach me much. Probably a useful read to those who haven't been around the block. For me it read as telling me a lot of things I already knew, and not accounting for some questions it raised that I wanted to hear more about. Pretty vanilla.

[Eleanor Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

While studying this thoughtful, engaging, easy to read feminist contribution on a park bench, I was asked why I was reading "such a depressing book."
The unwelcome question underscored for me the still prevalent shaming/silencing tool used against women who prioritize learning over chick-lit. I turned the page.

In a calm, measured tone, Doolittle, a Canadian Investigative Reporter for the Globe and Mail, weighs a variety of attitudes toward sexual abuse. She seeks the answer to the question, “What’s fair in the age of #Me Too?”
Very early on, the research is clear and urges much more in-depth training for both police and judges.
Doolittle's research explains the need to dispel antiquated hungover myths held by many police and judges, such as why a distressed rape victim would wait a day, a month, two years, or thirty-six years (Christine Blasey Ford) to disclose the attacks they suffered.

Even though Canada has the most progressive sexual abuse laws in the world, old fashioned police still have a hard time comprehending why a rape victim would not run screaming and yelling to the closest police station immediately after the abuse.

Trained, knowledgeable officers, however, do understand.

Doolittle also interviewed judges eager to learn new ways – as well as those unwilling to budge, adjudicators more concerned about defending their somewhat dated privilege.
I wondered, as I read, what kind of judge would not study the latest research that could forever impact a person’s life?

Dolittle posits that Canadian laws are not the problem – it’s the unwillingness to enforce them even though every two and a half days, a woman or girl is murdered in Canada.

One feature of post-traumatic response is a tendency of some (not all) victims to re-engage with their abuser. Why? Trauma experts say it’s a misguided attempt to expunge, erase, normalize, make it all better, or even deny the unbearable abuse occurred. (Children often buy birthday presents for the father who molests them, hoping he’ll stop hurting them.) This misunderstood abuse-response has, unfortunately, been used against courtroom complainants who continued to associate with their abusers. In other words, 'If it was so bad, why did you go back for more?'

In an unequal patriarchal society, women are groomed to keep the peace, forgive, and normalize the abnormal.

Doolittle interviewed a senior feminist writer who unabashedly attributes some (not all) responsibility for their abuse to some (not all) of the women Weinstein molested, actors who, to further their careers, continued to associate with an obvious predator. As an interviewer should, Doolittle listened to the older scholar without comment. Later, she considered that as a mother, she would warn her daughter, as have I, to be vigilant against predators at university parties - and everywhere else. Nevertheless, millions of women, like myself, had no idea our bosses slipped a drug in our drinks before raping us. There was no chance to self-defend. We were in no way to blame.

Today, thanks to countless feminists - meaning men and women who care about equality – our society has changed for the better. Harvey and Bill are in jail. Andrew and Jian are demoted and disgraced. Hundreds of actors, politicians, etc. have lost their reputations and livelihoods.

All the more reason today's accusations be accurate. False allegations of sexual molestation are terrible. Character assassinators weaken the credibility of true victims and cause life-long wreckage for innocent men.

In comparing yesteryear to today, Doolittle looks at many aspects of ‘What’s fair in the age of #Me too?’ Her answer to that question is fair-minded and commendable. Filled with stories about Canadian law and history, this educational book is highly recommended

Eleanor Cowan, Author of A History of a Pedophile's Wife: Memoir of a Canadian Teacher and Writer

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting read. I don’t think I remember the author’s Unfounded series when it was published but it sounds like a really important piece of journalistic work that will improve the experience of reporting sexual assault for people in Canada. easy enough to read, even though the subject matter is obviously not easy at all. 3 stars because I think the discussion being had in this book is.... limited. There was little inclusion of how race or class factors into sexual assault, which I think was a misstep especially in a country where Indigenous women face disproportionate levels of violence. Of course, it is focused on the #MeToo movement, particularly the noisier celebrity parts of it, so maybe that’s to be expected. I also think that largely ignoring race, class, and sexuality can unfairly skew discussions of generational divides between feminists. I think this book was a good summary of the mood coming out of #MeToo but I don’t think it really moved the conversation forward. Think this book would be a good choice for a friend or family member who’s got the spirit but is struggling to understand what things like “rape culture” really mean or doesn’t have a good understanding of how people who report sexual assaults are treated by the police and the larger justice system. I did appreciate the thorough explanation of Canadian consent law, it was extremely educational for me. One of the things I found interesting to consider in this book was where education about sexual violence and trauma will produce the most benefits for victims, with the police or with the courts? useful to think about even in considering a police-free future, I think, because the focus should really be on how to best help people who report sexual assault. The title asks “what’s fair in the age of #metoo?” and the content seems to ask “where do we go from here?” and I don’t think this book really has the answers. I don’t think most people have the answers, really. I think the strength of this book was highlighting how complicated it is to handle sexual assault cases in a way that is fair to both sides while making the safety of the victim a priority. However, I don’t think there was enough consideration of like... why a lot of women are angry and hurt enough after centuries of violence to not be focused on the feelings of abusers. The solution presented here is basically We Have To Talk To Each Other! which I think is true but also i don’t think it considers how frustrating it is to be told to make nice with people who don’t care about your rights or your personhood. who is telling those people to be empathetic to those they disagree with? I guess at the end of the day someone just has to buck up and do it, but it kinda sucks. Didn’t fully agree with all of the things in this book, but if the goal is educating myself and confronting opinions that challenge my own in order to see where other people are coming from and gain a more full understanding of the subject I think this isn’t a bad place to start.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely nuanced piece by a well researched author. Highly recommend for those seeking to gain a better understanding of the me too movement and sexual assault law in Canada in an accessible, easily understandable way.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting commentary on the #MeToo movement, consent laws, rape culture from the journalist who brought us the Globe and Mail report, Unfounded, a few years ago detailing the extent to which police departments across Canada neglected to really investigate sexual assaults because officers declared the complaints as unfounded.

Filled with a lot of anecdotal stories and clear explanations - this was an informative, interesting and educational read.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been frustrated by the lack of nuance in the #MeToo movement. When the hashtag was in full blush, I watched tweets stream past me from people with whom I should have found some commonality, but conflation abounded, and complex subjects were flattened into absolutes. It was Team A versus Team B. I picked up Robyn Doolittle's book worried it would also lack nuance, but it didn't. It did the opposite - it dives into the issues at play. It gives various opinions not just in general, but various takes from feminists from numerous waves and eras. It was a great read.

I enjoyed the section that talked about the research into the neurology of trauma - how people in terror freeze, forget, react. You read that and then get into Robin Camp's comments on the stand in a Canadian rape trial - asking the woman why she didn't angle her pelvis so the much-larger man couldn't penetrate her - and you understand why it's so difficult for the justice system to nail down proper investigations and verdicts. She also unpacks the "myth of the lying woman," starting the chapter with the Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square invasions, where women were assaulted in their homes, in their beds, and police brushed them aside until someone died. "The girl-who-cried-rape trope appears in Genesis," Doolittle writes. Potiphar's wife tries to seduce a handsome slave named Joseph, who runs out and leaves his cloak behind. She says he raped her and he goes to prison. The myth of the lying woman is thousands of years old, so even though false rape allegations are in the neighbourhood of two to eight per cent (still definitely a thing, no doubt, but a thing to be taken into context), the assumption of a false rape allegation is a lot more common.

I also liked her visit to Susan Brownmiller, and the section about our increasing tribal polarization brought on by social media. She turns over a lot of stones. She also asks her friends, who were also in their thirties, when they started thinking about these issues, when they started using the "f" word ("feminist"). They all agreed they didn't think about these things at all, didn't start using the word until their twenties (they wanted to be seen as "one of the good ones" in the eyes of the guys), etc. Doolittle compares this to teenagers who were organizing to urge changes to Ontario's sex ed curriculum. I don't know if that's every teenager though. I'm guessing not all of them are organizing or thinking as hard about these issues. When COVID ends, I'm going to ask my niece.

#MeToo, on balance, brought about a significant cultural reckoning and significant heightened awareness. But Doolittle talks about a lot of the aspects of sexual harassment and trauma that needed to be discussed more then too, so it's good that the book exists now. I would just love if people read it who didn't describe themselves as using the "f" word too.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

An unreadable pile of highly racist bullshit, written by a white woman who spends the intro and first chapter bragging about how she’s never suffered a traumatizing sexual assault, and didn’t question her knee-jerk desire to malign sex abuse victims to men the author wants to impress until she was in her 30s.

As a survivor of sexual abuse since age 3, it is blatantly, painfully obvious to me that Doolittle has never outgrown her self-described belief as a teenager that she is better and smarter than those of us who’ve been sexually abused. Not just luckier.

She also very clearly refuses to question the systems we live under beyond the most superficial level, as she has spent a lifetime successfully ingratiating herself to the men who run said systems, not least by emulating and internalizing the toxic masculinity they require of anyone wishing to be let into their fold.

Hence her automatically rejecting survivors’ narratives as a teenager and in this book, and her unwillingness to admit that the social systems of Canada are fundamentally broken and systemically oppressive to marginalized people. After all, she’s wealthy, employed, and has never been raped. Thus, she assumes those of us who don’t share her privileges are at fault for being targetted by abusers with greater systemic power than we have.

I am the same age as Doolittle. I believed Kobe Bryant’s rape victim from the moment I heard her story.

There is no excuse for Doolittle calling her, and presumably every other sex abuse victim Doolittle ever heard of or met, a liar until Doolittle was in her 30s. Even less so, given Doolittle claims she has actively encouraged men not to believe sex abuse victims, and thus actively encouraged those men to sexually abuse other people in ways Doolittle, acting as the token female apologist for sexually abusive men in their lives, claimed weren’t “really” abusive. Because, she claims to have said, the women who got raped should have known better.

Doolittle is a prime example of why people who are not sex abuse survivors, and especially those who’ve spent most of their lives actively and enthusiastically supporting the tenets of rape culture, should NEVER be given publishing deals for books about sexual abuse and rape culture.

If Doolittle gave half a crap about any sex abuse victims at all, she would step out of the spotlight and allow us to speak for ourselves. Instead, she has chosen to publish a book she is not qualified to write, in which she undercuts the statements, thoughts and feelings of actual sex abuse survivors, and tells us what she, a non-survivor, thinks we should say, think and feel about abuses she has never had to experience.

Doolittle wrote this book to make money and advance her career. Period.

And she has caused active harm to Canadian sex abuse survivors by making that selfish, systemically abusive choice.

Then, of course, there’s her utter erasure of all intersex and trans people from rape culture and sexual abuse. Apparently, we don’t exist to her as victims.

The depth of Doolittle’s racism also cannot be overstated. She utterly erases Tarana Burke from the #MeToo movement, instead crediting white women with Burke’s work. Doolittle follows up this racist erasure by snidely dismissing the phrase “the tea”—a phrase coined by Black women—in the very TITLE of her chapter on consent.

Doolittle is a pathetic excuse for a journalist. She is only useful as an example of why it is vital for white, cishet, neolib “feminists” to stay in their damn lanes and leave discussion of topics they can’t begin to comprehend to those of us who are knowledgeable and capable of the vital discussions that must be had.

I recommend no one touch this book with a ten-foot pole—unless you plan to burn it, use it to make art countering Doolittle’s racism, transphobia & misogyny, or something similar.

I have found few books less worth reading than this one.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out with an introduction in which the author reflects many of the feelings that most women have when discussing the #MeToo era and all the issues it has brought up. Chief among them is a lifetime of pent up rage over the way we are treated, and deep resentment for the injustices women have to go through that men don't. However, she states, this type of emotional venting is not a suitable method of enacting any real change, or starting meaningful conversations. So, this book instead takes a different route, choosing impartiality and facts as a means to further its mission.

Each chapter delves into an issue which the #MeToo movement has brought to light, and then further elaborates on it or at times corrects it, using the advice and knowledge of experts in the field, as well as anecdotal evidence from those who have been involved in matters of sexual assault. One of the books most attractive features, in my opinion, is the fact that the author researches niche areas such as the neuroscience of trauma, as well as more general and oft overlooked issues such as generational divides within the feminist school of thought.

Although the book deals a lot with the way in which the Canadian legal system treats matters of sexual assault, I would not categorize this as a purely legal book. I would say it is an analysis of the legal system, of current societal norms and the changes that need to be made for positive progress, and a tackling of issues which people must not shy away from if they want to make real change.

At times the book could get a little dry, and the author has a tendency to refer to her own previous journalistic work a lot. However, I would say that we can't shy away from the less interesting matters relating to sexual assault (such as the nitty gritty of Canadian law) just because it isn't as flashy, all these issues have to be considered to form an educated opinion. Secondly, I must concede that Robyn Doolittle's previous work is relevant whenever she brings it up, so it may just be me who was sometimes annoyed at the amount of times she would bring it up.

My favourite quote from this book was "On one side there are the crazy Trump supporters, who believe in wild conspiracy theories. On the other are the crazy woke police. And then in the middle are people [...] who are scared of both groups. At some point, they'll eat each other" (p. 182). This perfectly sums up what I love most about Had It Coming: What's Fair in the Age of #MeToo?, which is that objectivity and the ability to remain rational while discussing difficult topics is not a bonus, it is absolutely necessary.

Overall, I would recommend this book for those who want to learn more about the issues surrounding sexual assault from a Canadian lens, as well as those who want a more objective, but still comprehensive, take on the matter.
4.5 / 5

[Selma · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want an incredibly well-written and thoughtfully researched book on the setbacks and advancements of how sexual assault allegations are handled, this is the book for you. It’s truly a journalist’s book: concise information, organized story telling and a lack of bias where appropriate. This book is a must-read for anyone and everyone. Only tip: don’t read it before bed if you’re easily disturbed by the subject matter.

[🪐 · Rating 3 out of 5]

fairly balanced book in terms of evaluating all kinds of people sexual assault cases affect — the complainants, the police officers, the legal scholars, and the youth who are watching it all unfold. there’s some good, solid research in here too, and there are initiatives to improve reporting and investigating sexual assault cases.

my one issue with the book as that it is dated, and i believe other books have provided a bit more colourful analysis since then (but this is no one’s fault). i do also wish there was more intersectionality highlighted within it, but i know that there may not have been a lot of research specifically into this at this time, or profiling. my second main issue is that i think the social media chapter towards the end could’ve been used to highlight sexual harassment as well, especially for female politicians, actors, any public figure.

however, i still left the book disappointed. not by doolittle’s writing — if anything, it was quite enlightening — by how little has changed in nearly 10 years. canada has some of the world’s “most progressive” sexual assault laws, yet 1/5 cases are closed as “unfounded”. this is not an issue with the laws, but the societal values it reflects. it’s quite disheartening. this was written while a lot of investigations and trials were still being conducted and public opinion swayed with each new update. now, as diddy has been on trial and several victims of epstein are still seeking justice, what’s next? how do we improve? we still don’t have the answers, but change needed to come yesterday.

[Shruthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't always agree with the author's position but Had It Coming was a fascinating examination of rape culture, #MeToo, consent, how far we have come and how much further we have to go. It left me wanting more and with a slightly different perspective. It's well researched and well written. This is the sort of book you could give to your uncle who just doesn't get rape culture (and would probably not refer to it as such) and have him not become defensive. It's written very calmly which is impressive given the subject matter.

I am left with a lot of questions now on many of the issues Doolittle brought up, so I'd love to read a sequel (just putting that out into the universe).

My biggest critique is that the author is overly reliant on her previous journalistic work. I also thought one of the chapters should have been left out as it seemed a little too reliant on her personal biases as a journalist.

[Ruth Seeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nuanced look at rape culture, the progress we've made to change that culture, and the effects and repercussions of the #metoo movement. #abouttime Doolittle had little to add to my knowledge of the Ghomeshi trial and its complainants' allegations, but her interviews with Susan Brownmiller and Robin Camp make this worth reading. Particularly troubling are the revelations of how skewed reported statistics are regarding both the frequency of sexual assault and the idiotic methods of compiling false allegation statistics. Unsurprisingly, more people falsely submit insurance claims than falsely report sexual assault. So put that in your patriarchial pipe and smoke it. I know *I've* never submitted an insurance claim (except benefits claims for physio and medication. With receipts.).

[Scott Harris]

This book is an honest and candid exploration of the themes associated with #MeToo movement that does not shy away from the complexities and misperceptions that are rampant around us. Doolittle makes an effort to hear the many sides to each story, plainly naming the irreconcilable positions and inadequacies offered by various people profiled, while showing a gracious approach to each. She leaves the reader unsettled at the same time as more thoughtful. Definitely a needed read for those with strong, and perhaps even mild opinions.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

‪⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‬
‪A serious look at where we are almost 2 years after the beginning of the #metoo movement is the focus of this piece by Robyn Doolittle. In addition to looking at the way we discuss or don’t discuss the important subtext to our language and actions, Doolittle appears to be saying that we have not moved forward significantly in treating women equally and fairly. The biases and judgements held within the criminal justice system and how sexual assault cases are handled are covered and then expanded upon in a broader stroke with how women face multiple barriers to fairness. A look at the brain trauma that complainants of sexual assault experience is examined with a look at the research to support varying reactions victims of sexual assault report in response to the assault. ‬

‪As a person who has been both a victim of sexual assault, having gone through the criminal justice process and who later worked for several years as a victim support worker, I was not surprised by the findings and arguments put forth by the author. I have experienced and/or seen both very respectful and thoughtful treatment of complainants and the opposite. I choose to use my voice to reply to comments and actions by people who, whether by upbringing or personality, are ignorant to what it means to be a woman in today’s society. I am not perfect either but do my best to be respectful of others’ experiences knowing always that I don’t know their specific story.‬

‪This book offers individuals to an opportunity to examine their own beliefs and provides several timely examples to begin a discussion. Respectful discussions are what may be one of the only solutions to this problem. ‬

‪Thank you to @netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this book in exchange for an honest review. This book publishes September 24.‬

[Emily Sayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book and how it was broken up. She talks about #metoo and if we're making any progress and why. She showcases a lot of different perspectives from professionals in the field and touches a lot of topics that are a part of the #metoo conversation. Would be awesome for a book club to open up an interesting dialogue.

[Beccas Bookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was eye opening, intellectual, and allows the reader to form their own opinions. The level of investigative journalism was incredible and I would recommend this book to anyone interested, annoyed, or unwoke about rape culture in America, especially in the Canadian context.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What a well-written, thought-provoking piece on #metoo and sexual assault in Canada. I tore through this book and highly recommend it.

The drop in one star is probably more of a self-criticism. The author cites so many experts some times I couldn’t keep track. But overall the content is just so compelling.

[Brandy McGlaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Progressive but not biased, one woman’s opinions and research into the #metoo movement and the rape culture that is systemic in today’s society. A must read for everybody.

[Tara Wiebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-researched, informative, yet easy to understand book about consent, the Canadian judicial system, and the way sexual assault cases have been handled historically and presently.

[Jennie MC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educators, parents, feminists, polarized individuals.... Everyone should read this book!!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging and important Canadian read on #MeToo, consent, legality, and ethics.

[Kate Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Loved it. An intellectually and ethically honest exploration of complex issues. As a Torontonian, the Canadian context of reporting and data made this book extra dynamic.

[Jennifer Santosuosso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful. Well researched. Many perspectives presented. An interesting history of the #MeToo movement while considering a variety of perspectives and highlighting the various challenges around police investigation and the judicial system around sexual assault.