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We Need To Talk: the truth about sexual violence and my fight for justice
'As inspiring as it is enraging, Emily Hunt turns trauma into action, exposing a criminal justice system that fails women, and a culture that enables violence against us. A rallying call for change, and a powerful lesson in perseverance from a woman who would not give up.'
The Guardian
Emily was in a restaurant, having lunch with her father – the next thing she remembers is waking up, naked, in a strange hotel room, next to a man she did not know. She suspected she had been drugged and raped. She later found out she had been filmed without her consent.
What happened to her that night could have happened to anyone. What came next happens to far too many victims, as failures by the police, CPS and other parts of the system, led to Emily doubting she would ever find justice.
Six years after her attack, Emily is an adviser to the UK Government on sexual violence. Part memoir and part investigation, Emily shines a light on the fault lines of a system and a society that is failing rape victims. We Need To Talk looks at how rape is a mainstream, everyday problem deeply damaging victims, their families, their workplaces and the economy.
This is a conversation starter about why we don’t talk about rape; that the only cause of rape is rapists, not rape victims; who commits rape and why; the reasons why society defaults to blaming the victim; and ultimately how we need to change and humanise the way we talk about rape in order to truly hear and support victims and end the current epidemic of sexual violence.
Emily was in a restaurant, having lunch with her father – the next thing she remembers is waking up, naked, in a strange hotel room, next to a man she did not know. She suspected she had been drugged and raped. She later found out she had been filmed without her consent.
What happened to her that night could have happened to anyone. What came next happens to far too many victims, as failures by the police, CPS and other parts of the system, led to Emily doubting she would ever find justice.
Six years after her attack, Emily is an adviser to the UK Government on sexual violence. Part memoir and part investigation, Emily shines a light on the fault lines of a system and a society that is failing rape victims. We Need To Talk looks at how rape is a mainstream, everyday problem deeply damaging victims, their families, their workplaces and the economy.
This is a conversation starter about why we don’t talk about rape; that the only cause of rape is rapists, not rape victims; who commits rape and why; the reasons why society defaults to blaming the victim; and ultimately how we need to change and humanise the way we talk about rape in order to truly hear and support victims and end the current epidemic of sexual violence.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2023
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hunt
76 books1 followerEmily Hunt’s works include the poetry collection Dark Green (The Song Cave, 2015); Cousins (Cold Cube Press, 2019), a photography book; New Clouds (Floating Wolf Quarterly, 2013), a poetry chapbook; and This Always Happens (Brave Men Press, 2013), a book of drawings and text. She lives in New York City. See more at emilyrhunt.org and on Instagram @its_ehu.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 11, 2025
This one has been sat my on library wish list for a while, and I finally bumped it. It goes without saying that this is not an easy read. Part exploration of the lack of statistics, legislation, and injustice into violence against women and girls, coupled with the memoir of Hint’s own experiences as a victim of r&pe and her sheer bloody hard work and determination to seek justice against the perpetrator.
On the part-memoir side, Hunt talks about her treatment by police and how she felt she wasn’t a victim worthy of being listened to, and their lack of any real investigation. She talks about how the CPS failed to take her case forward. One those counts, she really pulls the reader along, and this isn’t an easy read in parts. But she also talks about the statistics around reports of rape, the rape myths, why most victims never report their rape, how many go through to successful prosecution (not many), the tiny number of malicious rape reports (0.03%). Did you know a man is 53% more likely to be a victim of rape himself, than a victim of a malicious rape claim?
Hunt also talks about how the rape and her perilous journey in getting justice affected her and her health. Blimey - she’s amazing considering all she’s been through, what she’s achieved, including clarifying the law on voyeurism. She also became a specialist advisor to the government on rape (however she’s recently resigned). This is such a powerful, informative and shocking (in parts) read. Recommended reading.
On the part-memoir side, Hunt talks about her treatment by police and how she felt she wasn’t a victim worthy of being listened to, and their lack of any real investigation. She talks about how the CPS failed to take her case forward. One those counts, she really pulls the reader along, and this isn’t an easy read in parts. But she also talks about the statistics around reports of rape, the rape myths, why most victims never report their rape, how many go through to successful prosecution (not many), the tiny number of malicious rape reports (0.03%). Did you know a man is 53% more likely to be a victim of rape himself, than a victim of a malicious rape claim?
Hunt also talks about how the rape and her perilous journey in getting justice affected her and her health. Blimey - she’s amazing considering all she’s been through, what she’s achieved, including clarifying the law on voyeurism. She also became a specialist advisor to the government on rape (however she’s recently resigned). This is such a powerful, informative and shocking (in parts) read. Recommended reading.
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May 11, 2025this was such a powerfully informative and essential read. it really highlighted everything that is wrong with the UK judicial system when it comes to rape and sexual assault in such an honest and vulnerable way. this book will make u angry and outraged. it will make u sad and upset. but it will also make u so thankful for the work and dedication people like Hunt have put in to try and change this system for the better.
January 18, 2025
Difficult subject but very well written. A book everyone should read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews