Gemma Aitchison (BA hons, MSc, PGCE)
Gemma is a multi-award winning expert in VAWG prevention qualified in victim support (DASH & 8 Steps), youth work, community development, social policy, SEND, gender stereotypes, PSHE/RSE and VAWG consultant. She is a fierce working class radical feminist campaigner.0
My Latest Posts
- Government VAWG StrategyWhat ministers call a “national emergency” will be tackled by the UK government by announcing their VAWG Strategy. BBC News reported that the violence against women and girls strategy will be built around three goals: . preventing radicalisation of young men . stopping abusers . supporting victims Prevention, addressing the issue and dealing with theContinue reading “Government VAWG Strategy”
- Media Responsibility and Gender Based ViolenceSo everyone has been a buzz with Adolescence. I’ve read lots of perspectives, some promising and some worryingly being an example of the problem. I’ve been aware that given my position that I hold a subjective view on the experience of the murder of a girl. So here’s my take… We have loads of trueContinue reading “Media Responsibility and Gender Based Violence”
- 51 Convictions – Not a Time to Celebrate51 defendants have been found guilty in the historic Gisele Pelicot mass rape case today. Knowing I’m a proud radical feminist you may assume I would be celebrating. I do celebrate Gisele. Her huge bravery. Her strength acts as inspiration to women around the world. Using her voice to right place the shame at theContinue reading “51 Convictions – Not a Time to Celebrate”
- Women & Girls Are Your Victims, Not Your ConA few details before the rest of the blog for context. I live in Bolton, was born here and am one of the working class, including homelessness as a teenage girl. I am a survivor of child sexual abuse and exploitation and male violence as an adult. I founded an organisation that helps children andContinue reading “Women & Girls Are Your Victims, Not Your Con”
- Gavin Plumb – How Many More?We will all have heard of the recent conviction of security guard Gavin Plumb who has been given a life sentence for the plot to abduct, rape and murder television presenter Holly Willoughby. This will have had a huge impact on Holly Willoughby and Plumb has been jailed for life with a minimum of 16Continue reading “Gavin Plumb – How Many More?”
- Cost of Living is rightIt’s no secret that I’m a working class gal. I was one of those kids that shouldn’t have been born rather than have a dole dossing parent. An attitude that unfortunately still follows children today in Britain no matter how many times we disprove the idea we live in a meritocracy. I have written aboutContinue reading “Cost of Living is right”
- About Time – Government PSHE GuidanceToday the government guidance on PSHE was finally released. In 2016 I was successful in my campaign for compulsory PSHE in a cross party campaign run by the then Shadow Minister for Equality Sarah Champion. My campaign was started for a girl. My sister Sasha Marden who was murdered and raped as she lay dyingContinue reading “About Time – Government PSHE Guidance”
- International Anything Day?So today is International Women’s Day. I usually spend the day telling angry men “it’s on November 19th” and trying to celebrate and acknowledge some of the great things women have done. Women’s rights from the suffragettes to today have been labelled extreme, hateful, divisive and more. But without the fight for women’s rights weContinue reading “International Anything Day?”
- The Issue is Men, Not ApplesToday the report into Sarah Everards murder came out and found that damning failures by police who missed his prolific sexual offending dating back almost 20 years. The inquiry chair said: “Even after Couzens’ arrest and a review of his vetting clearance, the Met told the inquiry in 2022 that they would still have recruitedContinue reading “The Issue is Men, Not Apples”
- We Have Made Progress?This week I was featured in a Channel 4 news report on the Rochdale scandal investigation findings. I wasn’t involved in that particular case but it was relevant to my life in multiple ways. Firstly as a survivor of CSEA and a working class girl I resonated with the attitudes around that case. Also becauseContinue reading “We Have Made Progress?”
G. Aitchison 