Convenient apologies: Twitter thread takes a ‘stab’ at men explaining away sexual assault

A deluge of complaint of sexual harassment within Hollywood against producer Harvey Weinstein, film-maker James Toback and actors Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman among others have emerged.

After allegations of sexual assault, the accused often follow a similar scripted narrative to explain their behaviour. They use phrases like “lapse of judgement” and “it was the liquor” or claim penance and offer half-hearted apologies “till the dust settles down”.

Kate Harding, a feminist author, took a dig at such “explanations” by using a “stabbing” analogy on Twitter to highlight how sexual assaults are looked at in comparison with other crimes.

“I am sorry for all the times I stabbed men, just a little, in my previous workplace. After years of counseling, I stopped stabbing men,” Kate Harding tweeted in a hilariously sardonic thread that has gone viral.

"I am sorry for all the times I stabbed men, just a little, in my previous workplace. After years of counseling, I stopped stabbing men."

— Kate Harding (@KateHarding) October 28, 2017

"My childhood was bad, I barely even stabbed them and some of them are liars. But I am truly sorry & will be spending time with my family."

— Kate Harding (@KateHarding) October 28, 2017

Harding’s tweet spurred others to share how sexual assault slowly transforms into classic victim shaming, few days after the incident.

“My childhood was bad, I barely even stabbed them and some of them are liars. But I am truly sorry & will be spending time with my family,” she tweeted taking a swipe at those who downplay such assaults and blame outside factors for their depraved behaviour.

Harding’s tweet thread, satirising an assailant’s conventional apology, has received over 27,000 retweets and has struck a chord with her followers.

"In the 90s, everyone was stabbing men, or chopping off their body parts. I understand now that this was wrong, but it explains the context"

— Dr. Time (@tcarmody) October 29, 2017

Men were asking to be stabbed. Look how they dressed. pic.twitter.com/Dbb3tPw2GN

— Chicago Mike 2.0 🍩 (@ChicagoMGD_SD) October 29, 2017

It was a different time stabbing men was commonplace EVERYONE was doing it. pic.twitter.com/c6faQUThTA

— Kymberly Resists (@kympossiblyfab) October 29, 2017

I grew up watching men stabbed all the time. How was I to know that I couldn't stab a few here & there for a 'good time'? It's STAB CULTURE

— UppityQueen Bravenak (@bravenak) October 30, 2017

If men don't want to be stabbed in the workplace, they should consider changing to easier, male-centric career fields, like nursing.

— Lacey (@LipstickLacey) October 29, 2017

You know, when I pointed a knife at my intern a few times and he didn’t quit, I just sort of assumed he was okay with being stabbed.

— Amy Hartman (@ameseh) October 29, 2017