The Saatchi Lawson throat grab!

Posted 21 Jun 2013 by Walaa Idris

As someone who doesn’t like people meddling in their business. I try to keep my nose out other peoples’ business.

But it seems the Saatchi Lawson throat grab, is becoming a little bit of an issue here. So much so that it’s forcing me to stick my nose in it. From papers quietly brushing it under the carpet, to prominent politicos unable to give ‘the right response’ it seems everybody is making it their business.

And before I go any further let me just say for the record, all and any abuse is wrong, period. Especially in public, even pretend abuse is wrong. Because you never know who might be watching and here I’m mainly thinking about kids.

Like most people I saw the photos. And like most, I thought Saatchi clearly had his hand on Lawson’s throat and she visibly wasn’t too happy with his action.

So is it our business what a couple get up to over coffee or lunch?

Some would say, if it’s done in public then it is, others would say if she is not complaining then who are we to make an issue of what happens between a couple.

My issue is with neither camp.

However, I take serious issue with the Saatchi brigade, and those who are going out of their way to normalise his action, defending the undefendable. In my opinion they are equally guilty of abuse.

And here is why I think so.

No normal person likes or enjoys being abused. Most battered people suffer silently and in secret. They do so because of fear, lack of knowledge of where to go for help or due to cultural, psychological or any other grasps that might hold them back.

So when we see an accomplished woman publicly being abused, we should not assume anything because the reason could be one of a number of things.

Nonetheless, we should also not excuse or write it off as playful, nor should we try to make it seem like harmless banter. It is not.

One because it allows abusers (who in many cases themselves need help) to carry on abusing without retribution or consequence and two it weakens the abused and forces them to keep their mistreatment hidden and therefore further demoralise them and normalise the abuse.

In other words it helps neither the abused nor the abuser.

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