As a result of her membership with Plymouth University’s feminist society, a group which actively campaigns for women’s rights, undergraduate?Jessica Small has recently become the target of anonymous, anti-feminist threats.
The threats began in?November, when Jessica received a Facebook message from a self proclaimed representative of the ?Plymouth Men’s Rights Activist Society?, a group which combats ?feminism and misandry?. Despite the serious nature of the message, Jessica did not initially feel that it was a cause for concern.
A few weeks later, Jessica’s seventeen year old sister, who was in the process of applying to attend Plymouth University, also became a target. She began receiving threatening messages via the social networking site, Tumblr, discouraging her from attending the university. Some of the messages also contained inquiries about which ?applicant day? she would be attending and what she would be wearing when she did.
Details of these messages, as well as screen captures, were included in a January 18th post from Jessica’s blog.
According to Jessica, the university and USPU (University of Plymouth Students? Union) has been very supportive of her during this ordeal. Professor David Coslett, Plymouth University’s interim vice-chancellor, has praised Jessica’s efforts and courage, and has stated that the university practices a zero tolerance policy, in regards to all forms of bullying or harassment.
The Plymouth Herald was rather vague about what official action, if any, had been taken. I took it upon myself to contact Jessica Small for clarification.
According to Jessica, she spoke to?the?Devon and Cornwall police via telephone, shortly after her sister received the messages via Tumblr.
“There was nothing officially done, as they were very unhelpful. They made me not want to continue any further with an investigation with the way they were treating me. They took a very victim blaming approach to the matter.”
Jessica was able to determine?that the Tumblr messages originated from a single IP address in the Plymouth area. But without police involvement, there is little she can do with that information.?So far, no official police action has been taken.
