The Community Does Not Need You to Stay Quiet While Your Partner Is Abused
[UPDATE: Ginny has posted a partial walkback, which articulates a substantially more reasonable position]
Have you ever read an article online, and thought "this is great information! I'm going to share this with everyone!" until you got about 3/4 of the way down, when your jaw just drops because you can't believe the absolute bullshit place the article went? That's what it was like when I read Ginny's post on what to do if your partner is accused of abuse. It starts out with a lot of great advice about supporting abuse victims. I particularly like the parts where she notes the difference between actual believing victims and engaging in victim-supportive behavior. As someone who believes very strongly in the value of honesty, I appreciate that there is no pressure to be dishonest, and the pointing out that there are ways to support victims without giving up our skepticism about how we form beliefs.
Then she gets to this:
Sometimes, accusations of abuse are themselves a form of abuse or manipulation. Your accused partner might themselves be a victim, in this case. If you believe that to be true, then it is absolutely appropriate to direct a lot of compassion and support to them — privately.
I'm sorry, what? I'd like you all to read that again so you understand what she is suggesting. What she is saying is that if your partner is being abused, then you need to shut up and take it. She's saying that if you try to speak up against the abuse that your partner - an abuse victim - is taking, then you're not supporting abuse victims.
No. Absolutely not. Ginny's solution creates a race to the internet, where the first person to report abuse gets to be heard, and everyone else needs to shut up or be accused of being victim-blaming assholes. It's well-known that abusers will often play the victim to divert attention, solicit sympathy, and enable further abuse. Ginny's system gives abuser an extra incentive to play the victim publicly. If you're the first person to go public, then you're untouchable! Anyone sticking up for you is an asshole abuse apologist!
Secrecy enables abusers. Abusers know that there is a bias toward victims, and will take advantage of that bias whenever possible. And they will deflect and resist any attempt at honest investigation of the facts. The key to exposing abusers is sunlight, not darkness. Establishing accountability takes effort, it takes investigation, and it takes judgment. It does not require the silencing of abuse victims and their supporters. And to suggest it does is shameful.
If you are serious about stopping abuse in our communities, there is only one solution: actual investigation. Facts must be determined, evidence gathered, statements taken, and defenses presented. Yes, it's a pain in the ass, but nobody said it would be easy. Yes, it might take a while, which is why suspensions pending investigation are a thing. Yes, you might get it wrong, and that would be regrettable, but if you don't investigate, your chances of getting it wrong are way higher.
Investigation can be done in a victim-supportive way. There is no need to interrogate victims, demand evidence, or even reveal their identities (in most circumstances). As shown in the linked post above, often, once you get both sides of the story, the undisputed facts will be enough to make a decision. If not, work with what you have. Respect the alleged victim's decision to provide or not provide evidence. Allow the victim to be as active or passive in the process as possible. But if both sides are pointing toward each other, recognize that either could be the true victim, and don't automatically weigh one side heavier than the other just because they came forward first.
But don't you dare pretend to be supportive of abuse victims and then claim that abuse victims, or their partners, should shut up and take the abuse. If your partner is being attacked by a malicious abuser, you go right ahead and say so, as loud as you want, to whoever you want. Ginny's system empowers abusers to keep abusing, and drafts the entire community into doing so. Do not fall into that trap.