Women need to believe in themselves

Re Dos and don’ts for testifying women: don’t, Opinion Feb. 10

Just finished reading the opinion piece by Heather Mallick. I, too, am appalled by the likely outcome of the Jian Ghomeshi trial. I wish that the women who testified had been more forthcoming with the police and the prosecution with regard to the information that the defence was able to disclose first and make these women look less than wonderful.

I wish I could say that being naive as to how trials work is a defence, but unless you have been living under a rock it is a rather innocent, quaint way of looking at the world and how it treats a person who comes forward with information. I was surprised that no one apparently chose to tell these innocents that telling everyone within a country mile before going into a courtroom is not such a good idea.

As to their behaviour post-incident, well, where does one even begin? No, I am not condemning. I think as a general rule of thumb, women the world over have been in similar situations and often dither as to what is the correct response. In my opinion, there is no correct re- sponse. You do what keeps you safe.

What does seem to stand out from this trial is Ghomeshi’s consistency at picking insecure women and then doing whatever he pleases. He comes across as a person with some real personal issues. As to whether the trial outcome reflects that will be something for the pundits to analyze over and over again.

In this day and age I truly believe we need to work on giving women permission to stand up for themselves. And believe in themselves.

Catherine Hetu, Merlin, Ont.