Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper E5: ‘Men Dodge Bullets, Girls Dodge Men’

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The Blackout Ripper wasn’t the only serviceman attacking women in World War Two. In cities, towns and villages women were being harassed and abused by men in the military – and the women who chose to join the armed forces weren’t immune from such treatment.

Those women who signed up for the army, navy or air force to fight Hitler were dogged by crude insinuations that they were promiscuous – especially if they went to dances and drank alcohol. When these servicewomen were stalked, raped or murdered, the official response was often a dismal exercise in victim blaming.

Sources:  

  • Dunlop, Dr Tessa. ‘Army Girls: The Secrets and Stories of Military Service from the Final Few Women who Fought in World War II.’ 2021 Headline Publishing Group.
  • Owtram, Jean and Patricia ‘Codebreaking Sisters: Our Secret War.’ 2020 Mirror Books. 

The Host

Hallie Rubenhold

Hallie Rubenhold is the host of Bad Women: The Ripper Retold. She is an award-winning historian, author, and consultant. Her research has centered on the often-neglected lives of women. Several of…