The Right-Wing Rape Rate Rhetoric

The Right-Wing Rape Rate Rhetoric: Using Women’s Suffering as a Political Weapon

Once again, we’re witnessing a classic play from the right-wing playbook: shout the loudest about “crisis,” throw around alarming stats, and blame “imported criminals” or “grooming gangs” — all to stir fear and serve a political narrative. 

This time, Telford’s right-wing "political" news page claims that the UK now has the highest reported rape rate per capita in the developed world — more than France, the US, Mexico, and Colombia — and then dismisses real issues like justice system failures and grooming gangs.

But here’s the thing: this claim is deeply misleading, and it’s being used to distract us from the very real, systemic problems women face every day. Let’s unpack why.

The Numbers Are Not the Whole Story

First, claiming the UK has the highest reported rape rate sounds terrifying. But the key word is reported. 

Rape reporting varies wildly from country to country because of differences in legal definitions, cultural attitudes, and trust in the justice system.

For example, the UK’s reported rate is around 149 per 100,000 people — high compared to many countries. But that doesn’t mean we’re necessarily more dangerous. Countries like Sweden report even higher figures, but many experts say that’s because of broader legal definitions and more inclusive reporting practices. They count multiple incidents separately or include more kinds of sexual offenses — which inflates their numbers compared to countries with narrower definitions or cultural barriers to reporting.

So, jumping to the conclusion that the UK is the most dangerous is like comparing apples to oranges. It’s a statistical smokescreen that ignores the complexity behind the numbers.

Context Is Everything

The right-wing narrative often leans on sensationalism. Yes, sexual violence is a serious issue in the UK. But highlighting high reported rates without context can mislead the public into thinking the country is uniquely unsafe, when in reality, it’s partly a reflection of greater willingness to report and better legal recognition of sexual offenses.

Meanwhile, in some countries, victims face stigma, fear, or disbelief, leading to underreporting. So, a lower reported rate doesn’t mean fewer crimes — it might mean fewer reports.

The Political Play: Distracting From Real Problems

This kind of rhetoric uses women’s issues as a wedge to push a fear-based narrative that’s more about political posturing than genuine concern. It’s a way to appease their base — the right-wing voters who want to see “tough on crime” rhetoric — while dismissing the very real, tangible issues women face daily.

What About the Grooming Gangs and Justice System?

The claim that we should focus on “imported criminals” and “grooming gangs” isn’t wrong in itself; these are serious issues that demand attention and justice. But it’s dangerous to use these issues as a smokescreen to deny or downplay the broader picture.

The fact is, the justice system has its flaws — delays, low conviction rates, and sometimes a lack of sensitivity towards victims. Ignoring these problems in favour of sensationalist stats only worsens the crisis. Blaming “outsiders” or “imported criminals” also feeds dangerous stereotypes and racial scapegoating, which distracts from the systemic failures that allow abuse to persist.

Let’s Call It What It Is

The UK’s high reported rape rate is a complex issue, shaped by legal definitions, societal attitudes, and reporting practices. It’s a serious concern, but it’s not the whole story. Using it as a political weapon — especially to dismiss the pressing needs of women and victims — is irresponsible.

The real takeaway? We need honest conversations about improving the justice system, supporting victims, and tackling all forms of misogyny — online and offline. Misleading statistics and fear-mongering only serve to divide us and delay meaningful change.

Let’s stop falling for these scare tactics. Women’s safety isn’t a game, and it’s far too important to be used as political ammunition.