Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

#DearDaddy video highlights powerful message on rape culture and domestic violence

The five minute video calls on fathers to adopt a zero tolerance attitude on violence against women.

Ryan Ramgobin
Tuesday 15 December 2015 13:43 GMT
#DearDaddy

One in three women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime, according to statistics from the World Health Organisation.

Approximately 85,000 women are raped in England and Wales alone every year.

A video released by Care Norway is calling on all fathers and would-be-fathers to not turn a blind eye to this violence.

The five minute video from the perspective of an unborn girl describes the difficulties she will face during her lifetime.

#DearDaddy video highlights powerful message on rape culture and domestic violence

“I will be born a girl which means by the time I am 14, the boys in my class would have called me a w***e, a b***h, a c**t, and many other things. It’s just for fun of course, something boys do. So you won’t worry and I understand that.”

“Perhaps you did the same when you were young, I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by it. Still, some of the other people won’t get the joke.”

“So by the time I turn 16, a couple of the boys would have snuck their hands down my pants while I’m so drunk I can’t even stand straight.

“And although I say no, they just laugh… it’s funny right? If you saw me Daddy, you would be so ashamed because I am wasted.”

#DearDaddy video highlights powerful message on rape culture and domestic violence

“No wonder I’m raped when I’m 21. 21 and on my way home in a taxi driven by the son of a guy you went swimming with every Wednesday... the guy who told insulting jokes but of course they were only jokes, so you laughed.”

“Had you known his son would end up raping me, you would have told him to get a grip. But how could you know?"

"He was just a boy telling weird jokes and in any case it wasn’t your business, you were just being nice.”

“But his son raised on these jokes becomes my business.”

30%

of women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner. (World Health Organisation)

The video continues and the woman is seemingly in a happy relationship – until her partner takes out his stresses on her.

“One night it’s all too much for him… so he calls me a w***e, just like you did in middle school. And then another day, he hits me… And then one day, he almost kills me.”

#DearDaddy video highlights powerful message on rape culture and domestic violence

“Dear Daddy, this is the favour I want to ask, one thing always leads to another. So please stop it before it has the chance to begin.”

“Don’t let my brothers call girls w****s because they’re not… Don’t accept insulting jokes by weird guys by the pool, or even friends. Because behind every joke, there is some truth.”

“I will be born a girl, please do everything you can so that won't be the greatest danger of all.”

The video has nearly one million views on YouTube and has been shared widely on social media.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in