Has there been less sympathy for the 5 killed in Ipswich because they were Prostitutes?

Question

There has been lots of media coverage but i get the feeling the public don't seem to care quite as much because the were prostitutes.

If you look at the photo of the first one killed Gemma Adams she looks such a sweet girl and if it was reported she worked in Tescos i think things would be very diffrent.

I'm sure there would be a much bigger public outcry on this if it was just 5 normal women.

I can't imagine what women in that area are feeling right now, could could be making yourself a target when doing something as simple as standing on a corner trying to catch a taxi after a club.

Answer 1

I don't think there has been 'less sympathy'. I think most people recognise that these girls were vulnerable and that this has happened before when the Yorkshire Ripper was around and that as far as his crimes were concerned all women were at risk, and all women could be at risk from this murderer.
The general public seem to recognise that as well as being 'prostitutes' these were women with families, with children, and that no woman wakes up and just decides to be a prostitute. it's a choice borne of desperation, whether it be a drug habit or just a need to support a family.Anyone who decides their lives were less worthy just because of their profession has issues of their own to sort out,

Answer 2

I think you are probably right, if the girls worked in a shop or local bank there would be more sympathy because they would seem as being totally innocent. Some would say that that they deserve it because of the job they do. There will always be a stigma attached to the world of prostitution. But they probably save lots of everyday women from being raped every year by doing what they do. They entertain some of the most deranged and deprived members of society. I think they are very brave. No wonder then that a lot of them are hardend drug users, maybe it helps to separate the mind from the body when they are working.

Answer 3

I think with reports of the book of condolence on the internet having thousands of posts of sympathy I don't think anyone believes that there should be less sympathy just because of the womens profession. I believe that sex workers do put themselves in danger. But as I've said before it's not a calculated decision. Many of the women are on the streets to fund highly addictive drug problems. To them it's either spending the night going cold turkey or selling themselves to get the money to "make themselves well". I believe if there was more effort put into trying to help the women, instead of forcing them back on the streets to pay fines or back dated tax, surely we would start to eradicate the problem.

Answer 4

Doesn't matter what the girls were. Murder on this scale is not taken lightly by the police or the public. It has only been prostitutes up to now, who knows what he may do. There are a few sicko's on here telling jokes about the girls, don't know how they can do that.

Answer 5

I can only say that think it very sad. To any one who does not, just wait until he mistakes someone who is not a hooker and just in the wrong place. Don't judge these women so harshly we have no idea what led them to these homeless lifestyles.
No one has the right to judge that and it cannot in any way give someone the right to murder them. I hope they catch this murder very soon and justice is done.

Answer 6

They have recieved alot of sypathy IMO.
People that dont seem to be offering their Sypathy may have a good reason not to, Because they help turn our cities into slums, have sex in public places , Use Dugs in public places, Steal, Urinate In public places, and generally break the law.
I do feel sorry for them and their families nobody deserves treatment like this and some people may seem harsh for not showing sympathy , Things probably would be differant if it were 5 checkout girls because the image portrayed by them is they are honest hardworking , Tax paying citizens, Not some Junkie who is struggling to raise a kid while feeding a drug addiction and putting their addiction first.
You all may say that they are tied to the game, but they are not, they good quite easily choose to walk into the job centre and find a regular job, they could quite easily walk into rehab and get help for drug abuse, but the fact is they choose not to, they choose to stay in the grubby little world of prostitution.
If they choose not to work the red light district that night the chances are they would be still alive, it all comes down to this.

They choose to work that night when they knew that there was a killer on the prowl.
They didnt deserve to die but they choose what to do and now they have paid with their lives. Nothing else can be done.

Answer 7

Not in the minds of the police. They are working on this very dilligently and with everything in their power. They are not concerned with the fact that the victims are prostitutes - they have a killer on the loose and they want to find him.

Answer 8

"I'm sure there would be a much bigger public outcry on this if it was just 5 normal women"
What was abnormal about these murder victims?
Really annoys me that my local newspaper refers to these women solely by their surnames.
Surely they should be afforded some dignity in death?

Answer 9

I think there has been a lot of sympathy...even the church has been holding services to remember them - that would not have happened 10 years ago

Answer 10

I certainly haven't heard any adverse comments re the women's profession. People are genuinely saddened and also concerned for the families of these victims and for other potential victims whilst the murderer remains at large.