Germaine Greer is slammed for 'belittling' sex attack victims after saying 'unconsiderate' sex with a partner can be worse than being raped by a stranger

• Germaine Greer described rape by a stranger as 'bloody bad luck' on BBC radio
• Writer suggested abuse by a loved one can have more of an effect on victim's life
• She also called for women to have a proper voice in rape cases in court
• Ms Greer appeared on Radio 4 after publishing controversial essay On Rape

Constant 'unconsiderate' sex with a partner can be worse than being raped by a stranger, writer Germaine Greer has claimed.

The feminist has recently published an essay called On Rape which has caused outrage for suggesting there is a 'spectrum' the crime can be committed on.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she described being raped by a stranger as 'bloody bad luck' but added it may not affect a woman's entire life in the way that abuse by a loved one can. 

It led to some outrage on Twitter with social media users with some branding the comments 'sickening' and 'belittling'.

Germaine Greer, pictured, told BBC Radio 4 'constant 'unconsiderate' sex' with a loved one can be 'wrose than rape by a stranger'

The comments prompted outrage on social media with some branding her words 'a disgrace'

Ms Greer said: 'I think it is important we don't diminish the effects of constant unconsiderate use of a woman's body by the man she loves.

'In some ways, it is worse to be abused and treated without consideration by the people who are at the centre of your life.

'Stranger rape is bloody bad luck, for sure, but it is like being run down by a bus. 

'You don't have to internalise it and look at the structure of your whole life from that point of view. It is way out there on left field.'

Ms Greer said she would like to see the law changed so that women are a formal party in any court case relating to their rape or sexual assault.

Current laws mean that when women make complaints, their assaults are treated as alleged offences against the state, with the victim playing the role of a witness or a piece of evidence, she said.She added: 'The woman who complains of rape is herself not party to the action.

'She is a piece of evidence and she will be examined to find out if the claims she is making that the offence has occurred is true.'

She added: 'The better way would be to begin again to look at it from a woman's point of view, rather than the point of view of the patriarchate.

'When you go to the police, you are asking the state to clean up an offence against itself, whereas if we were in Belgium you would be a party to the action as the victim and you would have a voice in court.

'As it is now, you have no voice in court, you don't have anyone representing you and you can't be helped to deal with the cross-examination. You are being treated almost like a child.' 

The comments prompted a mixed reaction, with some on Twitter saying they were 'disgraceful'.

But others back Ms Greer and praised her for being brave and voicing opinions that show that sexual abuse and rape is 'not one size fits all'

One user wrote: 'Germaine Greer’s offensive remarks about her interpretation of rape is an absolute disgrace. By doing this she is belittling all those who have been a victim of rape and what they had to go through. She sickens me beyond belief.'

Another said: 'My standard reaction to Germaine Greer speaking these days is baffled shock. I’m all for free speech but how is she being given so many platforms for such attention grabbing, ridiculous and hurtful comments.'

But others praised her for her 'brave' opinions.

One user wrote: 'ALWAYS happy to hear Germaine Greer’s unpalatable opinions. She’s brave and not afraid of the conversation (and abuse). I LOVE her. Sexual abuse (& rape) is not one size fits all. Obvs.' 

Katie Russell, spokeswoman for Rape Crisis England & Wales, said the situation was complex but the experiences of those abused by someone they know 'should not be minimised'. 

She said: 'It's always worth highlighting that the vast majority of those who are raped already know the perpetrator, often trust or even love them. 

'Rapists can be and frequently are friends, colleagues, family members, dates, partners or exes. 

The writer has caused controversy with her recent essay On Rape which talks about there being a 'spectrum' of the crime

'Too often the victims and survivors of rape in this context have their experiences minimised because they're not perceived as 'violent' compared to, say, an attack by an armed stranger. 

'But all sexually activity without consent is inherently violent and being raped by a loved one can have serious and long-lasting impacts. 

'Ultimately each rape survivor is unique and deserving of specialist support to move forward positively with their lives, and any experience of sexual violence can be traumatic; we generally don't feel it's helpful to create a hierarchy of victimhood.'

It comes after she compared rape to a fear of dangerous spiders and said trauma is 'dictated by the sufferer'.

Appearing on Australian television earlier this week, she said she was an 'idiot' when dealing with the trauma of her own rape aged 19.

She said: 'I was actually sorrier for the man who raped me than I was for myself, because I thought, what has happened to his sexuality?

'Why has he turned into this mad dog? They will shoot him. They will kill him. They will wipe him out.'

Ms Greer added: 'Trauma is something that is dictated really by the sufferer. You know, I can't bear huntsman spiders. It is not their fault. It is my fault.

'I decided to be frightened of them. It is interesting to me that women are encouraged all the time to be terribly, terribly frightened and nearly always of the wrong thing.'