Content warning: This blog contains references to sexual harassment, sexual abuse, rape and domestic violence.
In part one of this blog series, legal practitioner and former Romer Maud team member Alessia Roccuzzo deep dives into some of the discoveries and insights made when reading ‘How Many More Women?’ by Jennifer Robinson and Keio Yoshida.
In this second and final blog, Alessia discusses the hard work of consent advocate Chanel Contos in creating meaningful change, the impact of retraumatisation on survivors moving through the legal system, and why this book serves as a crucial resource for lawyers, journalists and policymakers. Read on.
From Petition to Policy: The work of Chanel Contos
One of the more powerful realisations that I made when reading this book is that many of the silenced women featured weren’t merely voicing pain or seeking justice: they were warning others, encouraging victim-survivors and trying to promote positive cultural change.
After Chanel Contos started a petition calling for mandatory consent education in Australian schools and created an online platform allowing young women to anonymously share stories of sexual assault (many of which named private boys’ schools), she quickly became the target of a public backlash.
The schools mentioned on the platform sent formal letters calling defamation, warning Chanel of reputational damage, and even accusing her of endangering the future careers of the boys being named. They questioned whether she cared about potentially ruining the lives of the young men identified.
The authors outline how the narrative shifted from centring survivors to protecting institutions and abusers. Schools allegedly discouraged current and former students from making submissions at all, to protect their school’s reputation. The King’s School even issued a statement effectively blaming the consequences on broader social issues, like alcohol and pornography.
In response to the thousands of disclosures, Chanel also worked directly with NSW Police to help develop a trauma-informed reporting system. The result was Operation Vest, which allowed survivors to share their experiences confidentially through an anonymous online form, without having to commit to pressing charges.
This gave survivors the option to help protect other women, and enabled police to track patterns of abuse without retraumatising those victims; which resulted in a 60% increase in reports. Chanel Contos’s impact didn’t stop in Australia; she was contacted by UK activist Soma Sara who used Chanel’s model to create a similar platform for British schools.
Together, their efforts pushed the issue global and led to real change; Australia introduced mandatory consent education, and UK schools faced scrutiny and government investigations.
Survivor re-traumatisation in the legal system
Another powerful discussion explored in the book is how survivors must relive their trauma repeatedly under legal scrutiny while perpetrators are protected by procedural privacy.
Japanese journalist Shiori Ito was sued for defamation almost immediately after she criticised police handling of her rape report: officers initially discouraged her from filing, warning it might “ruin” her career; and a senior commander later admitted he personally halted the arrest warrant for her alleged attacker.
Male officers required Shiori Ito to re-enact the assault using a life-size doll while they photographed the scene, an experience she later described as a “second rape”, epitomising what the authors call “re-traumatisation by design.” That framing forces the reader to reconsider how this kind of procedural violence doesn’t just retraumatise individual women, it sends a chilling message to all survivors that speaking out will cost them more than staying silent.
Robinson and Yoshida are not merely theorising from a distance, they are lawyers who have watched these tactics unfold in their own cases. Real-world vignettes from the UK, Australia, Colombia, Japan and beyond ground the book’s feminist critique in concrete and often outrageous, legal battles. The authors leave the reader not only shocked but with a sense of urgency; if the law is part of the problem, then it must also be part of the solution.
Why this book is a must read
The book is vital for lawyers, journalists and policymakers, as decision-makers who grasp the policy arguments in the book will be ahead of the curve, able to shape rather than merely react. For legislators and judges, the book exposes how laws originally designed to protect reputation and privacy are now being weaponised, highlighting the urgent need for a fairer, more balanced application of those protections.
Men (particularly those in positions of power), also have something to gain. This book offers a blueprint of how not to respond when allegations surface, and a roadmap for building institutions that value truth over reputation-laundering.
Any woman who has experienced gender-based violence will find in these pages both a mirror and a manual. This book does not give legal advice; however it expands beyond diagnosing a problem, offering its audience vital legal insight and tools.
For those leaving abusive partners, How Many More Women? helps identify early signs of legal and financial manipulation and of emotional abuse. It equips separating women with awareness, language, and solidarity to make the process feel less isolating or more manageable. It also reassures readers that feeling dismissed or abused is unfortunately ‘standard procedure’ and not a personal failure, and may prompt them to seek legal support that understands and can respond to these dynamics.
How Romer Maud Family Lawyers Can Help
Romer Maud Family Lawyers provide compassionate, strategic, and trauma-informed legal support from the outset for those separating in the context of domestic violence. We understand that separation is not just a legal process, but a deeply personal and sometimes dangerous transition.
Our team can assist with urgent safety measures and offer tailored advice on parenting, financial support, and property division that prioritises the client’s wellbeing and long-term security. In line with the book’s broader message, we offer more than legal advice; we provide a safe space where clients are believed, supported, and empowered to move forward with dignity and protection.
To learn more about our firm and work with us, simply book an appointment here.
If the subject matter in this blog has brought up any issues for you, please remember that support is available. Here are some Australian-based organisations below you can connect with:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Rainbow Door: 1800 729 367
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
About The Author – Alessia Roccuzzo
Alessia is an experienced and fastidious legal professional. She worked with the Romer Maud team as our subpoena clerk for three years, and later completed her Practical Lawyer Training (PLT) with us too. We are so grateful to her for all of the hard work, passion, and care she has given to our firm.
*This post is an overview only and should not be considered as legal advice. If there are any matters that you would like us to advise you on, then please contact us.