10 tips to end rape

[bettyellen]

74. But you see, we're all (mostly!) trained that taking things from other people is wrong from day one.

Last edited Sun Jan 6, 2013, 04:17 PM - Edit history (1)

It's probably the first thing parents teach their kids when they have play dates with other kids. There's not any gray area there. And in the press or in court you NEVER EVER hear anyone excuse the crim of robbery by putting it on the victim. Never. That's what matters, because this enables rapists. No one is enabling robbers by letting them off easy.
Pretty much the same situation with hitting/ violence in general, people try to train their kids not to do that. It;s usually clear from early on. Although, you do see screwed up families giving this a pass because unfortunately parents do pass on their values, screwed up or not.

Anyway-I agree the "naive public service announcement" is not enough- but it's not meant to be. It's just a beginning in reframing the conversation because rape is a problem men have- something they are doing wrong and men need to begin to take it very seriously. Do you really have a problem with that?
Society currently acts as if there's nothing to be done except warn women, and that is accepting that men will continue to rape a large percentage of women, unpunished. It is acceptance of the status quo- and that is very offensive.

Because currently all conversation ranges from how women somehow "let this happen" and goes to "asked for it". There is very little said about rape that correctly identifies it as something men are doing. And that's a huge problem, and a reason why men feel okay to shirk even thinking about it. It's a reason people like the kids at this party are okay in looking the other way.

Do you think it is because the tone is a bit snarky that men find it so offensive? Or do they just not feel like thinking about it because it doesn't directly hurt them?