If Only We Could Talk About Abusing Women Like We Do Abusing Cats

[BainsBane]

21. You constant accusations that people are accusing

all men of being rapists, when no one here says that.

Not all rapists are sociopaths. Not all murders are sociopaths. A sociopath is someone who does not experience a typical range of emotion. Some rapists have a great deal of anger, as do some murderers. They are not sociopaths.
The article talks about a TYPE of masculinity that centers around dominance. The point would seem to be obvious, since rape is about asserting power. That, I assert, is not all masculinity. Rather it is a warped version--indeed criminal--version of it. To equate all sexual violence with sociopathy is, however, factually inaccurate.

But the fundamental problem with rape, in my opinion, is not even the crime itself but the cultural reaction to the crime, which the article explores. The inevitable effort to blame the victim, particularly when she is female. But as I hope you realize, not all victims or rape are female; about 9% are male. I expect their experience is no better under a criminal justice system and broader culture that blames victims for their own assault. They may even feel greater shame because of the stigma associated with homosexual assault (thought about 1% of rapists are women.) The article centers around blaming the victim, which is an everyday occurrence in cases of criminal assault, even by the victims themselves, as that awful Salon editorial exemplifies.