Thousands march in Toronto 'slut walk'

[applegrove]

http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/cp-article.aspx?cp-documentid=28236624

By Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press, thecanadianpress.com, Updated: April 3, 2011 3:30 PM

Thousands march in Toronto 'slut walk'


"TORONTO - Women wearing high heels and fishnet stockings were prominent in a demonstration on Sunday to protest a Toronto police officer's comment that women could avoid rape if they didn't dress like "sluts", an attitude that organizers said points to a wider problem in the justice system.

"Whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no," the crowd chanted, as they marched on police headquarters, calling on police to stop blaming rape survivors for what happened to them.

The Toronto police officer made the "slut" comment to a group of York university students last January.

He later apologized, but the comment points to persistent problems in Canada's justice system when it comes to dealing with sexual assault, organizers and participants of the so-called "slut walk" said.

...........SNIP"

[niyad]

1. good for the women of toronto

[Liberal_in_LA]

30. +1000

[Taverner]

32. +1001

[blondeatlast]

2. WTG, toronto women! nt

[PDJane]

3. We're fighting systemic discrimination in the justice system........

Like almost everyone else. Disgusting stuff, some of it.

[Nye Bevan]

4. I fully applaud, and highly encourage these protests.

More women need to take to the streets in high heels and fishnet stockings. Let's make this a regular event.

[Name removed]

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[krispos42]

5. Well, maybe some women could

Although I doubt it would be very much. Just speaking from the top of my head, I would think that most anonymous, violent rapes would occur because the woman was in rapist's selected geographic area under the right circumstances. Alone, no witnesses, dark, with someplace protected to perform the act. Rapist stakes out, say, a garage or an alley and jumps the next women who's alone and distracted.

Okay, yeah, there is probably some decision based on looks... in a certain age and weight range, for example, maybe dress (skirts might be easier to deal with then jeans). But when in dim, shadowy conditions and studying a woman from a distance, the deciding factor isn't going to be how much cleavage is showing.

[applegrove]

6. I think the point is that nothing the woman does means she deserves to be attacked in such a violent

manner. I mean a prostitute can get raped. And it is horrible and illegal then too. You can get raped in jail and it is a crime there too that the police will have to investigate. The point is there is no excuse for such sadistic powerhungry violent attacks. There is no reason or rational that makes rape a victim's fault.

[Skittles]

9. CORRECT

[krispos42]

13. You need to give the rapists a good gonad-kicking

YES INDEED!

[femrap]

26. I'd prefer gonad

removal. And toss the key to the cell away.

[krispos42]

11. No doubt about it.

And use of the word "sluts" is definitely part of the "blame the victim" mentality.

There is a point to be made to think defensively, simply in terms of practical effects. But the cop didn't make that point, although that seems to be his intention in some weird sexist way.

[whathehell]

23. Yes, the word "slut" is an ugly gender slur. n/t

[kag]

31. THAT is precisely the point!

I get so sick of comments like the "slut" comment. I don't care if a woman is walking down the street STARK NAKED! She doesn't "deserve" to be raped! She should not "expect" to be raped! And if she is, it is INEXCUSABLE, CRIMINAL, and must be prosecuted!

[Liquorice]

34. Exactly. It's like an extreme version of

an argument made for women being forced to wear a burqa. If a woman doesn't cover her body properly, whether it be in the form of a burqa, or just "modest" Western clothes, then she may be raped, and it will be her fault. This is an extremely patriarchal view of the world, and assumes that everything should be viewed from the male's sexual perspective. It also assumes women are there primarily for a man's sexual gratification.

[chollybocker]

8. Yuh! And those poor, unfortunate rapist hardly ever get second dates, either!

Good gravy. :eyes:

[darkstar3]

10. Incorrect.

Read here, especially the part about "Most attackers are not strangers."
http://www.thebeehive.org/health/health-matters-coach/abuse-and-domestic-violence/sexual-assault-and-rape

[krispos42]

12. That jibes with what I've read before

Although I didn't know the percentages were so high... :wow:



But the Canadian cop seemed to be coming from the "sexuality-radiating woman on the street" sort of rape victim, as opposed to the "boyfriend that won't take 'no'" kind of rape victim, so that's the issue I addressed.

[darkstar3]

14. Well, the Canadian cop, and anyone who agrees with him, is an idiot.

Stranger rape and sexual assault is only one of several possible types of sexual violence. Here's the reported percentages according to National Health and Social Life Survey:

- Someone with whom the respondent was in love: 46%
- Someone that the respondent knew well: 22%
- Acquaintance: 19%
- Spouse: 9%
- Stranger: 4%

(Rathus, Nevid and Fichner-Rathus, 565)

[krispos42]

16. Stranger is only 4%?

Holy shit! :wow:



Damn. :-(

[darkstar3]

17. To paraphrase "Disclosure"...

Sexual assault is not about sex. It is about power. Exercising power over people you do not know yields little satisfaction, unless the exerciser is a special kind of strange. The statistics above clearly bear that out.

[krispos42]

19. Much truth there.

Dammit.

[Pacifist Patriot]

22. You're not alone. That statistic is one of the best kept secrets about sexual assault.

Women are taught to be terrified of the stranger lurking in the dark alley or climbing through our bedroom window late at night when the odds of that are incredibly low. We're far more likely to be assaulted by someone we know.

Similar to sexual abuse of children. They are far far more likely to be abused by a caregiver or known acquaintance than scooped off the street by a perv in a white van offering them candy or asking help finding a lost dog.

[cui bono]

24. Rape is an act of violence period.

When I was in college I was hanging out in my neighbor's apartment, all guys living there, and one of them came home really angry about something not having to do with a woman. He was ranting and then he said "I really need to fuck something right now". I don't think he wanted to fuck a pie.

He didn't need to see anyone dressed provocatively to want to rape someone. His anger made him want to do it. That was how he felt he should deal with his anger. I don't really think he acted on it but who knows? I didn't know him that well and certainly didn't want to after hearing that.

[krispos42]

25. Sounds like you made a good choice in friends right there.

I.e., not being his.

[uppityperson]

29. With a gun to your head, jeans are as easy to deal with as skirts.

[chollybocker]

7. Read about this in the Canadian media today.

(They seem to appreciate any excuse to put the word "Slut" in their headlines.)

I :thumbsup: this.

[Matariki]

18. What, no pictures?

:evilfrown:

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Mojeoux]

21. Recced, Shared and Kicked

:kick:

[defendandprotect]

27. ... and they're leaving him on the job???

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

33. Excellent. K&R.

[BlueIris]

35. Why are people this stupid allowed to become police officers.

It's not so much the casual misogyny of his comments, but the ignorance. There are only three motives for rape--power, anger and sadism. Style of dress of the victim(s) is not among them.