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"Court Cuts Rape Victim's Compensation by 25 Percent Because 'She Was Drunk'"
Ok, now the article is actually about how a higher judicial power reversed that decision, because they recognized it as the bullshit, victim-blaming piece of crap it was. But the fact that it happened at all is reprehensible. The piece goes on to describe how the victim's drink had been dosed, which is how she wound up unable to defend herself from her attacker.
"What were you wearing?" "What were you doing?" "Were you drinking?" All of these questions deflect guilt from the rapist. And this is wrong. Very wrong. The only thing all rape victims have in common was being in the presence of a rapist. From infants to the elderly, age, race, dress, sobriety, none of that matters. What matters is that someone decided to commit a violent assault against someone who either didn't consent, or who couldn't consent, either because of age or incapacitation.
If you have sex with someone who cannot consent because they are unconscious, particularly if you caused them to be that way, you are a rapist. Even if you didn't make them unconscious, taking advantage of their inability to articulate the word "no" makes you a rapist. Their being drunk in your presence does not any way, shape or form imply consent.
And this article (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1044160/Dont-blind-drunk-women-rape-bear-responsibility-happens-them.html), in the Daily Mail, while mostly appearing to be pro-victim has a few give-away lines in the bottom:
"I certainly defend women's right to enjoy themselves and, in all cultures, men must always take responsibility for their behaviour.
There is never an excuse.
But so must women - and brewers and publicans who ply them with cheap drink.
Women always retain the right to say no whatever condition they are in.
But if they have been drinking, they may not be able to make that clear to someone stronger than them who doesn't wish to hear it."
So, her being not being drunk is going to stop some guy stronger than her who doesn't want to hear no? Are you fucking kidding me? No, really. Do you really think that someone being sober is going to save them from being raped?
I was stone cold sober both times I was raped. I was also not provocatively dressed. I was also with someone I trusted, both times. Boys I was dating, who said they loved me. Both times I said no, both times they didn't want to hear no. Both times they did what they wanted regardless of my wishes. All without the benefit of alcohol.
This is part of the over-arching belief in rituals of safety and goodness that permeate our culture. Just as a lot of people think being thin will save them from an early death, an awful lot of people think that if women just followed "common sense guidelines" they wouldn't be raped.
Really? What about sitting in your own house watching tv in sweats is so against common sense? What about spending time with someone you've been dating, who said they loved you and would never, ever hurt you, is against common sense? What about trusting a friend you've known for years, is against common sense?
Ok, here are just a few of the things women are supposed to do to not get raped:
Don't go out alone.
Don't go out after dark.
Don't dress too sexy.
Don't walk with your head down, you'll look like a victim.
Don't walk with your head up, you'll bring attention to yourself.
Don't drink.
Don't be alone with men, any man, in any location, work, school, public transportation.
Don't let anyone know you are home alone.
Don't say "hi" to anyone you don't know.
Don't let strange men (including service people) into your home.
Don't go anywhere alone. Ever.
Always check the backseat of your car before you get in it.
Always look under your car before you get too close.
Get in your car quickly.
Have your keys out before you leave whatever building you're in.
Make sure no one's following you.
Ok, that's just a few. Now, guys, if someone told you that you had to live by this list, or you would deserve to get the shit kicked out of you just for transgressing it, how would you react? You'd probably be fucking outraged, right? Nevermind that parts of this list are contradictory as hell. Well, why aren't women supposed to be outraged? Because that's just the way it is? Fuck that.
Rape is NEVER the victim's fault. Got it? Trust me, rape victims spend enough time blaming themselves for what happened, they don't need the rest of the world jumping on that bandwagon, too.
"Court Cuts Rape Victim's Compensation by 25 Percent Because 'She Was Drunk'"
Ok, now the article is actually about how a higher judicial power reversed that decision, because they recognized it as the bullshit, victim-blaming piece of crap it was. But the fact that it happened at all is reprehensible. The piece goes on to describe how the victim's drink had been dosed, which is how she wound up unable to defend herself from her attacker.
"What were you wearing?" "What were you doing?" "Were you drinking?" All of these questions deflect guilt from the rapist. And this is wrong. Very wrong. The only thing all rape victims have in common was being in the presence of a rapist. From infants to the elderly, age, race, dress, sobriety, none of that matters. What matters is that someone decided to commit a violent assault against someone who either didn't consent, or who couldn't consent, either because of age or incapacitation.
If you have sex with someone who cannot consent because they are unconscious, particularly if you caused them to be that way, you are a rapist. Even if you didn't make them unconscious, taking advantage of their inability to articulate the word "no" makes you a rapist. Their being drunk in your presence does not any way, shape or form imply consent.
And this article (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1044160/Dont-blind-drunk-women-rape-bear-responsibility-happens-them.html), in the Daily Mail, while mostly appearing to be pro-victim has a few give-away lines in the bottom:
"I certainly defend women's right to enjoy themselves and, in all cultures, men must always take responsibility for their behaviour.
There is never an excuse.
But so must women - and brewers and publicans who ply them with cheap drink.
Women always retain the right to say no whatever condition they are in.
But if they have been drinking, they may not be able to make that clear to someone stronger than them who doesn't wish to hear it."
So, her being not being drunk is going to stop some guy stronger than her who doesn't want to hear no? Are you fucking kidding me? No, really. Do you really think that someone being sober is going to save them from being raped?
I was stone cold sober both times I was raped. I was also not provocatively dressed. I was also with someone I trusted, both times. Boys I was dating, who said they loved me. Both times I said no, both times they didn't want to hear no. Both times they did what they wanted regardless of my wishes. All without the benefit of alcohol.
This is part of the over-arching belief in rituals of safety and goodness that permeate our culture. Just as a lot of people think being thin will save them from an early death, an awful lot of people think that if women just followed "common sense guidelines" they wouldn't be raped.
Really? What about sitting in your own house watching tv in sweats is so against common sense? What about spending time with someone you've been dating, who said they loved you and would never, ever hurt you, is against common sense? What about trusting a friend you've known for years, is against common sense?
Ok, here are just a few of the things women are supposed to do to not get raped:
Don't go out alone.
Don't go out after dark.
Don't dress too sexy.
Don't walk with your head down, you'll look like a victim.
Don't walk with your head up, you'll bring attention to yourself.
Don't drink.
Don't be alone with men, any man, in any location, work, school, public transportation.
Don't let anyone know you are home alone.
Don't say "hi" to anyone you don't know.
Don't let strange men (including service people) into your home.
Don't go anywhere alone. Ever.
Always check the backseat of your car before you get in it.
Always look under your car before you get too close.
Get in your car quickly.
Have your keys out before you leave whatever building you're in.
Make sure no one's following you.
Ok, that's just a few. Now, guys, if someone told you that you had to live by this list, or you would deserve to get the shit kicked out of you just for transgressing it, how would you react? You'd probably be fucking outraged, right? Nevermind that parts of this list are contradictory as hell. Well, why aren't women supposed to be outraged? Because that's just the way it is? Fuck that.
Rape is NEVER the victim's fault. Got it? Trust me, rape victims spend enough time blaming themselves for what happened, they don't need the rest of the world jumping on that bandwagon, too.
