Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 November 2005 19:01:40
The Guardian has this sensible article about the whole debate that seems to be going on the moment about women taking responsibility for what happens to them, on the basis of how much they've drunk or what they choose to wear.
Now I am not for one minute advocating the line that women should be able to do whatever they like without thinking about the possible consequences, however I am also not about to advocate anything which is effectively saying with "a woman raped deserves it for x, y or z reason". That appears to be taking responsibility away from perpetrators of such crime and seeking to shift the blame back onto the victim, as the article suggests.
Recent events should encourage women to think about the way men may choose to interpret their actions or dress and the effects of having a bit too much to drink but we should never, in anyway be sending out the message that rape is the womans fault, or go back to a situation where women had a second rate social life because they were encouraged to be scared of men, in the way that the radical feminist lie of "all men are potential rapists" perpetuated.
Perhaps what would be more useful would be to get both genders to think more about the types of behaviour which may be viewed as acceptable in different situations and how different situations could develop.