“We talk about how many women were raped last year, not how many men raped women. We talk about how many girls in a school district were harassed last year, not about how many boys harassed girls. We talk about how many teenage girls in the state of Vermont got pregnant last year, rather than how many boys and men impregnated teenage girls.
Even the term ‘violence against women’ is problematic. It’s a bad thing that happens to women, but when you look at that term, ‘violence against women,’ nobody is doing it to them. It just happens to them. Men aren’t even a part of it.”
What about the culture of rape? Why is rape more prevalent in some countries?
For every report of rape it is assumed a man is the offender. The culture that encourages or accepts rape needs to be examined
Chuck, the very first rape victim who came to my attention was the brother (about 12 years of age) of two of my friends (sisters); we were about, I don’t know, about fourteen, fifteen. What did we know about anything? Nothing. Whilst aware of my own anatomy I had no idea how a boy could possibly be raped. Yes, the innocence of youth.
I am not quite sure what you mean by “it is assumed a man is the offender”. On the whole, men are the offenders. Man on woman, Man on man. I struggle to think how I, woman, would be able to rape a man against his wishes. Ain’t that cute, Chuck, and please laugh with me “against his wishes”. I suppose that’s one way of putting a spin on the concept of “consent”.
U
Ursula recently posted..The Alternative Comment Box, The Long View – Congestion
It is my humble opinion that there is no country in the world that does not have rape. Our knowledge is restricted to what we learn from our media which does not cover all the countries of the world. It covers the English speaking / reading world and there there is no country without rape. Most rapes do not get exposed due to various factors, mostly shame or fear.
This article shows that teaching boys about rape makes a big difference: http://www.upworthy.com/kenyas-unique-approach-to-rape-prevention-should-have-the-rest-of-the-world-taking-note
Cheerful Monk recently posted..How Thoughtful?
Such initiatives have started here too following a particularly brutal case which made headlines all over the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Delhi_gang_rape
Interesting take you bring to your readers’ attention, Ramana. The way we construct a sentence, sending the recipient’s mind in one direction rather than the other.
However, and to be fair to the reporting of any crime of violence, it does tend to focus on the victim(s). So, for instance, you will read about how many young black men fall victim to police raids, arrests, (often false) imprisonment rather than concentrating on the colour and age of the arresting officers.
U
Ursula recently posted..The Alternative Comment Box, The Long View – Congestion
You are bang on Ursula. That is the mindset that we should try and change.
sadly some aspect of human violence get mangled within the newsprint, especially in regards to profits for the paper owners. Certain ideas/words sell far better than others…
I strongly believe that the emphasis should shift from the victim to the perpetrator.
Rape culture, aided and abetted by porn is part of the problem but very little publicity about this. And on the whole, it is men who rape. 99.9%. Let’s not deflect from this very real issue. And I believe, and read, that 80% of cases go unreported because the court proceedings are so excruciating.
If you’ve been following that horrific case in Northern Ireland with the famous rugby players subjecting a teenager to the worse kind of sexual abuse you’ll know what I mean. How brave she.
My friends and I never went forward with our rapes for fear of the courts. Most don’t.
XO
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Wisewebwoman recently posted..Controversial Opinions.
That is the point that needs to be driven home. It is time that the focus shifts to the perpetrators from the victims. The Me Too movement is a great beginning in that direction.