By Doug Hardman
“She’s a slut;” “she was asking for it;” “she was practically begging for it with that short skirt.” We blame women for a crime committed (primarily) by men. Let’s talk about that.
One out of every 6 women falls victim to attempted sexual assault/rape.* There are 7 billion people on this planet. Think of those numbers. Approximately 583 million women will experience this travesty. How ridiculous is this?
I am well aware of the fact that men are victims as well and I do not discredit their trauma, but we are going to focus on violence against women since this is one of the largest epidemics facing society today. Women have always been oppressed and abused. From arranged marriages, to being sold as property, to being denied basic civil rights, to being mocked and ridiculed on a massive scale. The list can go on and it’s pretty sad.
Because men have this complex that they are the superior gender and are entitled to what they please, violence against women has occurred. Rape, sexual assault, verbal assault, and even murder. All because a women may say “no” to his sexual advances or rejects him for whatever reason she may choose. Just because you have a certain appendage between your legs doesn’t mean you get the world handed to you on a silver platter.
This is not women’s fault, and it is not their problem. Men are the ones who are committing these travesties. Why do we find it necessary to blame a woman for being raped? How is it, in anyway, her fault that a man gets angry enough to commit rape or murder? Is there no self-control, no humility to be had from a man? Women get accused of being promiscuous and instigators in these cases. Lawyers ask her what she was wearing or if she was drunk. Men don’t get asked why or what the motivation was. We know the answer would be ridiculous, but we don’t make them think that their actions are wrong. We justify men’s actions by accusing the women.
This a huge problem. The fact that this is still being said in 2015 is sad. We are still victim blaming, we are still letting rapists get off, and we are, as a society, allowing this trend to continue. It’s a never ending cycle of violence that has been perpetuated over the years. When will it end? Not when someone famous and important has it happen to them, obviously.
The pop star, Ke$ha, spent years as a victim of sexual abuse and is now coming forward about it, seeking justice. “But why did she wait so long?” Well, in the music industry, things aren’t so black and white. Because of this, her music career is on the line. She cannot release new music. So, think about this: you’ve been victimized, abused, and been told to keep quiet about it because it could affect your career; sick of the abuse, you come forward, looking for justice and maybe some sympathy, only to have your dream job taken away from you. Why is her music producer, the rapist, not losing his job?
This is not the fault of women, this is not their wrongdoing. We need to hold men responsible, we need to hold them accountable. We need to talk about this issue and persecute the guilty, not the victims. Men, I ask you, to stand up against rape and sexual assault. Don’t allow this stigma to continue. You have a voice, use it. The moment we turn the tides and focus on the real issue, the moment we can work toward social justice that is rightfully due and earned.
*Facts from rccmsc.org