In The Powder Room

Oct 25

Turning the tables on rape

Comments (4) by BigFashionista October 25, 2012 - 6:02 AM

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With the dark nights starting to draw in, and the party season fast approaching, I am beginning to see a lot more safety campaigns aimed at women about how to stay safe on a night out. Helpful tips such as:

 

 

• Making sure you have the number of a registered taxi to get home safely.
• Not leaving your drinks unattended.
• Making sure your friends know where you are at all times.
• Going home with the same people you came with.
• Making sure you have your mobile with you, fully charged, with credit,

As well as not getting so drunk that you are unable to gauge what is a dangerous situation.

Now, while these safety tips are all well and good, I am yet to see a poster covered in tinsel saying,

"Guys, don't rape. It's wrong."

Because let's face it, at the moment, we are trying to teach potential victims how to not be raped instead of rapists to not actually rape people.

 And quite frankly I am fed up of it.

Woman (and some men) have to be constantly alert for the dangers around them, is this actually fair? At one stage they were advising women to carry a whistle with them so that they could blow it for help or to scare off a would-be attacker. Why not stick a bell around the neck of all convicted rapists instead? Now it wouldn't eliminate the whole threat I agree, but I think I would feel a little better, a little safer maybe. If I have to carry something for my safety, why the hell shouldn't the person who may hurt me have to as well?

I have to protect myself AGAINST you? Why shouldn't I be protected FROM you instead?

And why the hell have I got to be careful about what I wear on a night out in case I give out the wrong message? The way I dress has nothing to do with whether I am "up for it" or not. Even if I dressed in PVC hot pants with a peep-hole bra and stockings and suspenders, that still doesn't give anyone the right to assume I am there for the taking does it?

It is time we rethought things. I think we need to see more campaigns aimed at men. We educate our daughters constantly about safety and thinking about the various situations and dangers out there.

Shouldn't we be educating our sons instead?

by BigFashionista October 25, 2012 - 6:02 AM

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Comments (4)

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  Report Thu Oct 25, 2012 - 11:44 pm

  by  lhewitt

  Could not agree more. Have educated son - no means no. It crossed my mind while reading this - most men cannot even imagine being raped.

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  Report Thu Oct 25, 2012 - 11:06 pm

  by  domesticgoddesque

  THat's a point I hadn't really considered until now: being a female and raising girls, I tend to think about protection. But we should be telling boys and men that it is utterly unacceptable behaviour.

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  Report Thu Oct 25, 2012 - 6:27 pm

  by  HouseTalkN

  AMEN! I often think of this approach when I read "A Woman Was Raped" instead of "A Man Raped..." What? Was she walking down the street, and oopsy, she fell on his penis? Thank you for this!

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  Report Thu Oct 25, 2012 - 5:37 pm

  by  B

  I completely agree. Think I remember an advert on the tv recently which showed a drunk girl in various positions non-consenting, with a guy watching his actions towards her through a mirror. I can't remember it fully but remember thinking it was a great idea, designed to ensure young men growing up in an increasingly sexualised and sexually liberated culture know what is ok and what is VERY MUCH NOT ok. I'd also like to see more campaigns highlighting what constitutes rape despite popular conseptions (someone you know, someone you are in a relationship with etc.) and the process of reporting it, so women are more informed about their rights and the law.

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