Women are told, over and over again, that it is...

January262012

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Women are told, over and over again, that it is their responsibility to keep themselves safe. And in the event that you fail, rape culture will ensure that people will blame you for dropping your vigilance, while directing little, if any attention to the person who actually acted without consent. And this is why we started shifting the conversation to speak to men directly.

Because all the words aimed at us still aren’t keeping us safe.

”

Latoya Peterson, in one of the most clear, precise pieces I’ve ever read on rape culture. Read it, in its entirety.

I also learned that Cosmo, while having more content about rape culture than I’d presumed, sends a mixed message. If you look at the cover that Latoya uses in the article, one of the glaring things to me was the headline “What To Do When Your Guy Gets All Quiet.” On the surface, and maybe to you, there is no connection between that and rape culture.

I feel there is a connection. The constant message that women are given is to put oneself in the position of “justifier.” We are exhorted day in and day out to attempt to untangle the meanings and motivations of men’s behaviors, no matter what the situation is, thereby determining our responsibility for their actions.

What Latoya wrote above, about shifting the conversation to speak to men directly, could not be more critical. The question must stop being “what did I/you/one do to get raped?” It. Is. Not. Valid. And is doing nothing to keep us safe.

(via someauthorgirl)

Reblogged from: the world according to nouns (she's a carnival) / Post was created by: someauthorgirl Reblog notes: