The desire to protect perpetrators and dismiss their victims is evident. Judge Persky sentenced Brock Turner to only six months (he only served three<\/i>)\u00a0\u00a0in county jail, as opposed to the minimum of two years in prison, because he thought that prison would have a “severe impact” on Turner. Turner’s father wrote that jail time would be “a steep price to pay for 20 minutes of action<\/i>.”<\/p>\n
This isn’t uncommon. Rape is trivialized and watered down to “action.” Consent is dictated clearly, but becomes a grey area when a rapist is being defended. Victims have the most difficult time being believed. People often assert that men can’t be raped, especially not by women. Sexual objectification and promiscuity always enter the conversation. “Why didn’t you do this?” is frequently asked. Victims are held responsible for preventing their rapes while they are happening and even before they happen.<\/p>\n
Articles, pamphlets, pictures, and videos advising women on how not to get attacked are everywhere. “Have your keys ready before you leave for your car.” “Predators are more likely to target this type.” “Wear this, avoid this, do this to avoid getting attacked.”<\/p>\n
These are often valid messages. Bad people exist, and it’s not a terrible thought to help protect oneself and others from assault; but why isn’t society on the offense and not just the defense? Instead of teaching women how to avoid getting raped, why aren’t people being taught to not rape<\/i>? Instead of telling people how not to be a victim, why aren’t people being told to not be a victimizer<\/i>?<\/p>\n
Nothing being said here is new. Men and women all over the world have been saying this very same thing for ages; and that’s a problem. How many more times must the same denunciation be verbalized? How many rapists should act before society’s had enough? How many people should be made victims before things change? What else needs to be taught to make rape less pervasive? What will it take for the culture to shift? When will rape culture end? It should have never started<\/p>\n
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