The way male victims are treated is an absolute disgrace. They are more likely to be ridiculed by those they report to. Their masculinity and identity is called into question. They have next to no chance of securing a conviction in court. They are at high risk of committing suicide or self-harming. It's a goddamn fucking disgrace.
On another note - the whole thing about a genetic tendency towards rape is something I'm very very uncomfortable with. All the research indicates it is a social/emotional phenomenon to do with suppressed anger and a sense of powerlessness (justified or not). The implications of the genetic argument are pretty horrible - either all men are programmed to rape (which I just don't believe at all) or the children of women who have been raped carry the gene and that's just a horror show. There is no evidence at all for the presence of a rape gene. Not in twin studies, not in the human genome study, nowhere. There's a big popular movement around these days for explaining lots and lots and lots of things via genetics, but there just ain't no evidence for it.
Irish people - remember Pat Kenny's famous rape gene argument? Pat Kenny (an android masquerading as a broadcaster/presenter) has a radio show weekdays 10-12. During one of our interminable pro-choice debates, he was doing a slot on abortion. Pat supported the pro-choice person by adding the infamous argument that a woman who had been raped should have the right to an abortion because her child would carry the father's genes including the 'rape' gene. The pro-choice person was flabbergasted. A public outcry was sparked. Pat's response to this was to come on air the next day and announce that he had spoken to a friend of his who was a Professor of Genetics in Trinity College, Dublin and his friend had agreed with him. The 'friend' came on the next day and denied he had ever said or supported such a thing.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2005-12-22 04:23 am (UTC)On another note - the whole thing about a genetic tendency towards rape is something I'm very very uncomfortable with. All the research indicates it is a social/emotional phenomenon to do with suppressed anger and a sense of powerlessness (justified or not). The implications of the genetic argument are pretty horrible - either all men are programmed to rape (which I just don't believe at all) or the children of women who have been raped carry the gene and that's just a horror show. There is no evidence at all for the presence of a rape gene. Not in twin studies, not in the human genome study, nowhere. There's a big popular movement around these days for explaining lots and lots and lots of things via genetics, but there just ain't no evidence for it.
Irish people - remember Pat Kenny's famous rape gene argument?
Pat Kenny (an android masquerading as a broadcaster/presenter) has a radio show weekdays 10-12. During one of our interminable pro-choice debates, he was doing a slot on abortion. Pat supported the pro-choice person by adding the infamous argument that a woman who had been raped should have the right to an abortion because her child would carry the father's genes including the 'rape' gene. The pro-choice person was flabbergasted. A public outcry was sparked. Pat's response to this was to come on air the next day and announce that he had spoken to a friend of his who was a Professor of Genetics in Trinity College, Dublin and his friend had agreed with him. The 'friend' came on the next day and denied he had ever said or supported such a thing.
Dear God.