(no subject)

[hellison]

At the risk of opening the can of messy worms that posts about rape always seem to, this quote this morning, tagged on the end of a brief news report just made me twitch -
The attack was condemned by local politicians who urged women to look out for each other during the current party season
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4551200.stm

Because of course
a. You can't trust ANY men to look out for you
b. It's entirely the responsibility of women to make sure you're safe.

Yes, it is good that they are concerned, it is good advice in its way and yes, I may well be reading too much into it, but that's just how it struck me.
I'm not sure if it's the implication that you can't trust/rely on men or that it's all down to women too look out for each other because it's our responsibility to make sure we are safe, not men's responsibility to have some self control/respect for women that bothers me more.
Why aren't they urging men not to be rapists in the first place?

Hmm. I was going to say I've obviously been lucky with the men I know/have met, but surely it's not 'luck' that my male friends aren't rapists and that I can trust them fully? Surely that's NORMAL?

Comments

[thesme-01.livejournal.com]

Hellison - have a look at this link - in fact EVERYONE have a look at this link:

http://www.rcni.ie/assault_6.htm

It's scary how pervasive myths about rape and sexual assault are throughout the media and wider society. Anyway, have a read and let me know what you think

[tyrell.livejournal.com]

Good link.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Very good link. Most of the myths I knew about to some extent, but it's always good to see figures.
Well not that the figure themselves are good, they're appalling, but to see it in black and white like that, with official statistics, is always a way to hammer home the message to people who just don't believe it's that much of a problem.