You should read this, because she's smart!
Read the comments, too. I think there's a huge problem in having whatever authorities take rape seriously, whether on campus or through the police and prosecutors.
I read recently that the most dangerous time for a college woman is her first weekend on campus. What a horrible thing, isn't it?
I wish I really had some idea how to change that.
Wow- you try to believe it could not happen to your daughter, and that she would stand up for others. I actually know the answer- my D did. She heard someone screaming in the the residence and went out with her whip in hand(she hunts). The guys ran away (and ended up being apprehended but one had already raped one girl). He was expelled as was his friend who stood by. At least some schools try to do the right thing.
ReplyDeleteAfter attending my fair share of Take Back the Night marches, I have one answer: we need to tell young women that if they're scared (of a man, of being drunker than they've ever been, of being away from home, or of anything else) the one thing they absolutely should not do is turn to a man for comfort and/or protection, particularly not in a one-on-one situation/setting such as his dorm room. They need to go find a group situation, or, failing that, another woman. While I absolutely believe that rapists, and only rapists, are responsible for rape, I was shocked at the number of victims who were raped by the person (always male, though I realize women aren't 100% safe, just 99%) to whom they turned for protection and/or comfort because they were scared by someone/something else. If we could somehow instill in young women the idea that they should turn to each other for protection (and are capable of providing, and owe each other, that protection), we might at least make a dent in the problem.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good, though deeply troubling, piece. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good piece, all right; thanks for featuring it. .
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