Tag: Rape Culture
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In the Blog
Recommended Reading: Today in Rape Culture at Shakesville
[Trigger warning for sexual violence, victim-blaming, and rape apologia.] There is an awful story in the New York Times today: Vicious Assault Shakes Texas Town. It’s about the arrest of 18 boys and men, ranging in age “from middle schoolers to a 27-year-old,” for the gang-rape of an 11-year-old girl. As horrible as this story is, the article serves as a great example of exactly what we mean by “rape culture.” Check out the entire blog post on … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Campus gropers told to look over shoulders
Last semester at least three women reported being groped while on The University of British Columbia campus. Almost predictably the message from police was for us ladies to watch ourselves and make sure we took the proper steps to avoid being the next target. I didn’t hear police warning men to stop assaulting women. Then a few weeks ago I came across some signs near the university library giving tips to the campus gropers on how … READ MORE
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In the Blog
No jail for rapist because victim “wanted to party”
Yes. This is a real headline. A Manitoba judge ruled last week that a rapist won’t go to jail because “sex was in the air.” From The National Post: Rhodes and a friend met the 26-year-old woman and her girlfriend earlier that night outside of a bar under what the judge called “inviting circumstances.” Judge Dewar specifically noted the women were wearing tube tops with no bra, high heels and plenty of makeup. “They made their intentions … READ MORE
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In the Blog
Adrian MacNair: White Knight(mare)
Yet another incredibly offensive piece of racism and xenophobia was recently featured in a Canadian publication. And it wasn’t Maclean’s! The article is called “Cultural Violence Can’t be Talked into Disappearing,” authored by Adrian MacNair and published in the National Post. In the piece, MacNair criticizes the federal government’s decision to financially support communities who seek to end gender-based violence. This is in itself reprehensible, considering the cuts to women’s organizations across the nation since Stephen … READ MORE
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In the Blog
On rape culture & the importance of staying angry
Warning: This post is a minefield of triggers and anger-inducing facts, ideas, and links. I get told to shut up a lot. It isn’t always said with the words “shut up.” Sometimes it’s said in statements like “You’re too negative” or “You’re too passionate” or “You should just stop thinking about that.” I most often get told to shut up, in one way or another, when I’m “on about the rape culture.” I’ve coped with this … READ MORE
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In the Blog
On the anonymity of sex-crime accusers and Naomi Wolf
The last time I wrote about the Assange case, I addressed media’s inability to separate the allegations against him and the work of WikiLeaks. I argued that while Assange has done good things (WikiLeaks), it is entirely possible that he is capable of not-so-good things (like rape). It was this reductionist thinking - and of course, the endless victim-blaming and fanatical apologism - that was bothering me the most about how the allegations are being … READ MORE
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In the Blog
WikiLeaks is important, but so is investigating rape
Julian Assange, founder of whistle-blowing WikiLeaks, has been the subject of global controversy after his website released 1500 secret U.S. diplomatic cables to the public, igniting the rage of U.S. government, and media and earning praise from progressives arguing for transparency and truth. After the cables were released, it was reported that Assange had been accused of sexual assault by two different women. On August 31, Mashable reported that Swedish authorities had withdrawn their warrant for … READ MORE
