It is not the victims' or potential victims' responsibility to put a stop to sexual violence. The responsibility for stopping rape and molestation rests squarely on the shoulders of the men (and, more seldom, women) who do it. However, we can all speak out against sexual violence and support its victims as a society.
Men, if you are 18 or older, you should know that sexual violence has affected as many as 1 in every 3 women your age. Somebody is sexually assaulted in the United States every 2 minutes. In 2006, there were 272,350 victims of sexual assault. Only 6 percent of rapists will ever spend a day in jail.
These are only some of the statistics on the RAINN website (to which I have a link on the blogroll). We must stand together as a society and say, once and for all, these numbers are not acceptable. Men, love yourselves and women. Women, love yourselves and men. People, love each other and speak out against sexual violence.
3 comments:
Thanks for this post. The reminder that it isn't the victims' responsibility to stop violence shouldn't be needed but it is.
I agree completely, Marcella. Even though I think they're basically good things, I get so frustrated when I see fliers in the womens' restrooms at school telling women "how to avoid sexual assault" or on the corkboards advertising "women's self-defense classes."
I just want to scream: women are not responsible for men not raping them.
Tis a good cause Rachel and you said some thoughtprovoking things here. Thanks! (((((Rachel)))))
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