Rape Prevention and Feminism Can be a Male Thing Too by blogger Lauren

I purpose a question: Should men have responsibility in rape prevention? Why yes, with an equal amount as women should have. When it comes to educating oneself in the realities of sexual assault, it ought not to be a gendered thing; both genders can be involved in this responsibility.


Here is another thought-provoking question: Can men be feminists? Is “feminism” restricted only to females? I believe modern day feminists withhold two stereotypes, other than the obvious, being female—bitter and biased. A person does not have to be a woman who detests the ground men walk on and thinks they are out to destroy the world. No, a feminist is anyone who sees with an open, sociological perspective and understands the realities that hide within the shadows of society.


So to believe that men do not hold any responsibility in rape prevention is a sexist thought. Both genders are accused as suspects, as well as being victims. It is not the typical scenario seen on television: single white female attacked by a stranger in a dark alley. Feminists see beyond the stereotypes and bias thinking and advocate for not only equality, but for the realities of social issues to come forth. Feminists understand that certain issues, such as rape, have gray areas.


Therefore, at the end of the day, it is up to the individual to take advantage of this responsibility. Whoever proclaims that rape awareness is strictly a female-oriented issue is certainly not a feminist.

Rape Prevention by blogger Shaleen

It is common knowledge that many traditional families instill the thought that men should “protect” women but when it comes to stopping or acknowledging a possible sexual assault, many question themselves. We see all the time in movies that when men see an assault, he stutters or questions himself and how he would be viewed. Many colleges are stopping the victim from speaking out of even pressing charges. The lack of prevention is outstanding because educated human beings should know that it is not a woman’s fault, ever.

Women are taught to not get raped instead of men getting taught not to rape. It’s a simple enough concept but then again, it happens. Zerlina Maxwell from Ebony.com, wrote an article called, “5 Ways We Can Teach Men Not to Rape.” I understand where articles like the get their theme of the article but that thought should be instilled in everyone from birth. It should not have to be taught.

Every man and woman are responsible for their actions, including not stopping someone be raped. Education equals prevention. There are many men who are feminists from Jimmy Carter to Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Where these men consider themselves a feminist or the media spanned their words, I’ll never know. All that aside, feminism is the radical notion that all women are human beings.

College Men and Rape by blogger Katiera

The truths behind rape on college campuses are unsettling. About one-third of college men report that they would commit rape if they knew they would get away with the crime. When the word rape is not used, this percentage rises to more than half.

The behaviors and thoughts surrounding sex and rape are deeply engrained in our culture, and are learned at a young age. College men not only have a responsibility to not force sex on a person who does not or cannot consent, but to help prevent their male peers from doing the same. Expecting the victims of rape, who are predominantly female and/or LGBTA+ individuals, to shoulder this burden alone will ensure the source of the issue will never be fully addressed.

The push to reduce such drastic rates of rape can fall under the feminism movement, which seeks to reverse the harmful culture patriarchy has created in our society. But many men and women alike still hold harmful, stereotypical views of feminists: that they are irrational, angry, man-hating women. Being a feminist solely means that you believe both men and women should have equal opportunities and rights in their society. Most people would agree with this sentiment. Not only can men be feminists, but they should be, and by identifying as such they can help eliminate the negative stigmas surrounding the topic. Feminism is not exclusive, nor are its benefits. On college campuses, education must extend to these crucial and pertinent issues.

The epidemic of Rape culture - by blogger Snehal

What is Rape culture? There is no single generic definition of Rape culture as it incorporates all acts, images, laws, prevalent attitudes, jokes, norms, words etc that considers sexual coercion and violence against women to be normal; thus making rape an inevitable act. Rape culture is a social evil often misconstrued to be a mere nonexistent term, unacceptable in the social arena. The fact is Rape culture is an offspring of the social mindset that nourishes misogyny, violent masculinity and inequality among the sexes, hence making it a no big deal situation. Objectification of women is so deep rooted in the world outside that stigmatizing overpowers humanity and rape survivors have to face the socio-political, socio – cultural wrath.

The tendency to blame the rape victims is backed by the thought process and decisive beliefs of the fault finding observers. It is assumed that the victim has done something concrete to attract the assault. If stigmatization is so important then stigmatize the rapist for his wrong .When social pressures are asserted to victimize the rape survivors, they end up building a prison full of faults in their minds. Such an internal suffocation injures the victim gravely in comparison to the physical one.  The perpetrators are not solely responsible for creation of this rape culture; it is also the society who should take equal responsibility for letting this rape culture affirm its roots. So let us all pledge today to uproot this rape culture and destroy it forever.

Here is how we can put an end to the rape culture:

1.       Co-relating rape to the attire of the victim is not appropriate. Women wearing long, full, decent dresses have also been raped.

2.       Teaching boys and girls to respect each other. As a parent or a teacher it is our duty to imbibe the qualities of compassion, empathy and kindness in your children/ students. This will mould them to be good human beings.

3.       Men should also step forward to condemn rape and rape culture. Likewise, it is better to teach boys not to rape girls than teaching girls not to get raped.

4.       Rape is not inevitable. Never consider it to be one. It is a serious issue that needs to be addressed properly. It is important to penalize the perpetrators of rape.

5.       Stop blaming the victims for rapes. It’s not their fault. Never be a dumb bystander witnessing sexual assault. Try fighting it out.

As a feminist, I feel rape culture is the result of ignorance and illiteracy concerning rape. Friends, it’s time that we work together to spread awareness and eradicate this epidemic that not only disgraces women but also wounds their souls.

A double standard by blogger Shaleen.

“Double standards aren't anti feminist,” according the author of the AskMen column “It’s a Man’s world,” Ian Lang. He calls double standards insipid logic, that bases the entire argument on general assumptions. His arguments has some depth but then again, he is also using general assumptions in his article “The Double Standard.” If anyone has read the column, you’ll know what I’m talking about. (I have added the link down below)


True, women and men are different but people are equal in value rather than size or quantity, which is what Ian Lang is arguing against. His point is trying to argue that women basically have it easy. If a woman want’s to go out and pick up a guy, she is giving him what he wanted in the first place. If a man went out and tried to pick up a woman, he would have to have “game” to even get a chance at sleeping with the girl. What I’m understanding is that women can’t go out and have sex with random strangers because men don’t have the capacity in many situations to say no. I beg to differ. Another situation this author has pointed out is that if a woman starts bragging about her sexcapades aka sexual escapade, she would be classified as a slut. I've been on this earth for a couple of years now, and I have heard many men do the same thing. Although, not once have I heard anyone call them sluts.


There is still a big double standard that women are not sexual creatures. Women are held to a certain extent. Women who have a lot of sex are tramps but a women who does not is a prude or virginal. It goes the same for men also, a man who have many female friends is a heart breaker and those who are the opposite are classified as geeky.





http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/austin_600/662_double-standards.html

No means a big No - by blogger Snehal Gajare

"Consent"- What is it? Is it important? Who cares? How dare she refuse me?........ And then the male chauvinist monster attacks the girl/woman. He forgets that he is denying her the basic right of voicing her choice about what is happening to her mind and body. As a woman I strongly condemn such an act where a woman's right of bodily integrity and autonomy is not only neglected but crushed. Every woman on this planet has the right to say "No".  It’s simple, ‘No’ means a clear, big and bold “No”.

When 'Yes' is easily understood and accepted, what's the issue in understanding and accepting its antonym 'No'? A study conducted by United Nations by surveying 10000 men in 6 Asia Pacific countries (the word “Rape” was not mentioned, instead men were questioned if they ever forced a lady to indulge in sex) has revealed that "sexual entitlement" (a mindset where a man considers that he has an automatic control over the body of woman irrespective of what the woman wants) is the trigger that drives men to rape women. Another shocking outcome of the survey was that some men admitted to raping women for entertainment to fight boredom. A small set of men cited anger as the reason for forcing women.  Shut Up! Wake up Guys! Come out of your world of fantasy. Rape is not a joke; it’s a heinous crime that seizes the entire existence of a woman, leaving her soul panic stricken, wounded for life. Furthermore, our ‘so called patriarchal society’ depicts its double standards by drowning the Rape victim into the pond of shame with a tagline "It’s your Fault"; whereas the excuse used for the rapist is “After all he is a man, he has desires”.

Consent plays a key role in most of the sexual assault cases; as it impacts the entire prosecution process. Consent can be determined by various factors: Age of consent (the victim consenting was below the age specified by law for having sex), Inability to consent (if the victim consenting was insane, mentally retarded, intoxicated), withdrawal of consent; (if the victim gave consent out to fear, embarrassment, coercion, helplessness and later withdrew) the violation of these can attract the offence of statutory rape. In simple sense, sex without ‘consent’ is Rape.

As a feminist I intend to ask a question to the society, - The rape victim is blamed for her rape, for the injuries inflicted on her body and her mind; despite her constant refusal to entertain the advances of a man. So, what should be the punishment for the rapist who so "innocently" rapes a woman, thrashes her self- esteem, insults the essence of womanhood thereby uprooting her existence and destroying her life; against her will and consent?

                        

'Feminism Today: Women's Safety in a Male-Dominated Society and How Men Can Help' by Bradley University blogger Ashley

More young women today are calling themselves feminists than in the past, and the definition of a feminist has changed as well. What has brought about this resurgence in feminism? What influenced these young women (and men) to join the movement now? Some would attribute this to the creation of the website Jezebel.com by writer Anna Holmes (read Glamour article here http://www.glamour.com/inspired/2013/09/the-new-do-calling-yourself-a-feminist). Some would give credit to more female celebrities talking about feminism and the need for it, but others might call this a sort of “bandwagon” effect. No matter who or what influenced people, we have more feminists today than before, which is truly awesome. There lies an issue before us, though- can women feel safe in a patriarchal society? And how can men help create more equality in society themselves?

Patriarchy rules our society to the point that some women even support it fully- women being the primary caretakers of children, staying at home to cook and clean, not holding positions of power, not deserving of equal pay or treatment, being weak and submissive, and other mostly demeaning characteristics applied to us. For those of us tired of being demeaned and pretty much forced into submission, we speak up and fight back. Fighting back can be dangerous in the society we live in- how dare we challenge authority? Clearly we deserve the hits that are thrown at us as a result of challenging a man, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong. There will always be men and women trying to “put us in our place”, but we have to be strong enough to say “no”. If every woman just sat silently while she was reduced to a role that fit the patriarchal society, then there would be no feminism, there would be no need to challenge authority because rules would be accepted blindly. Now, is there anything wrong with fitting into the typical female roles of the patriarchal society? No, but only if the woman consciously makes this decision on her own and actually desires to serve that role. For example, when a woman says that she stays at home with the kids because that’s what she should or is supposed to do, then I’d be curious as to why it is a should and not a desire.

So at this point in time, can women feel truly safe in a patriarchal society? No, not yet. Hopefully with the help of men, women can feel safer and more equal. So how can men help? Opening up more opportunities to women that have mostly been held by men, realize when they are making comments that are sexist or demeaning, and defending women in situations where they may not even be present (e.g., calling out a friend who calls women offensive things). Those are just a few suggestions on how a male can make a difference. It’s not about simply being a “feminist” while women are around. It’s about standing up for not only women’s rights but human rights 24/7. Educate yourselves and stand up for human rights!