The Terrible Problem of Rape and the Destructive Male Gaze
I just wanted the share a series of tweets a friend of mine, Jesal Padania, shared with us today. I have my perspective about this situation (there’s not a lot of things that make me angrier than the destructive disrespect of women), but I’ll leave it at his tweets for now.
– Rochard Scott
I’ve been reading some incredibly in depth research into rape. Let me summarize a couple of main points…
1) Rapes are usually committed by someone the victim knows, or who is around the same social group. In other words, in the UK and America at least, violent rape by strangers is actually relatively rare by comparison.
2) A small number of men tend to commit a large number of rapes. In other words, once they perfect the methodology, they continue and seem to get away with it a lot.
3) Alcohol is used as the principal weapon by predators, and of course the use by a few specialists of “roofies.” Roofies aren’t actually that commonly used, but of course they must be looked out for, especially in bars/clubs.This is UK and America, FYI.
4) 90% of cases go unreported. The police rarely take it seriously, not just in India but basically ANYWHERE on the planet. Think about it again. 90% of rapes go unreported. I know 4 girls who have been raped before. One reported it. Didn’t even reach court.
The next one is becoming more and more crucial, so pay attention…
5) Male attitudes in groups are extremely influential. So male attitudes to rape are extremely influenced by the company you keep. If you hang around men with terrible attitudes to women, chances are you are much more likely to adopt those attitudes too. Ditto if you hang around and witness guys who rape, you will be much more likely to do it too.
There is real research into this.
This last point is a massive factor in India and with this particular case. The truth is it isn’t out of the ordinary at all. And the gang rape nature of it, egging each other on, desensitized to violence, sexual violence, covering for one another…
It all adds up.
That’s all I’m going to say on the subject for now. But there is a very strong case for shaming men into NOT raping, and the world isn’t set up that way right now (as Rochard said).
Karen Weathers' Linian Legacy 