Slutwalk

[Umbvix]

I think both need to be taught. Women need to know how to defend themselves because there will always be creepy jerks, but it's also important for men to be taught that they shouldn't rape women, too.

[embonpoint]

^There's being taught how to defend yourself and there's being taught how to 'prevent' rape by y'know, covering up and and not getting drunk (despite the fact that you're more likely to be raped in your own home/by someone you know than you are a stranger in a dark alley).

I did a fair bit of research about rape/victim-blaming for a piece of coursework I did for my English class and I had to stop, sometimes, and do something else because it was in equal parts terrifying and depressing. It's astonishing. As if it weren't bad enough being raped, but to then be blamed for it... I just can't imagine. I definitely am in support of slut walk. My clothes are not consent.

[thestrangewinston]

I completely support slutwalk. I was at a rally for planned parenthood when I first found out about them, and i do think society needs to teach not to rape more then they other way around for many reasons. I have gotten into arguments over this sort of issue before >_<

[Gina]

I agree with Slut Walk 100%. I'm doing the first argumentative essay that gets assigned next school year on slut-shaming and victim blaming.

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that someone can have a case thrown out just because "they shouldn't have been in that part of town" or "they shouldn't have been dressed like that". No, the rapist shouldn't have been raping. No one asks to get raped, no matter what they're doing.

[/soapbox]

[suffixedishness]

I think it's important to know how to defend oneself, but more for the purpose of just knowing defense techniques than for preventing rape. Honestly, the one at fault is the rapist, not the person (I hesitate to say "woman" because men do get raped sometimes, although they're less inclined to say anything about it when it does happen) who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[onlyaworkingtitle]

I don't have a ton to add to the general sentiment already expressed, except my support.

[Olive]

All for it. My biggest problem with everything is the fact that people tend to treat rape as inevitable. It should not be any more acceptable than murder. So, yes, self defense should be taught, but I think by teaching rape-specific self defense, we're still perpetuating the issue.

Also, random articles that make me hate politicians/build the case for slutwalk stuff.

www.addictinginfo.org/2011/05/05/house-gop-unanimously-passes-anti-abortion-bill-that-redefines-rape-raises-taxes-and-creates-rape-audits/
www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/31/granderson.rape.abortion/index.html?eref=rss_politics&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_allpolitics+%28RSS%3A+Politics%29

/fume

[invision]

Jun 11, 2011 15:51:36 GMT -5 Umbvix said:

I think both need to be taught. Women need to know how to defend themselves because there will always be creepy jerks, but it's also important for men to be taught that they shouldn't rape women, too.

So people rape others just because they don't know any better? Huh?

James

[onlyaworkingtitle]

Jun 11, 2011 23:08:49 GMT -5 invision said:

Jun 11, 2011 15:51:36 GMT -5 Umbvix said:

I think both need to be taught. Women need to know how to defend themselves because there will always be creepy jerks, but it's also important for men to be taught that they shouldn't rape women, too.

So people rape others just because they don't know any better? Huh?

James

I think what Umbvix meant was that self-defense is a good thing to know, regardless -- I mean, I wouldn't mind knowing how to kick somebody's ass -- but not knowing self-defense certainly isn't an invitation to take advantage of my inability to ass-kick. Either way, people who would take advantage of a woman's inability to fight back belong behind bars.

[Fuck Yeah Dion]

I'm going to SlutWalk Sydney tomorrow. I completely support the ideals for which these demonstrations stand.

[Fuck Yeah Dion]

Jun 11, 2011 23:08:49 GMT -5 invision said:

Jun 11, 2011 15:51:36 GMT -5 Umbvix said:

I think both need to be taught. Women need to know how to defend themselves because there will always be creepy jerks, but it's also important for men to be taught that they shouldn't rape women, too.

So people rape others just because they don't know any better? Huh?

James

I think the point of the Walks is that the culture we live in is way more focused with teaching women how to not get raped as opposed to teaching men not to rape. This creates a culture where rape victims are often blamed for the fact they were raped.

[Umbvix]

Jun 11, 2011 18:32:13 GMT -5 embonpoint said:

^There's being taught how to defend yourself and there's being taught how to 'prevent' rape by y'know, covering up and and not getting drunk (despite the fact that you're more likely to be raped in your own home/by someone you know than you are a stranger in a dark alley).

I did a fair bit of research about rape/victim-blaming for a piece of coursework I did for my English class and I had to stop, sometimes, and do something else because it was in equal parts terrifying and depressing. It's astonishing. As if it weren't bad enough being raped, but to then be blamed for it... I just can't imagine. I definitely am in support of slut walk. My clothes are not consent.

I wasn't implying the whole "preventing rape" thing when I said self-defense. I meant that women need to learn actual self-defense.

[Umbvix]

Jun 11, 2011 23:08:49 GMT -5 invision said:

Jun 11, 2011 15:51:36 GMT -5 Umbvix said:

I think both need to be taught. Women need to know how to defend themselves because there will always be creepy jerks, but it's also important for men to be taught that they shouldn't rape women, too.

So people rape others just because they don't know any better? Huh?

James

I just mean that there should be more emphasis on it. Like I said, there will always be the sad fucks who will rape others, but there needs to be an emphasis that men and women should not be raping rather than how to keep yourself from getting raped.

[Fuck Yeah Dion]

The SlutWalk was amazing! You guys, I can't even.

[meggieinluckey]

I love the ideas behind SlutWalk (reclaiming language, addressing rape culture and proposing solutions beyond victim blaming: AWESOME), BUT I think that it is a fairly white dominated movement (which is typical of American Feminist movements) so it does not speak to everyone's experiences. I think that the race issues need to be addressed within the SlutWalk organizers/movement, but the idea behind it is A+