Fiagle1
Halle Fiagle
Banta
FHS 2450
25 July 2017
QUESTION:
Some people perceive a woman who wears "suggestive clothing" and is then raped as
somehow responsible for her own rape. In contrast, a man who dons an expensive suit, carries a
lot of cash, and wears a Rolex watch is seldom, if ever, held responsible for being robbed on the
street. What are your thoughts about this inconsistency in assigning the label of victim
precipitation to these two events? Is it ever appropriate to label a victim responsible for her or his
own victimization?
ANSWER:
I attribute the inconsistency between the two events as evidence of a patriarchal society.
A wealthy man flaunting his belongings is a signal of power and success. It is an admirable
characteristic by society. If he were to be robbed, it is seen as a crime because he worked hard to
get those items. However, women are seen in a different light. If a woman is showing off her
figure in revealing clothing because she feels confident in appearance and is taken advantage of,
shes getting what she wanted. Unlike men, her hard earned possession (body) can be taken by
someone else because men are led to believe they have ownership of women. This is what is
known as rape culture (Knox and Milstein, 2017, p. 460).
Worldwide, women are taught that it is their fault when abused by men. In Pakistan,
being raped can be a death sentence, but not by the offender. A woman who is raped brings great
shame to her family. The only way to revive their reputation is to execute her in the practice of
honor killing (Knox and Milstein, 2017, p. 465). Compared to this culture, the United States
seems fairly tame. But rape myths still run rampant in our society. Some examples Knox and
Milstein include are, Women have a secret desire to be controlled/raped, that when a woman
says no she really means yes, that only strangers commit rape, and that women who dress
provocatively are really asking for sex (2017, p. 454).
Men who follow suit with the belief that women are responsible for their raping have
been shown to have characteristics of insensitivity and manipulativeness (Knox and Milstein,
2017, p. 454). Rapists do not understand the importance of consent or care about any adverse
reactions that come from their actions. Rape survivors can experience feelings of helplessness,
anger, vulnerability, disorganization, shame and anxiety (p. 464). Long term it is common for
women to develop rape trauma syndrome and post-tramatic stress disorder (Knox and Milstein,
2017, p. 465).
Fiagle2
To answer the question, do I ever think someone is at fault for being raped? No, I do not.
Even in the context of sex-workers, there should still be consent involved. Unfortunately,
prostitutes are seen as one of the lowest members of society. As such, some clients believe, She
gives up the right to say no... (Knox and Milstein, 2017, p. 511). Although it is not a victims
fault that this crime has been committed, they should be aware of steps to take for safety. It is not
fair, but there will always be terrible people in this world looking to hurt others. Knox and
Milstein outline some ways women can decrease their risk of being raped. Women should
monitor mind-altering substances such as drugs and alcohol. Notice if the other person is shifting
the conversation to a sexual nature. Realize when the perpetrator is trying to isolate them (Knox
and Milstein, 2017, p.467). All are red flags that the situation could become dangerous.
Rather than teach women that they should look and act a certain way to avoid rape, men
should be taught not to rape. Women do not secretly want to be violently controlled. If she wants
sexual interaction, a verbal yes is the only condition in which it should take place. No matter
how someone is dressed, even it appears that they want attention, they do not want to be hurt.
Fiagle3
Reference
Knox., & Milstein, S. (2017). Human Sexuality: Making Informed Decisions (5th ed.) [with Salt
Lake Community College supplement]. Redding, CA: BVT Publishing.
