I stumbled this article by Jamie Doak and I agree with her up until the possible solutions she provides. Unfortunately, I think I may have spammed her with my post at least 6 times because I am not sure if I typed in the security code correctly. I apologize about that.
Jamie, if you read this post it is in no way a bash to your column. I think your column is a good one because it sheds light on a negative and pervasive social problem.
Here's a reference to your column.
http://www.bust.com/blog/2010/03/20/its-spring-break-dont-get-yourself-raped.html
Ah heck...I just lost my response because I copied the URL before pasting my reply. Well, my reply went something like this:
I agree with the above column up until the potential solutions that are provided. Rape is a serious issue, no doubt, but the potential solutions to remedy this social problem need to be equally serious. The solutions outlined place too much emphasis on the man to reduce and solve the problem of rape. I am not saying women are to blame, but rather society needs to be held more accountable for the use of derogatory images of women that construct a social reality in which rape has become an "acceptable" practice. Rape may continue to occur because society ignores the causes and solutions to the problem. In other words, for the most, as a society, we share a similar lived reality that continues to objectify and marginalize women and because sex has become a commodity in our culture, sex no longer is taken seriously. Society needs to be held responsible for perpetuating this pervasive problem.
Perhaps a potential way in which we can begin to solve this social problem is for society to think critically (seriously) about the issue. Society may be able to apply Paulo Freire's concept of a critical pedagogy in which case society and it's members use the problem posing methodology to first name and acknowledge the problem exists; secondly to propose potential causes of the problem; thirdly to provide possible solutions to remedy the problem; and lastly to reflect on the entire process and start over if need be. The problem posing method has been successfully used by various marginalized and oppressed groups to challenge their social positions.
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I think Jamie was making a deliberately one-sided post to counteract the usual content of "how to prevent rape" stories, though - since the narrative is almost always telling women what to do, it's a satire. She is contradicting the normal "here's what to do, women, to avoid rape" stories by pointing out that rape is not an act of God or natural disaster, and there is a disproportionate amount of messaging toward the victims of this crime in a way that there isn't toward people who get their cars stolen, for example.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the overall post, though. We could make a lot of progress toward discouraging rape and resetting how we discuss it. Who wants to help me make a top 10 list? Here's my first one: let's decide as a society that rape isn't funny just because it's happening to someone who is incarcerated. No more prison rape jokes.
I agree
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