The theme of the literature was the increased risk for unplanned or unwanted sexual activity if one chooses to drink excessively. Statistics indicate that 90% of all college sexual assaults involve the use of alcohol by either the assailant or the survivor. The booklet which we were distributing today includes these tips for protecting oneself:
- Avoid drinking too much
- Don't go back to someone's room or leave a party with someone you don't know well
- Take a self-defense class
Um, what about the responsibility of the assailant? All of these actions imply that women need to take extraordinary steps to protect themselves by restricting their activity. The implied corollary here is that if you do happen to drink too much/leave a party with someone, and you are assaulted, you are at fault. And apparently, you're even more at fault if you cannot/don't adequately defend yourself. I get so angry. Why this focus on the actions of the survivor? If a woman wants to go out and have a few drinks, she should be able to do so without having to consider herself becoming a target for a sexual assault.
All of this just in time for Valentine's Day. It warms the heart, doesn't it?
2 comments:
Why this focus on the actions of the survivor? If a woman wants to go out and have a few drinks, she should be able to do so without having to consider herself becoming a target for a sexual assault.
um, sure. and you should also be able to walk down the street in any neighborhood you want at 4 a.m. and a fistful of cash. And you should be able to leave your front door unlocked without worrying about getting robbed.
and eat everything you want without gaining weight...
the list can go on and on. i'm interested in exploring the kinds of interventions that are helpful or not helpful to get closer to the ideal.
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