I remember spending a cold night out with my girlfriend, having wine and trying to stay warm at an outdoor bar in town. It was not bad at all, but we had dressed well with boots and jackets, scarfs and gloves, and were enjoying our night and stayed warm, having found a seat close to the fire pit.
But how much fun did we not have making fun of the ones just old enough to be there, dressed in short dresses barely covering their butts, spaghetti straps and strutting all they had trying to get attention from the men. We were laughing as they were shaking trying to hold on to their drinks and smiling with lips that had turned almost blue. Our joke for the night was that no man is worth pneumonia. Pretty sure we labeled them desperate, but I don't recall us thinking that they deserved to be treated worse by any means based on how they dressed.
However, some apparently still do. In January of this year, Constable Michael Sanguinetti, a Toronto Police Officer, made the remarks that in order to avoid being victimized, "women should stop dressing like sluts. "
I am horrified to see that in 2011, in a modern, Western Country, some still have the attitude that women are responsible for not being victimized, rather than men being responsible for not committing rape. And a police officer nonetheless. "No" means "no". I don't care if you are naked and in bed together. "No" means "no".
Luckily I'm far from the only one that finds this attitude ridiculous, and Mr. Sanguinetti's comments have sparked a now worldwide movement of women (and men) protesting the belief that any aspect of a woman's appearance can explain or excuse rape. SlutWalk started in Toronto on April 3rd, and has since spread across Canada, the US, Europe, Australia and now to Mexico as well as some countries in Asia. You can find a listing of past and upcoming events here.
And here is the video from the event in Toronto:
I think I have to pull out some super slutty clothing and join this one when they come to our town! Put the responsibility back where it belongs!
Well I agree with you, somewhat… The responsibility is always on the man; in my opinion women should be able to walk around naked if they please and the law allows it.
ReplyDeleteNow on the other hand “Slutwalk” really?? Have you gals lost your mind…
Here’s the bottom line, we all know there are sick men out there, and they will be prosecuted to a certain extent (loop-holes) if they attack women. There is a big difference between dressing like a slut, and acting like a slut. For example, a woman is sucking a guy’s tongue out of his head five minutes after meeting him. She takes him out to the parking lot and blows him, and then they go to a hotel room and that’s when she changes her mind. No dispute from me, the man is still wrong if he continues after she says “No”. But the law will be lenient on him; opposed to, man meets a girl dressed like a slut and forces his way on her. In court is argument that she was ‘dressed like a slut’ made him do it won’t cut it. It is harder to prosecute a man to the fullest because the woman was ‘acting’ like a slut.
So ladies, wrong is wrong, but why put your-self through the danger to prove a point. When child-molesters are released from prison they are not allowed to live near schools, playgrounds, parks, day-cares, or any other public place for children. So, do you think parents should parade their children around these men just because it’s not the children’s fault they are irresistible???
I agree there is a big difference between looking like and acting like a slut. But neither provides an invitation to or excuse for sexual assaults, and as established in Shaw vs. Campbell, even a prostitute can say "no"
ReplyDeleteThe bigger point is that sexual crimes are under reported as it is. When law officials make statements like this, bringing out the old "oh she did it to herself by dressing that way" argument, it will make it even harder for so many women and girls to report the crimes. The fact that such arguments won't hold up in court doesn't matter if the crimes are never reported.
Is this pushing it to the edge. Yes, but only to prove a point.
Yes, they are under reported, and under punished...
ReplyDeleteJust imagine if animals had a voice, men rape them all the time (sick ^%&#$!!)
Next topic, beastiality