How To Not Get Raped Part II: This Time It's Personal

The Liz Funk, she had it comin' themed article titled "Underage Women Sidle Up to Barroom Risks" has whipped everyone into a frenzy. Funk's article was on AlterNet, which I guess is a favorite of misogynists and the very stupid? I had no idea. Comments like:

If a woman over 21 years of age becomes intoxicated and is taken advantage of, it is her fault. Women are responsible for looking after themselves.

and

Women who want to avoid this situation can simply not go to these clubs. Women who go know what the risks are and weigh the pros and cons. They know there is a risk. There is a risk in staying home too; the roof could fall in.The individual decides.Having said that, anyone who perpetrates a crime is responsible for that crime. The person against whom the crime is committed is blameless.We all have a free will. Life is risky, so you decide the risks you are willing to take, and someone who commits violence should suffer the consequences. To outlaw the women from going to the club would be wrong, and to let a criminal off the hook would also be wrong.

There was a lot of that talk, but it was truly astonishing how many people freaked out when it was suggested that women are not to blame for rape.

Funk responded to the backlash with ..."Now, this arguing is more tired than Britney Spears on New Year’s Eve… let’s move on." Brilliant. She says more, but that really sums it up. Alternet weighed in on this and posted my letter to Women's e-news. I thought that was cool.

Look, I'm no brain-child but let's face it, Funk's article implied that if a woman goes to a bar and drinks she has put herself at risk-so if she is raped-the first thing that will be said is that she was at a nightclub drinking. Thus, if she wasn't drinking she would not have been raped and see how nicely the responsibility falls upon the woman. Theoretically, a woman should be able to walk down the street stark naked without the threat or risk of being raped.

I think it is safe to say a wall has been hit here in terms of what women can do to "protect" themselves. The focus needs to be on the perpetrator, not the victim. It is like blaming children for being abused or molested. If children were not playing in the backyard or playground flaunting their child-like tendencies they would not be molested.