As is often the case, multiple stories on a similar theme are suspiciously appearing in the media and on people’s Creepbook feeds at the same time.
Exploring the reasons behind the coincidence of the trend, the narrative, can be the theme of another day.
Meanwhile, the current cause du jour is sexual harassment, rape and murder of women by men.
It shouldn’t need to be said, but I’m certain we can all agree those are bad things. Reducing them from our societies should be high on the priority list of everyone.
Note, I didn’t say “eliminate”.
It seems to me, the nexus of anger is to be found between the concepts of reduce and eliminate.
There’s clearly anger. Anger at the murder of Sarah Everard, anger at multiple sexual assaults and allegations of sexual assault by various political workers in Canberra, anger at domestic violence and the fact it’s committed mainly (but not exclusively) by men.
One of the banners at the Australian protest stated we should, “End Rape Now”. I would love to hear the placard owner’s thoughts on how a transition to that world might be achieved.
Banners at the London protests took issue with the fact it isn’t always safe for a lone female to walk on the street.
These statements of protest are clearly well-intentioned uses of rhetoric and hyperbole, but are they helping?
To return to that nexus; if you believe a world with zero rapes is possible, calling for a curfew for men would make sense.
If you rejected that idea, though, the screaming around the theme “all men are rapists” has the effect of drowning out a more sober discussion about practical actions to achieve reduction.
A related conversation was had between a group of fellow parents at our local high school recently; “the school should teach our children about consent“, was the cry.
An unpopular opinion was offered by one foolish soul:
a) I send my kids there to learn maths, English and science. I’ll teach morality, thanks.
b) If your kid doesn’t already know how to respect other people’s bodies by Year 7, YOU are the problem.
c) “Consent” has a specific legal definition which no teacher I’ve met would be capable of teaching in a one hour struggle session.That went down like a cup of cold vomit, obviously.
Bill’s Opinion
Unusually for Spiked, this is sensible take on the problem.
It is not safe to walk home alone. It’s never been safe to walk home alone. Regardless of whether you are female or, and I cannot stress this strongly enough, male.
As Brett Weinstein stated recently, we are all descendants of rapists and murderers. The statistical probability you aren’t is so unlikely it’s not a credible option. Genetically, we have the capability within us. The miracle is that it doesn’t happen with much greater frequency.
To consider a zero rape world feasible is to believe millions of years of genetics can be overridden for 100% of the population 100% of the time.
If this describes your view, may I politely suggest you meet more human beings.
If you have a son, teach them to keep their hands to themselves unless invited. If you have a daughter, teach them most men are lovely, but some are cunts and they don’t often wear badges to explain which group they are a member of.
In the meantime, if you want to feel safe walking the streets, don’t do it after 6pm if there’s a “man curfew”; the men who stay home won’t be the ones you need to be concerned about.
As Brett Weinstein stated recently, we are all ancestors of rapists and murderers.
Hmmm… he might’ve meant “descendants?”
Thanks, edited.
All men are rapists, as you point out, is a lie. Yes in certain countries, I’m looking around where I’m standing at the moment, there is a culture of male entitlement and women feel obliged. That’s not a happy situation but it’s not rape. She’s consenting for a bad reason but she is consenting. About the same as a woman who puts out in expectation of being well provided for. In other countries the statistic could be one man in a thousand, perhaps one in a hundred, perhaps as high as one in ten is an actual rapist. That’s not all men.
Charlize Theron had a famous TV ad telling men (a) stop it and (b) tell your man pals to stop it. The only men who would put up with this shit are highly unlikely to be rapists anyway and unlikely to hang with psychopath cherry-poppers. The ad spoke only to those inheritors of the earth, the meek.
Men are generally aware of their beasts and a lot of our time and effort goes into controlling them.
Yes, I did think about mentioning the somewhat oversized pachyderm in the room, that it’s not particularly safe for lone women to walk down the streets of Karachi, Lagos or Rio either.