So, this video is raging around the internet right now, and for good reason. Just watch it. You probably have three minutes now anyway, so just do it.
And now that you’ve watched it:
Can we please stop with the victim-blaming, please? Pretty please?
I know people mean well. I know they don’t necessarily mean it’s the girls fault because she dressed like x or had x much to drink, or because whatever. Thing is, with all this focus on what a girl can do, we’re forgetting some crucial things. Like the fact that guys get raped too. And we’re kinda forgetting the deal about who’s doing the raping. And the fact that most rapes aren’t assaults or from strangers. They’re often done by people you know enough to trust. How fucked up is that?
So, to quote Anna Akana:
We teach girls at an early age all about rape prevention: what to wear (or not), how to defend themselves, how to avoid dangerous situations, etc.
All I’m saying is, why not tell boys the same thing? Talk about sexual aggression, what consent is, and how forcing yourself on someone is not okay.
By the way, you should check out her entire youtube-channel. So many awesome videos there.
And yes, I believe most people who rapes knows it’s wrong. I’m just not sure if everyone are aware of what more than the «familiar» assaults actually are rape. Just saying «rape is wrong, don’t do it» is just stupid. There’s so much more going on. How about we focus more on consent, how we can look after our friends properly and discuss what we, as a culture, can do.
Oh, and kudos to California for pushing through their «Yes means yes«-law! There’s another thing we should focus on. Yes means yes. There are too many situations that means «no». You can’t say no if you’re unconscious.