Research Blog: Teaching Men Rape Prevention Actually Works

[ismnotwasm]

**Trigger warning. This blog is about sexual violence.**

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been thinking about the Steubenville rapes for a while now. You’ve seen the horrific details of the crime, the multiple sad excuses for journalism, and the even more disturbing public outrage when the rapists got what they had coming. You’ve tried to boost your ever-depleting faith in humanity by clinging to superfab feminist responses like this one that cringes over the sickening media coverage of the trial, this one addressing rape culture, or this one about teaching our sons not to rape. But possibly my favorite feminist response to this atrocity came from political analyst Zerlina Maxwell.

In case you missed it, on March 5th, Zerlina Maxwell, a rape survivor herself, appeared on Sean Hannity’s show on Fox News. The segment was centered around the idea that the solution to rape is simple – just give women guns! *Facepalm* Maxwell disagreed, and instead made one of the most obvious (and brilliant) arguments about the kind of rape prevention we really need in this country. Here’s what she said:

“I think that the entire conversation is wrong. I don’t want anybody to be telling women anything. I don’t want men to be telling me what to wear and how to act, not to drink. And I don’t, honestly, want you to tell me that I needed a gun in order to prevent my rape. … I think we should be telling men not to rape women and start the conversation there with prevention.”

This is what I like to call a “duh” moment – you mean we should direct rape prevention toward rapists? Who would’ve thought! (Obviously not Sean Hannity, if you watch his response, or the droves of people who sent Maxwell rape and death threats after the show).

http://www.sparksummit.com/2013/04/10/research-blog-teaching-men-rape-prevention-actually-works/

[niyad]

1. k and r-and waiting for the usual suspects

should be obvious, yes? but oh, the wailing and gnashing of teeth when common sense prevails.

that research blog was interesting, and gives one a tiny bit of hope.

Sister Militant
AC, PHD, REMDI95
Blessed Order of the Sisterhood of Perpetual Outrage

[redqueen]

2. Is it wrong that imagining the internal anguish of the people who were so outraged by this idea

gives me a pleasant feeling of schadenfreude?

I think it's better simply to enjoy the fact that the world is leaving them behind. But still...

[Arcanetrance]

3. Couldn't agree more and I've been saying it to whomever I could get to listen

As a guy I'm not offended by this idea because guys are responsible for the majority of the rapes happening. Yes not all of us rape but we all have to suffer the consequences if we want this to change its on us. It's up to us to look at each other and say dude don't rape plain and simple.

[ismnotwasm]

4. Thank you

Awesome

[Arkansas Granny]

5. I agree. Prevention should begin with the perpetrators.

It is still important for women to be aware of the danger and threat of rape just as they would any other threat to their safety, but women should not bear the responsibility of prevention. We need to educate our sons *and* our daughters so we can minimize the risk of sexual violence that women face.