Spike Lee: Female Students Should Go On Sex Strike To Combat Campus Rape

[big_dog]

Last edited Thu Nov 26, 2015, 07:03 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: UK Guardian Thursday 26 November 2015 07.32 EST

Spike Lee has said a sex strike by women could help prevent sexual harassment on US college campuses. A recent survey of US college campuses found that nearly a quarter of female students had experienced some form of unwanted sexual advance. More than 10% of respondents said they had been physically assaulted or threatened with physical assault by men in pursuit of sex.

“I think a sex strike could really work on college campuses where there’s an abundance of sexual harassment or date rapes,” Lee told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show on US television. “Second semester it’s going to happen. Once people coming back from Christmas and some stuff jumps off, there’s going to be sex strikes in universities and college campuses across this country.”

The director was discussing his new film Chi-Raq with Colbert. Based on Lysistrata, a satire by Aristophanes, the film follows a group of women on the south side of Chicago who decide to fight gun crime by withholding sex from their men. In real life, the film has reportedly inspired a group of 37 women to follow suit.

Lee was criticised by Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel earlier this year for appropriating Chi-Raq – a rap slang term used to compare the violence in Chicago’s Englewood neighbourhood to that seen in the Iraq war zone – as his film’s title. In the interview, Colbert cited statistics that showed that since 2001 more Americans had died in Chicago than in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/26/spike-lee-female-students-should-go-on-sex-strike-to-combat-campus

[99th_Monkey]

1. We've come a long ways, from "Make Love Not War!"

and I'm not convinced it's an improvement.

I love Spike Lee, saw him on Colbert the other night; but this makes a better
movie script than it does a serious tactic to improve relations between genders.

[roguevalley]

20. I remember The Lysistrata. I don't think it will help with

this sort of thing. Maybe banning fraternities will be a good start.

[99th_Monkey]

37. I agree banning fraternities might help.

Our rape culture is just one aspect of our bully culture, "might makes right",
where helpless homeless people are often set on fire at night or beat-up for
no reason other than sadistic 'enjoyment' by the same kind of assholes that
are flocking to Trump rallies.

Cops who routinely murder black people at-will are also notorious wife-beaters.

There is clearly a sick ugly violent power-hungry segment of our population that
needs to be somehow confronted, countered, and defanged ...

I don't know the answer, but wish I did. I do applaud Spike for at least positing
some way to stop the raping on campuses, and forcing us to think about it.

[KittyWampus]

38. Not all fraternities and sororities are dedicate party-central groups.

Some are dedicated to philanthropy, for instance.

[Warpy]

55. What Lee is missing is that women have sex drives, too

so the Lysistrata strategy is always going to be a total failure.

I guess women aren't supposed to have sex drives, it's so unfeminine.

For the impaired,

[Skittles]

2. ugh

perpetuates the idea that sex is something women give ("put out&quot and men take

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

4. YES! A sex strike is beyond stupid.

nt

[still_one]

5. What an asanine comment from Lee. How about expelling and arresting the perpetrators?

[Matariki]

40. +1000

[d_legendary1]

49. Cuz they make the University look bad

Much easier to go after the victims through arbitration than to have the police involved, which adds unwanted stats (which universities are women most likely to get raped) and the press.

[sarge43]

10. Thank you

That implies that rape and assault victims were ever willing participants.

[enough]

18. Very well said, thanks. (nt)

[Jeroen]

24. Exactly, well put n/t

[MADem]

34. I agree with your complaint--it makes it seem as though an "expected benefit" is being "denied."

No TV if you don't do your homework, Billy!

If you don't finish your dinner, Bobby, you don't get dessert!



Spike's comment surely came from good intentions, but it sounds like a klinker to me, too. "Not raping" isn't something you do to get a prize. It's supposed to be the default.

[Matariki]

39. +1

Thanks for saving me the trouble of having to type out the angry screed percolating in my head after reading the OP

[ismnotwasm]

45. Exactly.

Also sex and rape are different actions. Ask any women who was raped if she considered it "having sex"

[treestar]

56. +1

It's expressed as a negative for women and a value positive for men.

[Bradical79]

3. Seems like that just re-enforces the idea sex is a reward for men

Thinking sex is simply a reward that's owed to them is part of the problem with some guys. Also, if a young woman enjoys a healthy sexual relationship with someone she shouldn't be pressed to deny herself that physical intamacy.

[hoosierlib]

6. What?

Its not a reward? Then why the fuck I am cleaning dishes?

[LeftyMom]

19. Because you ate food and your arms aren't broken?

[Quackers]

21. Lol nt

[Nihil]

28. ... yet ...

[MADem]

35. Ha ha ha! Thread win! nt

[sarge43]

25. It's your home, too? n/t

[elehhhhna]

8. Yeah but spike thinks all we have to offer is pussy.

Wtf spike.

[denbot]

22. No hide on your post..

I thought it was a little crude myself..

On Fri Nov 27, 2015, 03:44 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Yeah but spike thinks all we have to offer is pussy.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1272284

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Not trying to be a prude, but there are several here that find this word offensive. Poster could have used the word "sex", just like other posters have.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Nov 27, 2015, 03:55 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: We can't hide everything that someone could conceivably find offensive. This isn't Yale.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: A little crude, but in the context, it's a good point.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Alerter's name must be Legion to claim "several" are offended by the word "pussy." No trying here about prudery; the alert has achieved it. I refuse to hide this post because someone, somewhere has clutched their skirts in horror at the sight of a WORD. Grow up.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Not worth an alert never mind a hide.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: There are other connotations for the human female body parts without getting vulgar.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[elehhhhna]

33. Yes, it was crude but in this context it felt appropriate. Thank you.

[Matariki]

41. Juror #1 & Juror #3 for the WIN!

lol

[treestar]

57. +1

The whole idea it is a reward for men is BS. the very font of sexism.

[BlueJazz]

7. Too Sexist.

[elehhhhna]

9. Spike views sex as a tactical weapon. That's in large part the problem. That mentality.

[sarge43]

11. Why is the crime the victim's responsibility to stop? n/t

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

46. Because the criminal doesn't want to?

[Quantess]

12. That is an incredibly ignorant point of view.

Spike Lee should be ashamed.

[tishaLA]

13. this is almost the definition of paternalism

To say nothing of its stupidity for the reasons others have mentioned.

[riderinthestorm]

14. Rape is a crime of power and control

A sex strike doesn't even come close to addressing the root causes of rape hence its a futile gesture.

There are other, better ways to address the problem of rape

[mantis49]

63. Exactly...

Rape isn't about sex. It's about power and subjugation.

[DURHAM D]

15. What a dumb shit. nt

[jtuck004]

16. Aristophanes thought the same thing in Lysistrata. n/t.

[Recursion]

17. Except the social expectations were reversed then

The whole humor behind the Lysistrata was that Athenians would have found the concept of women refusing sex absurd (they were considered more sex-driven than men). Imagine a modern US comedy based on men boycotting sex and you get the idea.

[thucythucy]

31. Not to mention

that in Lysistrata the women were striking to end the war between Athens and Sparta, and they also occupied the Acropolis. So in a modern context this would be American (and other) women striking to end the Middle East and Afghan wars, and occupying the Pentagon. But as you say, an entirely different social context.

And I agree with all the other posters on how, in the context of rape, the comment is both inappropriate and dumb, for all the reasons listed.

[nsd]

23. Spike Lee was always a dumb guy. So I'm no surprised to hear this coming from him. /nt

[DetlefK]

27. That would make sex a commodity and the strike would be a boycott.

"Friendzone":
The concept that women are vending-machines where you can buy sex in exchange for friendly behaviour.
If you are in the "Friendzone", that means the vending-machine is broken and doesn't give you the treat, no matter how many coins you put in there. (You have paid for this, dammit! You deserve it!)

This strike would lead to a similar situation:
Men get sex in exchange for outwardly displaying a certain behaviour. It would not affect the attitude men have towards sexuality.




Just an example: The tips men's magazines give how to get laid:
- Look like this.
- Buy this.
- Say this.
- "Memorize these phrases to come across as smart and culturally sophisticated in conversations."
- Do all these things and you will get sex.

Add "Memorize these feminist phrases and casually mix them into conversations" and we are back right where we started.

The advice they never give is:
- Read this.
- Think about this.
- Let this piece of art transform you, let it alter your thinking and widen your horizon.
- Become the sort of man women want, instead of merely pretending to be that sort of man.




A sex-strike would turn sex into a commodity that women own and that they refuse to share with the rest of society. Just what misogynists have been thinking all along...

[Matariki]

42. That's a brilliant definition of "Friendzone"

yours? It needs to get added to Urban Dictionary. Or better yet, Websters.

[DetlefK]

62. It's basically a reworded internet-meme.

[arcane1]

52. Spot-on n/t

[jberryhill]

29. What a remarkably stupid man

[get the red out]

30. Seriously?

The guys that wait on yes aren't the problem. Rape is about power, not two consenting adults.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

32. Stupid

[tabasco]

36. Good luck with that, Spike.

I believe females have something called "hormones" as well as males.

[erpowers]

43. Teach Men To Respect Women

I am not trying to say that all men are bad, but it would be far better to teach men to respect women than to refuse to have sex with men. Sex is not the problem; respect is the problem. It is very likely that women would not get raped if some men did not think sex was something they could take without asking. How many times have we heard of men joking about sleeping with women while they were drunk? How many times have we heard of men drugging women's drinks in order to sex with them without having to ask, or without having to be rejected?

We need to teach our sons that it is not a form of success to have sex with a drunk or drugged woman. We need to tell our sons that they are not entitled to sex with any woman they want to have sex with. We need to continue to tell our sons that if women say no they do not have to right to force the women to have sex with them.

At the end of the day, things might be much better in regards to sex if we just started talking more about sex with our kids. How many parents sit down and talk to their kids about sex before the kids go off to college? Maybe there would be less campus rape if we just all sat down with our kids and talked to them about what happens during sex and what to expect from sex.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

44. How does that stop a rapist or harasser?

It would only stop those that would have stopped at 'no'. Unless I'm completely missing something.

[ismnotwasm]

47. It doesn't

Noticed your sig line--my husband takes that for MS fatigue. A life changer

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

48. It is for me too.

[d_legendary1]

50. Withhold sex?

I thought the idea behind rape was to get sex by any means necessary.

[arcane1]

51. A woman stops having sex with her boyfriend, and that prevents OTHER men from harassing her?

I'm missing the connection here

[olddad56]

53. that might not go over well in the lesbian community.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

54. What if the female students would simply withhold sex from rapists?

That would seem like a reasonable compromise, Spike, ya genius.

[ladjf]

58. This is not one of Spike's better ideas. nt

[Old Union Guy]

59. This pronouncement is best understood as drumming up publicity for his new movie. n/t

[Snobblevitch]

60. Lee is just attempting to get attention.

[dogknob]

61. B-but that would be cultural appropriation from the ancient Greeks. Don't exploit Aristophanes!! n/t

[jamzrockz]

64. This is a marketing move

His next movie premise is based on this sort of action by women. The movie Chiraq is about girl friends and wives of gang bangers withholding sex in order to end the street violence.

It is an idea that can work if you husband/boyfriend is a gang banger but absolutely useless one if they are not one. Punish a person for something they are not responsible for and they will hold it against you and start looking for a new mate.

This whole talk is not out of the concern of rape victims but an attempt to sell more movie tickets

[erpowers]

68. Doubt If It Works With Gang Banger Boyfriends/Husbands

I doubt refusing to have sex would work with gang banger boyfriends/husbands. I think the women who would try to refuse would get raped, beaten, and/or dumped. I do not think Chicago type gang bangers would have a problem cheating on their girlfriends and wives and I do not think they would have a problem finding anyone to have sex with.

It is a bad idea all around. It may make a good story, but it would not work in the real world. There are too many men who would be willing to force themselves on women. Even if the men chose not to force themselves on the girlfriends and wives there are too many women who would be willing to have sex with the men who are not getting sex from their girlfriends and wives.

[yurbud]

65. they could stop a lot of rapes if they just say no to frat parties

If they stuck with it for a couple of years, the frats might die out.

[Doctor_J]

66. hmmmm. a strike is often called a work stoppage

Apparently sex with spike is work for his partner

[Judi Lynn]

67. Spike Lee needs to butt out of other people's private lives. n/t