Never Forget Rape is a Form of Oppression!
especially in the context of the views of RW politicians and others..
http://www.brissc.org.au/resources/for/for_12.html
The politics of rape
Rape is one violent form of oppression and is a mechanism by which individuals or groups gain, express and maintain their dominance and power over others. This is evident when rape is used as a tool of war, when men are raped in jail, or when rape occurs on the basis of someone's race, age, ability or sexuality. Rape is about the use and abuse of power to intimidate, degrade or control others with less status. The fact that women and children are raped more often than men is a manifestation of lesser power and inferior status in society.
Structural and institutional powers and societal beliefs maintain a culture where women have less power and status. Power imbalance or discrimination is also practised on the grounds of race, class, sexuality, age and ability. Sexual violence for women then, is not only an extension of sexism, but often exists in conjunction with these other forms of oppression.
As feminists, we do not believe that rape is inevitable, but rather that rape and other forms of men's violence are a result of learned attitudes and behaviours which are reinforced by a society that often defines manhood or masculinity through domination. Too many men make choices to exert power and control over others by using sexual violence. Men who rape CHOOSE to rape and must always be held accountable for their actions. Other men can and do choose non-violence.
Men who rape are behaving according to a belief system which says they have the right to own, dominate and punish women and to use rape to control women. But where would such a belief system come from? How does it show itself in everyday life?
Recent research shows that approximately one third of young men believe it is OK to force a young woman to have sex if she has "led him on". In other words they believe they have the right to use violence to make a girl do what they want, regardless of that girl's wishes, rights or needs.
..more..
= new reply since forum marked as read
