“Men Just Shouldn’t Rape” Isn’t A Self-Defense Strategy
As the world constantly evolves, there are those who attempt to live solely by their own ideals of justice and equality. And while significant social progress has been made, there’s a point at which reality comes knocking and idealistic thinking won’t save your life.
The concept of victim-blaming is one that can sprout in different contexts: religious radicalism, outdated cultural values, flawed legal systems, etc. There is, however, a line of thought within the feminist movement aimed at removing any attention from the victims of rape, by solely focusing on exposing the actions of the perpetrator. Family members, women, friends, and even public figures have been shamed for suggesting there’s a proactive role women can take to avoid becoming victims. Is this shaming contributing to saving lives or is it actually detrimental to the safety of women in our society?