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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Can we do anything about this?

157 replies

tethersend · 10/05/2010 16:24

Knowing the power of MN, I am sick of walking past this poster every day, and wonder if there is anything we can do about it?

Or is it just me?

OP posts:
Portofino · 10/05/2010 21:54

And no posters in the world are going to convince a rapist.

Portofino · 10/05/2010 21:53

OK, so I stand by my assertion that it is sensible to educate women about how they can get home safely. Because you can't leglislate for rapists. And rapists don't care about what is acceptable in society.

sethstarkaddersmum · 10/05/2010 21:51

I think rapists often don't admit they are rapists, actually - that's what all that 'she was asking for it' stuff is about: convincing themselves that they had the right to do what they did.

a poster campaign aimed at men might actually help.

scurryfunge · 10/05/2010 21:49

The ad does silly...that is what we've been talking about

Portofino · 10/05/2010 21:48

Um - when exactly did I focus on the victims behaviour?

scurryfunge · 10/05/2010 21:47

People know basic right from wrong, of course they do.....stop focussing on the victim's behaviour as if it suggests they are the reason the act took place.

Portofino · 10/05/2010 21:45

Do you honestly think rapists don't KNOW that rape is unaccetable in society?

Portofino · 10/05/2010 21:39

God give me strength!

HerBeatitude · 10/05/2010 21:34

Well actually most rapists aren't criminals.

They aren't convicted of any crime.

scurryfunge · 10/05/2010 21:23

It is down to society to educate those people inclined to such behaviour and to place the emphasis on what makes an offender offend not what makes a victim a victim

Portofino · 10/05/2010 21:13

OK - so tell me how we can STOP rape! Rapists are criminals so therefore don't care about normal moral guidelines presumably. How do we, as women, stop rape from happening?

Original poster
tethersend · 10/05/2010 21:08

"It is not anti-feminist to install a burglar alarm, or put a firewall on your pc to prevent hackers....."

Whoever said it was? Those crimes are not specific to women; it's hard to take the analogy very far...

OP posts:
Original poster
tethersend · 10/05/2010 21:06

"You know, if the ads said something along the line of "There are lying bastards out there who will pretend to be taxi drivers in order to drive you off and rape you and even some taxi drivers too are rapists too so be careful" I'd have a lot less of a problem with it."

This sums it up for me- the fact that the advert takes as a given that there are rapists procuring victims by driving minicabs is what irks. The advert does nothing to challenge this. It sort of shrugs its shoulders and takes it as a fact of life.

If TFL really want to help prevent rapes, they could run the tube service all night and/or bring in more stringent checks for minicab drivers.

OP posts:
Portofino · 10/05/2010 21:06

To me there is a big difference between "fault" and "taking preventative measures". It is not your fault if some one breaks into your house, whether you have Fort Knox security or a yale lock.

It is the fault of the criminal that commits the crime. Always. However, if you live in a dodgy area, you might want to think twice about how you can protect yourself against such a thing happening.

To me, it is the same with rape. You can never guarantee such a thing will never happen. But you can and should take precautions to minimise the risk. You can talk about these crimes being unacceptable all you like.

Portofino · 10/05/2010 20:58

"Only women can stop rape. Once we stop doing all those things there will be no more rape as I understand it. "

I am asking Dittany.

Andie, I agree with you - criminals are criminals. It is not anti-feminist to install a burglar alarm, or put a firewall on your pc to prevent hackers.....

dittany · 10/05/2010 20:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AndieWalsh · 10/05/2010 20:54

Women don't stop rape. Just like victims of theft don't stop thieves. rapists don't rape women because of anything they have or haven't done. they rape women because they are rapists.

Portofino · 10/05/2010 20:53

dittany, so how do women STOP rape?

AndieWalsh · 10/05/2010 20:37

What about the women who were raped by that licensed black taxi driver in London?

This ad is a travesty.

dittany · 10/05/2010 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scurryfunge · 10/05/2010 20:32

Sadly, at the moment, people are not taking notice. I'm glad your friend's attacker was convicted. We need to be more proactive in our approach as to what is acceptable in society and what is not. We have a very passive view of horrendous crimes like this...what do we do as a society to actively address negative attitudes to women?

Portofino · 10/05/2010 20:30

It's NEVER your fault. That doesn't mean we shouldn't take sensible precautions to try to ensure it doesn't happen to you though.

dittany · 10/05/2010 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Portofino · 10/05/2010 20:28

OK - he is a rapist - and now serving a long prison term fortunately. What might have prevented that from happening though.

Him seeing a poster stressing that it is not acceptable to attack young girls? Or her seeing a poster that you should not get into unsolicited, unlicenced minicabs?

I don't get the feminist argument on this one I am afraid. People who commit crimes like this are beyond sense, education, PCness. Women have to protect themselves and make sensible choices. You could have a Reclaim the Night march everynight, but sadly this would make no difference to the perpetrators.

Pogleswood · 10/05/2010 20:24

but you are making yourself vulnerable....It shouldn't be that way,rape is the fault of the rapist,murder is the fault of murderers,a campaign along the lines of the "she said no,she means no" sounds like a really good idea,and I don't think that "you are making yourself vulnerable" also suggests that it is then your fault if something happens.
I know that lots(most??) of you don't agree though.
Do you all think the safety advice given by (eg) the Suzy Lamplugh Trust,covering a wide range of situations,is also saying"and if you ignore this advice and something happens it will be your fault?"

I take your point about it not being acceptable as an advert though.