Rape culture in action. Massive Trigger Warning

[scallopsrgreat]

Warning: There is a brutal rape described in the opening paragraphs. So please self-care.

The article is from RollingStone and is about the systematic erasure and cover-up of womens rape and sexual assault experiences at the University of Virginia. It is quite long but also very detailed.

From 'friends' to officials these women are encouraged to forget. They are paralysed by lack of information, informed choices and support even from those who are seemingly trying to help.

The article really doesn't pull any punches and describes really well how women's experiences are minimised. It also shows how rapists aren't monsters. They live and function (sometimes even heroically) in the community. It shows how they do plan their rapes (sometimes quite chillingly). How they feel entitled to rape these women and how they don't see it as a big deal. They don't expect to get caught. They may not even see it as rape or simply just don't care.

Just in case anyone thinks women aren't oppressed. Or feminism has gone too far. Or rape culture doesn't exist.

It's so frightening.

I also think it should be highlighted and the University of Virginia named. Because they have gone to great lengths to silence the voices of these women over decades.

Most news organizations in the US don't report the names of sexual assault victims unless the victim is willing to be publicly identified. But obviously in the world of the internet, that is certainly not anything close to an absolute protection. All it takes is one person willing to name the name, and it can spread fast, especially in a high profile case.

The other very depressing thing that has occurred to me is that perhaps in fact the current culture re: male privilege, sex, and rape isn't really that different at all from how it used to be. Maybe the only thing that's different is how openly we celebrate institutionalized misogyny now. But then I think, no, that can't be right; it's been openly celebrated in various spheres for fucking ever. The last time any broadly effective cultural progress feminism achieved was in the 1990s, imo., and I think we have paid for that progress so dearly since then that in some ways we have actually gone backwards.

I agree wholeheartedly. There's another thing, too, though. As I continue trying to raise awareness about sexual exploitation - of adults and children - I am struck by how much easier it becomes to discuss, year by year. Disgust and outrage at perpetrators and their protectors, rather than victims, becomes a little more widespread each year. Insistent demands for correct justice don't go away like they used to.

I think there definitely are backlashes, scallops, and they will continue because no body likes to relinquish (some of) its power & control. But I see real improvements, and want to keep on seeing them. This is why it's so important to keep talking, keep bringing abuse out of the shadows, and keep pressing for realistic justice.

Garlic I'm sorry I'm so late in coming back to this, but this As I continue trying to raise awareness about sexual exploitation - of adults and children - I am struck by how much easier it becomes to discuss, year by year. Disgust and outrage at perpetrators and their protectors, rather than victims, becomes a little more widespread each year. Insistent demands for correct justice don't go away like they used to. really rang a bell for me. I think you are totally right. Thanks for pointing this out, it was a relief to be reminded of it.

I think it's a bit hard to tell "how feminism is doing," so to speak, these days. One minute I'm shocked by regression or lack of progress and then the next I see something that makes me think hey, that's really great. Maybe this is just b/c there are so many dialogues to be heard now, so many conversations happening at once, basically b/c the internet has created so many opportunities for conversation -- I think maybe it used to be easier to identify which convictions were most loudly and commonly held, on both sides of a debate.

Sickening. They should be spending the rest of their lives in prison, not protected by the university. Shame on all their enablers and I hope they get their comeuppance someday.

Yeah, I saw it. The wanker that outted her details online and called her father is still gloating about it.

Funny how they keep missing out salient facts, isn't it?

They retracted the 'she's a big fat liar' bit, but didn't tell anyone they had. She also begged RS not to publish, realising what the backlash would be, but the forged ahead.

So... what came of this? Everyone seemed disgusted at her being questioned. What happened?

Hello again Aqui1a. Did you enjoy your sandwiches?

I've made a judgement she's lying from the fact that what she said is incorrect.. haha Pretty much the definition of lying.

Also, false accusation. Did she not name the fraternity which she accused? That's not just saying 'I was raped but I'm not telling you who'... she NAMED the fraternity. What a liar!

---

I do believe that the majority of rapes are completely legitimate. I'm not denying it... I do believe false rape accusations exist and that it's overlooked, but yes, the majority are definitely legitimate.

Save your pixels, House. This one ain't a keeper.

What about the girl who accused the Duke Lacrosse guys? What did she have to gain? And she was automatically believed, because of the rape culture I assume... :S

You're choosing to believe that it was a mistake, and not a lie. I choose to not make that leap of faith.

haha Personal attacks! That's when I know I'm getting somewhere!

The location wasn't the only discrepecy.

A group of Jackie’s close friends, who are advocates at U-Va. for sex-assault awareness, said they believe that something traumatic happened to her, but they also have come to doubt her account.

Hmm, these friends eh... very reliable.

And the fact she went to Rolling Stone Magazine before she went to the police... before saying, '“I never asked for this [attention]."

Sure you didn't, Jackie.

We believe you

BOOM!