ED Slut Walk

[Slutwalk]

lets organise an ED one. Whos in? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13739876

[BB100]

I really don't understand this. It's ok for the police to tell us not to leave our handbags and mobiles on display where thieves can nick them but when it comes to the most valuable thing we have - our bodies - it is not ok for the police to advise us on ways to protect ourselves. If someone left their diamond ring on a table in a bar whilst they were having a drink and it got stolen, who would say 'I have a right to have it on the bar on display and for no one to steal it???' It's about protecting yourself from crime, not exercising rights. We have rights not to be mugged but it happens to someone everyday and the best you can do is to take measures to protect yourself ie. keep your valuables covered up. I don't see anyone marching the streets with all their life savings in a clear plastic bag protesting that they have a right to do so. Or have I just missed the point entirely?

[ClaireClaire]

Maybe this will help

http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/faq-what?s-wrong-with-suggesting-that-women-take-precautions-to-prevent-being-raped/

[siousxiesue]

Thanks for posting ClaireClaire

[Alan Medic]

Women do not know what being male is. I'm not saying that gives a male any right to assult a female. A child does not know what will happen if it puts its hand in the fire, until its too late. Instead of just marching to make people aware and stopping just one rape, what about making women aware of the power they have to stop one rape by dressing differently. Be a slut but don't expect respect for it from a man or a woman. Women get raped by other women too. It's not just men.

[Sue]

BB100 Wrote:

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Or have I just missed the point

> entirely?

xxxxxx

Yes

[ClaireClaire]

Instead of just marching to make people aware and stopping just one rape, what about making women aware of the power they have to stop one rape by dressing differently.

Hi, I assume you are just being provocative now for a laugh... right?

[Alan Medic]

No..........and I'm bailing out. It's no laugh.

[Otta]

Alan seems to have taken the whole thing as a personal attack on HIM as a man.

[ClaireClaire]

Oh dear.

It is very depressing to have to be going over this basic stuff in the year 2011 in a supposedly modern and progressive country. It reminds me of discussions I used to overhear 20 years ago when people used to discuss in very heated terms whether women should be allowed to have jobs, or whether they belonged in the kitchens.

[Alan Medic]

Indeed. Have you made the tea yet?

[dita-on-tees]

I have listened with interest to all of this. I am a feminist, confident in my sexuality and consider sex without consent to be an appalling crime. Whilst I may wear sexy clothes to attract a man this is not an invitation nor an excuse for rape. However there has to be a better way of expressing this than getting my tits and ass out, the longer women continue to reinforce themselves as sexual objects - using their naked bodies and sexuality to emphasise a message the longer we are perceived as nothing but sexual objects. You only have to look at the way the media prints photos of the more attractive women, the message about rape is nowhere near are media friendly as a very young woman in her underwear. If I walked down LL in my scanties, there will be people who get the message, but there will also be a few fellas who think bejesus look at the rack on that. Which I think rather detracts from the message. In the end slut walk feels as hollow as pornstars or lap dancers who say what they do is liberating for women because they are making their own decisions and money.

[RosieH]

dita, did you actually look at any pictures from the Slutwalk yesterday before coming to that conclusion?

Most people were in jeans and t-shirts.

[FreeB]

Slut Walk ! Is this the only terminology we can use on this subject! I think Yes.

Hope some reader's or Ladies will find this topic interesting.

[dita-on-tees]

pictures in the tabloids, not the ones by the organisers. Any excuse the tabloids have for printing a picture of a women half naked, naked women to sell car, washing machines etc.

[PeckhamRose]

The wonderful Attila the Stockbroker wrote a rantpoem about this years ago in the 1980s.

It was about the time a rapist was let off because the woman he was accused of raping was wearing a short skirt.

The Judge cited the reason for letting him off as being 'contributory negligence' on the part of the raped woman.

So one evening (Attilas said as part of the poem) he follows the judge home and attacks and robs him.

Why? Contributory negligence! He was a High Court Judge, he was begging to be attacked!

I do see your point, dita, I really do. But the real point is that some men are weak and can't control themselves. But not all men. Should we all dress in burkhas with the full veil because of the few? Is it our fault they're like this? No. The fact that many men are NOT like that points to two reasons; education and self control.

[LadyDeliah]

Not wanting to repeat the arguments all over again, I would like to refer you to some of the points made on this point here already if you are interested:

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,684648,page=1

[Loz]

ClaireClaire Wrote:

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> Maybe this will help

>

> http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/2007/03/15

> /faq-what?s-wrong-with-suggesting-that-women-take-

> precautions-to-prevent-being-raped/

Dunno about the patriarchy, but the front page

of that site has to be possibly the most toe-curlingly patronising piece of text I've seen in a long time.

[PeckhamRose]

Here's another very good article reminding us that rape was around before porn.

[BB100]

ClaireClaire Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Maybe this will help

>

> http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/2007/03/15

> /faq-what?s-wrong-with-suggesting-that-women-take-

> precautions-to-prevent-being-raped/

Oh, ClaireClaire that is flawed reasoning. There are also thieves everywhere who will steal, whatever we do about it, but we still conceal our valuables to protect ourselves. Rape is the lowest form of theft and whilst there is never any excuse for such a vile act, you can't control the rapist or the thief but you can do things to protect yourself and one of them is not to put your valuable assets on display. Insisting that you should be able to wear whatever you want is not asking for it, it's naivety.

Sue - so what is the point then?

[david_carnell]

This is now a duplicate of the other thread.