by Cheryl Barnette

Created on: December 22, 2009

Are some victims of rape irresponsible?

As I write this article, I am quivering and shaking, and it's not just from the three cans of caffeine. I am wondering why this should even be a topic to debate. It's kind of like asking, "Is a child responsible for sexual abuse or abuse at the hands of their parents, or whomever the abuser would be?" People, listen up! I am sure it has been stated time and time again, but this bears repeating: the one that was raped or molested or abused is the victim, and not the other way around. Perhaps when more is known about the abuser and why they do what they do, then maybe we can call them victim. But not until then. There is still research being done on this and questions still abound. Some abusers have been the abused at one time, most assuredly.

But in this debate it seems that once again the victim is being blamed. Being blamed for wearing the short skirts, having the drug addiction, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, blah, blah, blah. Contrary to popular belief, these women did not ask to be raped. They are not masochistic nor "easy" women. A lot women that have been raped may have been very sick with an addiction beyond their control, but they should not be demonized for it. They have certainly and most probably ventured into the most unsafe of locales, when alcohol became their social lubricant and instant courage, when drugs made them feel invincible, but they are not irresponsible for being attacked. They may have become socially retarded by ingesting mind-altering drugs, but can't be held responsible for an attack imposed on them. That's what this debate is all about and it enrages me that this should even be a debate at all. But as long as there are two sides to a story, there is the potential for debate, but nevertheless, it hurts that it could even be considered as irresponsible to be viciously and sexually attacked, as if there were really a choice to decide who is right or wrong on this subject.

I am shocked that even in today's society there is still this myth that the articles of clothing, the exposure of cleavage, a revealing thigh-high mini skirt has the power to control men and make them insane enough to overpower a women and force sex upon her. It is not a crime of passion, but a an act of control and force. Rapes occur during wartime to demean the female populace, and especially to ridicule the menfolk, leaving behind tell-tale torture of the sexual kind;

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