by Rebecca Adele Scarlett

Created on: July 03, 2010   Last Updated: October 21, 2010

The first thing to get out of the way when discussing this subject is that nobody deserves to get raped, ever.  I don't agree with anyone who states "she was asking for it" and I believe women have the right to dress however they want without being sexually assaulted, just as men do.

It is, however, possible to say that some rape victims were being irresponsible, and that their irresponsible behavior may have contributed to their rape.

Just as you would (hopefully!) not be wandering around in the woods during hunting season without an orange vest, due to the higher chances of being hit by a bullet, it is always prudent to stay out of high-crime areas, especially during the times that crimes are most likely to be committed.  Anyone walking alone at night through dangerous areas, when there is no one around to help, is more likely to be attacked.  You might be mugged, you might be stabbed, and, especially if you are a woman, you might be raped.  There doesn't seem to be a pattern to rape.  Young, attractive, scantily-clad women seem no more likely to be raped than elderly women, homely women, or women wearing baggy tracksuits.  Rape is all about violating a person in the most intimate way, and about causing terror, because that is what makes the rapist feel powerful.  Therefore, being young, attractive, or scantily-clad doesn't necessarily make you irresponsible, but walking in a dangerous area late at night, plugged into your music player so you can't hear someone sneaking up behind you, does.

Of course women are entitled to have fun, but going out and getting staggeringly drunk is a large factor increasing your chances of getting raped.  Being drunk on the street increases the chances of many bad things happening to both men and women, and so it's always irresponsible, but when talking about rape, alcohol really increases the chances.  Having your judgement impaired so you can't read the signals of a "gentleman" who is a little too forceful when offering to walk you home can increase your chances of being raped.  Even someone you trust, who is probably drunk as well, may end up perpetrating that horrible and unexpected crime, especially if you have been sending signals that you didn't realize you were giving due to your own drunken state.

In conclusion, let me restate that I don't believe anyone "deserves" to be raped, any more than I believe anyone deserves to be mugged.  There are, however, many risky activities people engage in on a regular basis that increase their chances of being attacked on the street, and if a rape victim is engaging in these activities when she is raped, then yes, her irresponsibility most likely increased her chances of being raped.

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