To remain safe in our world, a woman must remain undesirable. At least, this is what a Toronto constable told an audience at York University after a young female was raped in 2011. A message so strong was bound to spread like wildfire, catching media attention across both the United States and Canadian borders.
This past Thursday, that protest found its way to the Keene State College campus and the 2013 SlutWalk began on Appian Way.
As the short but powerful walk went on, those who marched—men and women alike—rallied for the rights of sexual assault victims.
Photo Illustration: Brian Cantore / Photo Editor
Their emphasis: what a person can do to prevent rape outweighs the emphasis placed on an individual to never commit a sexually violent act in the first place. No matter the gender, we know anyone can be a victim of sexual violence.
The conversation should say, “Do not commit the unlawful act of a sexual assault,” rather than discussion on the ways to deal with the situation post-assault. Those talks need to make it clear that rape is not okay and that “no” means no.
We are constantly seeing and hearing what options are out there if you have been raped.
However, we seldom see the fundamental premis that teaches it is wrong and against the law to rape someone.
We should learn to respect others and their rights to consensual sex. Instead, we are told to dial a hotline if we have been raped.
We are also told that one’s appearance plays a role in whether or not someone will be victimized.
We believe that what a person wears should not affect their chances of getting raped.
However, when figures of authority imply the more conservative we dress, the safer we are, it undermines the severity of the act of a rapist and throws the responsibility onto an innocent bystander.
Under no circumstance is there an excuse to sexually assault someone. We believe no human being, regardless of age, gender, race, religion and or belief deserves to be a victim of sexual assault.
