Rape is so commonly accepted as a part of war. Should it be?
Gloria Steinem shares her thoughts. I highly recommend reading this, and would love to hear your feedback on this.
Gloria Steinem on Rape in War
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About Sacrilege of the Goddess
I survived rape. I will not allow society to stigmatize me. I will not allow society to stigmatize other women who have experienced the same. I dance to break the chains of judgement and prejudice that have weighed me down for a lifetime. I dance to break those very chains that hold down other survivors like myself. I dance for freedom. I dance the Sacrilege of the Goddess.
Rape should never be accepted as part of ANYTHING, okay? But historically, the invaders would rape in order to bring their own offspring into future control of the conquered area. But all that testosterone released by a combination of facing death and then conquering got released through more slaughter of the men and rape of the women, it would seem. But ACCEPTED–no ever, ever, ever.
I agree that rape should never be accepted as a part of war, but I also have to acknowledge that rape exists in many places where war is not the prevailing factor. Rape is used to control, or to damage, or to conquer, just as any other weapon. Gloria Steinem’s response to fight back against rape is the only logical response. Thanks for sharing a link to this piece.
I do not accept rape as a part of war, nor do I accept as a part of ones childhood,gender based intimidation,as a means to control or subjugate another living being, nor as part of their daily existence in at risk communities found immersed in even the most democratic and war free countries. I refuse to condone it,nullify it or compare it to past atrocities where such behavior was accepted as the norm..there is no validity to a point, found in comparing one rape to another. No age, race gender, religion,or physical build is immune to rape. It is an inhumane act that bares no justification, and should hardly be relegated to glib commentary on societies malfeasance. I further object to governments downplaying the wording used to describe this crime, and that the laws in place prescribe more jail time for property crimes and non violent drug offense than they do for sexual predators…It is even more so appalling, that even in this day in age, when we have supposedly come so far in technology and social awareness, that there can still be such a high level of seditious victim blaming, whilst the perpetrator themselves receives something disgustingly akin to sympathy…I fail to see the reasoning/sense/logic behind any of it.
What Gloria,journalists like her, casual blogger’s, activists, survivors and supporters do by speaking up by voicing their indignation on this subject, by giving it a face and a voice and telling society as a whole, that this is not o.k behavior and that they refuse to be shamed or silenced until real justice is found, it restores hope. It gives back something of significant worth, that does not come attached to a sizable price tag. By sharing these stories, and advocating on behalf of the victims,the voiceless majority, it restores a modicum of sanity to what at times seems like a society only too able and willing to make light, or worse yet glorify, such a personally traumatic situation. I am glad to be able to bare witness to this particularly good aspect of humanity and commend the survivors on their immense strength in reaching out so as to help others in similar circumstances.