UK: A judge calls a 13-year-old a predator, a rape "prevention" campaign targets women...

[AmyStrange]

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A judge calls a 13-year-old a predator, a rape "prevention" campaign targets women. The victim-blaming continues - UK
August 6, 2013

http://www.alternet.org/judge-calls-13-year-old-girl-who-was-sexually-assaulted-41-year-old-predatory

"You know the number one thing you can do to stop sexual assault? Don’t sexually assault anybody. Sounds easy enough, right? So why is the main responsibility for avoiding abuse still so often placed on victims and potential victims?

"Recently Jennifer Stephens, a battalion commander in the Ohio National Guard, noticed a sign in the women's restroom at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base declaring that 'Preventing sexual assault is everyone's duty!' That duty, according to the base’s sexual assault prevention and response program, includes the warning to 'Avoid becoming a victim.' How? With tips like 'Socialize with people who share your values,' 'Pay attention to your surroundings' and 'Don’t leave a group situation with someone you don’t know well.' That’s all sound, common sense advice. The problem is that, as with so many prevention programs, it suggests that preventing abuse is not 'everyone's duty' at all... "

[MindPilot]

1. It is not just rape--rape is a symptom

There is a a blame-the-victim culture that is pervasive throughout the western world.

Poor? Your fault.

Disabled? Poor life choices.

Raped? Askin' for it.

Assaulted? Out after dark.

Spied on? You got something to hide.

Bullied? You put your face in front of his fist...again.

I'm reminded of when my garage was burglarized, the cop who came out to make the report spent considerable time showing me all the things I did wrong to "invite" the thief to take my tools. Or my mom who used to tell me that I "must be doing something to attract the bullies."

[AmyStrange]

2. GAWD! That is so true...

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why do I get this weird feeling that someday in the future, crime itself won't be against the law, instead "not preventing crime" will be.

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