rape is rape

[niyad]

Join our NO MORE EXCUSES! Campaign

By Eleanor Smeal

Feminists helped defeat the Republican attempt to narrow the definition of rape to "forcible rape" in their recent efforts to put new restrictions on abortion. But as Ms. writer Stephanie Hallett reports on the preceding pages, the FBI—in its Uniform Crime Report—still uses an impossibly narrow and outmoded definition of "forcible" rape to gather its statistics.

The FBI needs a modern definition of rape that reflects a popular understanding of the crime and doesn't exclude the vast majority of rapes. Rape is rape. Period.

Without an accurate definition we won't have accurate statistics about rape, and without accurate statistics we will never have adequate funding for law enforcement to solve these crimes and stop violence against women.

We also need to make sure that police departments swiftly test rape-evidence kits. The backlog of untested kits around the country is outrageous, as it leaves serial rapists—and the vast majority of rapes are committed by serial rapists—free to rape again.

. . . .

http://www.msmagazine.com/spring2011/joinournomoreexcusescampaign.asp

[Mnemosyne]

1. K&R for more visibility. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

2. K&R for more visibility. n/t

[uppityperson]

3. k&r

[defendandprotect]

4. Patriarchy's war on women continues -- and rape is still part of that war --

The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414


If you knew about this, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!


:)

[niyad]

7. and none of us are surprised in the least, sadly enough.

[seabeyond]

5. i have read in various places, so many of the rapes reported are able to stay OUT of FBI statistics

when they put it together and demanding lowering of crimes, police departments across the nation have found ways to label rape so it is not in fbi statistics. that is what is so frustrating for me, when talking about rape on du, men inevitably say... see, rape has dropped an outrageous amount. though, that is not the reality

since fbi has it as dropped, then we must not have a problem with rape in our society

saw somewhere in the fbi site saying right off, rape number cannot be taken seriously as 30%-70% rapes are not reported.

geeesh, just the fact they have such a huge span tells you how we dont have accurate number on rapes, let alone the amounts that are going unreported.

i was talking to four women. there were five rapes amongst them. one woman never raped. all five rapes were not reported.

[Evolve_Already]

6. Worth a look

http://www.whale.to/a/reisman5.html

More men need to become visible in the fight against rape. As well as women need to stop claiming, "not MY Nigel". If it's not your son, your father, uncle etc... then whose Nigel is it?

[seabeyond]

8. ''The downturn in violent crime in the U.S. in the 1990s is very deceptive

yes... thank you. this is what i was referring to. thank you for this article.

[Odin2005]

24. Most rapists are "ordinary guys" that have been culturally conditioned to feel entitled to sex.

The vast majority of rapes are not "monsters grabbing women off the street", most rapists would not even consider themselves rapists because of the cultural conditioning, they seriously think that what they do is OK and not rape.

The whole notion that most rapists are monsters that grab women of the street IMO is a creation of my fellow men who refuse to admit the misogyny in our society.

[niyad]

27. if men had to take a real, honest look at the world they have created, it would terrify them.

[laylah]

9. K&R!

Thank you, niyad. An absolute "pass on". :hug:

[niyad]

15. you are most welcome. this is a subject, that, sadly, we cannot allow to be ignored.

[dana_b]

10. petition links:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1400/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6485

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1400/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6489

[mythology]

11. As a serious question

What evidence is there that most rapes are committed by serial rapists? Given the prevalence of rape (in all its forms ie date rape, stranger rape, family member rape, rape by an authority figure etc), I would logically think that it's more of a problem among the populace at large than a question of stopping a few serial predators. I would think this would be especially prevalent with things like date rape where the line is, in the minds of some, less clear as to what is informed consent of the partner.

[seabeyond]

12. i agree. i see it in the boy next door as much as the big bad monster

i listen to people say men that rape are mentally ill or other derogatives... and i dont agree. there was a study that stated when college male students asked if they would rape if not caught, almost 60% said they would.

i dont think it is so simple as creating a monster.

[niyad]

17. and yet, how does one classify that kind of thinking, that kind of behaviour? it certainly isn't

sane.

[seabeyond]

18. i think

it is a world that condition our male of expectation and privilege. how many shows feed our males that males are all that, and they cannot help themselves, it is biological. their job is to get it. their manhood is dependent on them getting it. whether they want it or not, still.... that is their masculinity. that is all the male is. girls always say no... but they dont mean it. ply them with booze to get what you want. any trickery is to be applauded. we have threads on du that is conditionually reinforcing this mentality.

it is in our culture.

it is taught to our boys.

i told my youngest at 12 when a class had talked date rape... which he had a poor perspective because it was too soon (he was too young) to talk it, and they just mentioned it. i had to expand conversation cause he was left confused. i told him, it behooves him that the girl is as enthusiastic as he is. this is to protect him, and to protect her.

how many parents really have these conversations with sons, or throw them condoms at 13 and say, stay protected

rape is an entertainment in part of our culture. what does that feed our boys.

it is thru out

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. K&R!!!

[EFerrari]

14. Kick

[crickets]

16. K&R

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. Someone needs to tell Whoopi Goldberg that...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/roman-polanski/6245219/Roman-Polanski-backlash-as-Whoopi-Goldberg-says-director-didnt-commit-rape-rape.html

[WillyT]

20. K & R !!!

:kick:

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. k&r

[iris27]

22. And of course the FBI stats won't include non-reported rapes, which are the vast majority.

And I can't blame anyone who is raped and chooses not to report it, when the process of reporting can itself end up being a further assault on the victim. Like with this woman, who was charged with false reporting and fined, only to later have the rapist be caught attacking other women, and OH LOOK PICS OF THE "FALSE ACCUSER'S" RAPE ARE ON HIS PHONE...http://abcnews.go.com/US/pictures-accused-rapists-camera-clear-woman-false-rape/story?id=13382917

[Odin2005]

23. Yes is Yes, No is No, and if you keep pushing it you are a rapist.

[niyad]

26. seems so simple, doesn't it?

[Solly Mack]

25. K&R