May 1 2012: I am so glad you posted! I have really hoped to hear a variety of perspectives here in response to my question.
Having said that, I vehemently disagree that women should expect to be harassed when appearing attractive, even deliberately appearing attractive. Not only do I disagree, but science does not support the idea that a persons dress either increases or decreases the odds that they will be a victim of sexual violence.
This is an over played myth that is indicative of a harmful, misdirected public attitude.
Here are a couple sources to back up the claim that sexy dress does not lead to sexual violence:
Good points! I think the that by using the word 'slut' they hoped to spark a conversation among people about how they themselves use the word and marginalize and shame others with its use.
The word 'slut' is almost always used to conjure up shame and humiliate. Maybe neutralizing the word is called for?
I believe it is intended to point out its meaninglessness. Sexual purity tends to be shifty and unclear, yet human beings are often marginalized by for not upholding these conflicting, inconsistent, arbitrary standards of sexual purity.
From outside perspectives I think it may come across as trying to say that women are eye candy and then some, and that sex can empower, but really I think its all about how we individually contribute to a society that focuses on victims rather than victim makers.
The only one who can prevent rape is a rapist, and clothing has absolutely nothing to do with that. It's all about power. Rapists in fact rely heavily on a culture that will question victims credibility and "how they contributed". Nobody contributes to their own rape.
It is so important to know how the movement is being interpreted, and how that contrasts with its intentions.
May 1 2012: What I hear you saying is that men suffer from expectations of dress, which I completely accept.
I think that this applies to Slutwalk in that Slutwalk is a commentary on all aspects of rape culture, including male victims. I don't know that expectations of dress codes in office buildings contributes directly to sexual violence.
I think it is important to recognize that the way a person dresses does not make them more deserving of violence done to them.
Slutwalk specifically strives to strike down the myth that what you wear has any correlation to your odds of becoming a victim of sexual violence, which indeed is a myth.
Apr 30 2012: well, this seems to be an ethical question. If the Ted talk could not be utilized for a marginalized group, I would say, please, give them access to these ideas! If you disagree with it you can discuss the talk with give and take. What you didn't like about it and the reverse for them. So long as you can find common ground to spring from. I think that is the key.
Apr 30 2012: I feel excruciatingly vulnerable in revealing the most painful lesson I experienced and wish others could avoid.
I am currently 17 months in on a criminal court proceeding for which I am the victim of two counts object rape.
I have so desperately wanted to feel secure. To feel like I do have dominion over my person. The court experience is extremely traumatizing, and it keeps the wounds of rape raw.
Something about my world changed the day I was raped. It was a more dangerous, and calloused world that refused to understand my experience, because they knew they couldn't possibly.
I learned that my world is unpredictable. That people are not to be trusted, but this is not something that must be learned by other rape victims.
Our American society is eager to call every rape a "he said" "she said". Stop! We need to examine our western culture as a Rape Culture, and search our hearts and minds for how and why we contribute to it. If you want to avoid my situation, help your community make a cultural shift that values enthusiastic consent, and places the burden of receiving consent on the initiator, and understand that victims have already been through hell. They don't want to deal with your insecurities or anger. So if you ever find yourself a secondary survivor, which many of us are though we do not know it, talk to someone who is not the victim about getting care for yourself.
I wish those who follow this conversation to get involved in movements like their local SlutWalk that focuses on cultures that victim blame and slut shame. Only an aggressive cultural shift towards a healthier community that values enthusiastic consent will help all of us to encounter fewer rapists.
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A reply on Conversation: How do you view SlutWalks? How familiar are you with the movement? What aspects of it do you agree or disagree with?
Having said that, I vehemently disagree that women should expect to be harassed when appearing attractive, even deliberately appearing attractive. Not only do I disagree, but science does not support the idea that a persons dress either increases or decreases the odds that they will be a victim of sexual violence.
This is an over played myth that is indicative of a harmful, misdirected public attitude.
Here are a couple sources to back up the claim that sexy dress does not lead to sexual violence:
See Section III
http://www.law.duke.edu/shell/cite.pl?14+Duke+J.+Gender+L.+&+Pol%27y+125
See Pg 122 Table 4
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCgQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bridgew.edu%2Fsoas%2Fjiws%2FMay10%2FAvigail.pdf&ei=qOGdT9PUFKei2wXrlbXpDw&usg=AFQjCNFOBs0oKWA8UTlopV8Zgr2bjiSQmg&sig2=2_DNchTTqa--LwN-AKljaQ
A reply on Conversation: How do you view SlutWalks? How familiar are you with the movement? What aspects of it do you agree or disagree with?
Good points! I think the that by using the word 'slut' they hoped to spark a conversation among people about how they themselves use the word and marginalize and shame others with its use.
The word 'slut' is almost always used to conjure up shame and humiliate. Maybe neutralizing the word is called for?
I believe it is intended to point out its meaninglessness. Sexual purity tends to be shifty and unclear, yet human beings are often marginalized by for not upholding these conflicting, inconsistent, arbitrary standards of sexual purity.
From outside perspectives I think it may come across as trying to say that women are eye candy and then some, and that sex can empower, but really I think its all about how we individually contribute to a society that focuses on victims rather than victim makers.
The only one who can prevent rape is a rapist, and clothing has absolutely nothing to do with that. It's all about power. Rapists in fact rely heavily on a culture that will question victims credibility and "how they contributed". Nobody contributes to their own rape.
It is so important to know how the movement is being interpreted, and how that contrasts with its intentions.
A reply on Conversation: How do you view SlutWalks? How familiar are you with the movement? What aspects of it do you agree or disagree with?
I think that this applies to Slutwalk in that Slutwalk is a commentary on all aspects of rape culture, including male victims. I don't know that expectations of dress codes in office buildings contributes directly to sexual violence.
I think it is important to recognize that the way a person dresses does not make them more deserving of violence done to them.
Slutwalk specifically strives to strike down the myth that what you wear has any correlation to your odds of becoming a victim of sexual violence, which indeed is a myth.
A comment on Conversation: Would you translate (or spread) a TED talk if you didn't agree with it's topic or the speaker's point of view?
A comment on Conversation: What is the most painful lesson you experienced and you wish other people to avoid your experience
I am currently 17 months in on a criminal court proceeding for which I am the victim of two counts object rape.
I have so desperately wanted to feel secure. To feel like I do have dominion over my person. The court experience is extremely traumatizing, and it keeps the wounds of rape raw.
Something about my world changed the day I was raped. It was a more dangerous, and calloused world that refused to understand my experience, because they knew they couldn't possibly.
I learned that my world is unpredictable. That people are not to be trusted, but this is not something that must be learned by other rape victims.
Our American society is eager to call every rape a "he said" "she said". Stop! We need to examine our western culture as a Rape Culture, and search our hearts and minds for how and why we contribute to it. If you want to avoid my situation, help your community make a cultural shift that values enthusiastic consent, and places the burden of receiving consent on the initiator, and understand that victims have already been through hell. They don't want to deal with your insecurities or anger. So if you ever find yourself a secondary survivor, which many of us are though we do not know it, talk to someone who is not the victim about getting care for yourself.
I wish those who follow this conversation to get involved in movements like their local SlutWalk that focuses on cultures that victim blame and slut shame. Only an aggressive cultural shift towards a healthier community that values enthusiastic consent will help all of us to encounter fewer rapists.