Comments on Ginger@Large: Rape and the Victim Blame Game

Very well written. Had Ben Stein simply stuck to...

2011-06-01T03:18:55.552-07:00

Very well written.

Had Ben Stein simply stuck to the philosophy of "innocent until proven guilty" and suggested that media presentations are often geared towards what sells rather than the fairness of due process, he would have been on strong ground. Had he argued that all appearances to the contrary we should still suspend judgment until the court has the opportunity to evaluate the case according to the laws of evidence, then he also would have been on strong ground.

However, the public facts are condemning. His attempts to make them less so by casting aspersions on the victim, only show how oblivious he is about the real nature of rape or the psychology of consent and coercion.

As a commentator on such a sensitive matter, I think he has a responsibility to educate himself. I can only hope the prosecutors do a better job of educating the jury, than he did of educating his readership.

It is quite easy for a powerful man to threaten a chambermaid into silence: all he needs to do is threaten to tell her boss that she stole some money if she resists. At least in a moment of immediate threat that is likely to diminish her will to fight back. Later on, when she is at a safer psychological distance and has physical evidence of her being attacked, she may have realized that that his threat was spurious, hence the later decision to report.

Also freezing, as you did as a child, is a common initial response unless you have been specifically trained to attack in threat situation.

I find it totally ridiculous that when a woman is ...

2011-05-24T07:43:01.724-07:00

I find it totally ridiculous that when a woman is raped and she is testifying against her rapist in court, that rapist's lawyer will turn it around and make it seem like the woman was asking for it and the guy gets off scot free! I swear rape is the least prosecuted crime in this nation, there needs to be more that's done when a woman is sexually assaulted or even when a man is raped, sodomized, whatever word describes when a man is sexually assaulted because it can happen to men too! I'm glad I follow this blog because alot of the posts on here I can agree on. I may not be a survivor of rape or anything, but I find it ridiculous that the rape crime is treated with little dignity and notice.

I completely agree. Most of the time, rape survivo...

2011-05-21T23:41:30.316-07:00

I completely agree. Most of the time, rape survivors will not speak up out of fear of retaliation and/or shame. Why would they lie about something so traumatic? No wonder so many people don't report it. The blame game is sickening. I'm so glad you have the courage to speak out. There are so many others out there who haven't healed enough to find their voice.

This is such an honest article and you make the po...

2011-05-19T10:18:01.093-07:00

This is such an honest article and you make the point well. Thank you for being so courageous :).
Niz xxx