[W]hen men come forward to complain that they would totally act right if women would just say no “correctly,” they are lying. The idea that you could somehow make your harassment less gropey and upsetting or your rape less rapey, if you would stop being so inscrutable and just explain to the poor clueless dear in terms that he’ll understaaaaaaaaaaand is beyond. fucked. up.
This sets up a world where men can do whatever they want until they hear a “no” that they choose to interpret as being “real,” and sets up any damage done up until that point as being the victim’s fault. The victim is not controlling the interaction, the harasser is choosing to harass. What possible advantage is there in making it the victim’s responsibility to convince their harasser “Oh no, kind sir, please stop?” or they must have deserved what they got? If you’re really invested in the “why are women such cowards who don’t say no clearly enough” narrative, ask yourself, why are you so interested in maintaining a shield of plausible deniability for sketchy people doing sketchy things to women?
" - Captain Awkward, The C-Word (Hint: C is for Creep!)
Next week, it’ll be a year since the initial rape accusations against Dominique Strauss Kahn, at the Sofitel Hotel in New York broke into mainstream media. Ever since, I have written enough for a small book about his deeds and further allegations of abuse. Now, if only he granted me an interview, my work about him would be done (I guess I can only dream, no?). Or, you know, it’d be done until the next round of abuse and/ or rape allegations came up.
In the meantime, at the link above, the “gang rape” investigation and what the overturn of the law against sexual harassment in France means for potential victims.
