Myth Buster!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 1:10PM Myth # 4: You can’t rape the willing.
This statement is so absurd that I’m not even sure what it means. For one thing, willing to and wanting to are totally different things. For example: I swim about as well as a rock tied to an anvil. If someone pushed me into the water, would I be willing to swim (or at least try to)? To save my life – you bet I would be willing. Would I have chosen to live that little experience? No way! In rape situations, people’s lives are threatened; the lives of their family, pets, and friends are threatened; their reputation in the world, in their jobs, and at school is threatened. Are there instances where a victim doesn’t “fight off” an attacker? Of course! Why? Because of those threats. Does that mean the victim was willing to have sex to protect him/herself or others from further physical/emotional harm? In that instant, yes. Was it rape? Yes, yes, and yes some more. Why? Because it wasn’t consensual... it was coerced.
Reader Comments (1)
Sean, [applause] well said!