**Update: You know what absolutely tickles me frakking pink? This post is getting hits from people searching for rape pictures and pictures of pornography depicting rape. If you’re here that reason, welcome to exactly what you do not what to see. Women being treated as people instead of objects for your distortedly pervtacular fantasy world. I savour the sweet irony of you being directed to a feminist blog while looking for rape pictures. Your kind is pathetic.
But, hey if you are not here looking to reinforce mindless observance to patriarchal norms, be welcome and read on!
Andrea Dworkin was a brilliant feminist theorist, activist and writer. The question you should be asking yourself is why does this sound radical? Dworkin makes many brilliant points in her speech entitled “I Want A Twenty-Four-Hour Truce During Which There is No Rape”.
Dworkin pulls no punches:
“We are very close to death. All women are. And we are very close to rape and we are very close to beating. And we are inside a system of humiliation from which there is no escape for us. We use statistics not to try to quantify the injuries, but to convince the world that those injuries even exist. Those statistics are not abstractions. It is easy to say, “Ah, the statistics, somebody writes them up one way and somebody writes them up another way.” That’s true. But I hear about the rapes one by one by one by one by one, which is also how they happen. Those statistics are not abstract to me. Every three minutes a woman is being raped. Every eighteen seconds a woman is being beaten. There is nothing abstract about it. It is happening right now as I am speaking.”
On the Patriarchy:
“The power exercised by men day to day in life is power that is institutionalized. It is protected by law. It is protected by religion and religious practice. It is protected by universities, which are strongholds of male supremacy. It is protected by a police force. It is protected by those whom Shelley called “the unacknowledged legislators of the world”: the poets, the artists. Against that power, we have silence.”
On Male Privilege:
“That is the way the power of men is manifest in real life. That is what theory about male supremacy means. It means you can rape. It means you can hit. It means you can hurt. It means you can buy and sell women. It means that there is a class of people there to provide you with what you need. You stay richer than they are, so that they have to sell you sex. Not just on street corners, but in the workplace. That’s another right that you can presume to have: sexual access to any woman in your environment, when you want. Now, the men’s movement suggests that men don’t want the kind of power I have just described. I’ve actually heard explicit whole sentences to that effect. And yet, everything is a reason not to do something about changing the fact that you do have that power.”
On the Politics of the Right Wing:
“Some of you are very concerned about the rise of the Right in this country, as if that is something separate from the issues of feminism or the men’s movement. There is a cartoon I saw that brought it all together nicely. It was a big picture of Ronald Reagan as a cowboy with a big hat and a gun. And it said: “A gun in every holster; a pregnant woman in every home. Make America a man again.” Those are the politics of the Right.
If you are afraid of the ascendancy of fascism in this country–and you would be very foolish not to be right now–then you had better understand that the root issue here has to do with male supremacy and the control of women; sexual access to women; women as reproductive slaves; private ownership of women. That is the program of the Right. That is the morality they talk about. That is what they mean. That is what they want. And the only opposition to them that matters is an opposition to men owning women.”
Why if Freedom is to be had, Rape must stop:
“And on that day, that day of truce, that day when not one woman is raped, we will begin the real practice of equality, because we can’t begin it before that day. Before that day it means nothing because it is nothing: it is not real; it is not true. But on that day it becomes real. And then, instead of rape we will for the first time in our lives–both men and women–begin to experience freedom. If you have a conception of freedom that includes the existence of rape, you are wrong. You cannot change what you say you want to change. For myself, I want to experience just one day of real freedom before I die. I leave you here to do that for me and for the women whom you say you love.”
You want to know where to start to fight the Rape Culture? Start here. One teaspoon, one hour, one woman at a time.
20 comments
November 15, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Bleatmop
Awesome post! If that’s not a rally call to change, then I don’t know what is.
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January 15, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Sexism at its best
Ha she talks about men in a Sexist attitude you can tell by her picture that she’s a bull dike and that she loves women not men. How can you say this is awesome. This is a bunch of bullshit spouted from the mouth of a sexist woman. For all I care she can go to hell.
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January 16, 2010 at 9:50 am
The Arbourist
Wow, thanks for the insightful commentary.
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January 23, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Lonna
I’m a Right Wing conservative, and she had me until she brought the politics of that up. As if Left Wingers don’t rape. What BS. The only thing politics has to do with rape is the justice system, which has been turned into a slap on the wrist, no hanging, system due to… ah, yes, the extremely liberal Warren Court back in the 60’s. If the government would just let people carry their guns and actually use them when they need to, then maybe rape victims would have a REAL sense of freedom like she speaks about. But don’t disgrace the Right Wing because of some stupid quote that pissed you off. Good grief.
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January 24, 2010 at 12:01 pm
The Arbourist
As if Left Wingers don’t rape. What BS.
I do not think she was attempting to make the argument on the level of the individual that yes Right Wingers Rape and Left Wingers somehow because of their political views do not. I would assert that their might be a slight bias toward people who hold conservative views and rape as women in most traditionlist superstructures are treated more as a possession than as a person.
The only thing politics has to do with rape is the justice system, which has been turned into a slap on the wrist, no hanging,
The incidence of rape in a culture has many factors, socioeconomic status, race, the prevalence of patriarchal attitudes etc. Saying that only one factor, in this case the justice system, is inaccurate.
If the government would just let people carry their guns and actually use them when they need to, then maybe rape victims would have a REAL sense of freedom like she speaks about.
I would postulate that it is irrelevant whether women are legally armed or not would effect the number of rapes perpetrated. If women are still treated as the sex class, objectified and marginalized it is these preconditions that greatly augment societal acceptance of rape, much more that if people were armed or not.
But don’t disgrace the Right Wing because of some stupid quote that pissed you off. Good grief.
The right wing that is currently campaigning to end my reproductive rights? The same right wing that believes that because of what gender I am, I should be happy with the possibility of accepting less money, rights and opportunities in our society?
I subscribe to a conservative notion of politics, but the social conservative basis of much of the right now is quite repugnant and should be derided for how anti-woman and regressive it fundamentally is.
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January 28, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Lonna
“The right wing that is currently campaigning to end my reproductive rights? The same right wing that believes that because of my gender I should be happy with accepting less money, rights and opportunities in our society?”
Reproductive rights, huh? In today’s world we are bombarded with contraceptives. Everyone would be Pro-Life if they pulled their heads out of their behinds and decided to take real responsibility for their actions. There’s no excuse to be Pro-Death anymore except for rape. And even now there’s a rape condom to help prevent that, too.
I don’t know where you’re getting your conservative information about Right Wingers being sexist, but I guess you’d have to be a victim of some sorts to have that outlook. I have never been discriminated against because of my gender. Know why? I wouldn’t stand for it. You get what you give in life. Stop being a victim of everything. Liberals are so good at that. They whine and wonder why no one wants to listen. I mean, women are not like men. If you want to talk about reproductive rights… what about a man’s rights to want or not want a child? You’d scream your head off if a man wanted you to kill your baby, but it’s okay if you do? So, don’t start trying to compare gender “rights” because we’re not created equal. I’m so sick of everyone wanting some even playing field in life. That’s never going to happen. There will always be discrimination in the world, but it’s how you choose to deal with it that differentiates you from everyone else.
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January 28, 2010 at 3:54 pm
The Arbourist
Lonna said: Reproductive rights, huh? In today’s world we are bombarded with contraceptives.
I’m not sure what you are trying to say, as one could not accurately make the statement contraceptives=reproductive rights. That statement is patently false as not everyone has equal access to contraceptives or is even educated on how to properly use them.
Everyone would be Pro-Life if they pulled their heads out of their behinds and decided to take real responsibility for their actions.
Have the freedom to make reproductive choices is behaving responsibly. Making the judgment whether to keep a child based based on ones evaluation of how well one could raise it and provide the best possible future seems quite rational to me.
There’s no excuse to be Pro-Death anymore except for rape.
Well other than little things like my bodily autonomy.
but I guess you’d have to be a victim of some sorts to have that outlook.
And of course, blaming the victim for being a victim makes it okay? Along with the vulgar nature of your statement, it is has no base in reality. Or do you claim knowledge of my intentions?
I have never been discriminated against because of my gender. Know why? I wouldn’t stand for it.
Huh, that is amazing because the rest of the human race is discriminated against all the time. Choices are made on criteria that may or may not be factual or relevant to the content on ones character. Furthermore, just because things do not happen to you does not mean that it does not happen to other people. Your experiences are anecdotal and not really proof of anything in particular.
Stop being a victim of everything. Liberals are so good at that. They whine and wonder why no one wants to listen.
Based on what evidence? How is speaking up for reproductive freedom ‘being a victim’ ? This statement in incoherent.
I mean, women are not like men. If you want to talk about reproductive rights… what about a man’s rights to want or not want a child? You’d scream your head off if a man wanted you to kill your baby, but it’s okay if you do?
The problem is that the man is not carrying the fetus, nor is his health endangered by going to term with a pregnancy. As, it would be my fluids being used to support another, and my food and oxygen that is being parasitically used, it is my call if I want this relationship to continue.
So, don’t start trying to compare gender “rights” because we’re not created equal.
So then, what rights should a woman not possess? If, by your argument, there are relevant differences then we indeed should have two sets of laws and conditions that deal with men and women. I am very interested to hear which right, because of my gender, I should not possess?
I’m so sick of everyone wanting some even playing field in life.
Exactly such silly sentiments as justice and fairness are highly overrated. The lower races and classes should just suck it up and accept their place in life.
but it’s how you choose to deal with it that differentiates you from everyone else.
I choose to fight injustice and strive toward a more equal egalitarian society. If you’ve made your peace with the system, congratulations, but throwing stones at people who are striving to make a difference (that will probably indirectly benefit you) seems a little churlish, no?
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January 29, 2010 at 5:59 pm
your majesty
Maybe instead of begging for mercy like this and acting so helpless, women would get somewhere if they stood up, got training, got weapons, and actually fought these effervescent rapists. “Rape culture?” Give me a break.
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January 29, 2010 at 10:41 pm
The Arbourist
Given the caliber of your comment, I would suggest taking a peek here to better understand is being discussed.
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January 31, 2010 at 11:13 am
Lonna
“I’m not sure what you are trying to say, as one could not accurately make the statement contraceptives=reproductive rights. That statement is patently false as not everyone has equal access to contraceptives or is even educated on how to properly use them.”
Sex makes babies. Plain and simple. Perhaps the poor of the world, or the people not wanting to accidentally get pregnant should ABSTAIN from sex all together; get some better, cheaper, morally sound hobbies. And ignorance of contraceptives, how to use them or too poor to purchase them is not an excuse. I’m in human services, and let me tell you that condoms can rain from the sky and people still won’t use them.
So, if you have sex you have already made your reproductive choice. Don’t play with fire if you don’t want to get burned, and if you do get burned then you should be woman enough to take responsibility for your actions. SEX MAKES BABIES. Why this shocks everyone is beyond me. I mean, aren’t you glad you’re here and that your mom did the right thing?
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January 31, 2010 at 12:08 pm
The Arbourist
Lonna said: Sex makes babies.
Yes it does. It does not however makes the rights of women magically disappear once its over.
Perhaps the poor of the world, or the people not wanting to accidentally get pregnant should ABSTAIN from sex all together; get some better, cheaper, morally sound hobbies.
You assume poor women of the world have the *choice* to abstain from sex. In many situations this is not the case. Not everyone shares your privileged status.
And ignorance of contraceptives, how to use them or too poor to purchase them is not an excuse.
Is your ignorance of the status of others an excuse to make wildly erroneous generalizations about the poor people of the world, or does your world view not include anyone outside your socioeconomic class?
So, if you have sex you have already made your reproductive choice.
I see, so this is the point where a woman’s bodily autonomy stops. You have full rights as a human being until you have sex, after that you have less. Seems like sort of raw deal. I am glad such a regressive view of the rights of women is not the standard in society.
should be woman enough to take responsibility for your actions.
I trust women with the responsibility of determining whether they think the conditions are right for them to properly raise a child. Women are better predictors and judges of their circumstances than the state.
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January 31, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Lonna
Damn. It’s like beating a dead horse with you people. You’re the one who assumed there were people who did not know how to use contraception or who were not privy to it. Not me. I simply pointed out who these people may be… for what person in their right mind, living in America, would rather pay to kill a baby than pay for a pack of condoms?
The point, which you so lovingly like to ignore, is responsibility; or accountability. Don’t have sex if you don’t want to get pregnant. No no. That’s too hard to do. No, you want the ability to do the unthinkable. You want to have your cake and kill it, too, and let it be known that it’s under your bodily jurisdiction to do just that. It’s sick, really, these “rights” you go around complaining about not having, which, in this case you do. What other rights don’t you think you have?
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February 1, 2010 at 1:08 pm
The Arbourist
for what person in their right mind, living in America, would rather pay to kill a baby than pay for a pack of condoms?
My body, my choice.
It’s sick, really, these “rights” you go around complaining about not having, which, in this case you do.
Depends where you live, the level access to reproductive health care varies much from state to state.
I would indeed have the right to make decisions about my body, and that is a good thing. It is also the reason I defend my reproductive rights as well as yours, because bodily autonomy is crucial for the rights of women as a whole.
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February 4, 2010 at 11:26 am
Lonna
See, I don’t need or want your so-called “help.” My reproductive “rights” start with the act of sex itself, not the outcome. It’s called responsibility.
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February 4, 2010 at 1:00 pm
The Intransigent One
My dear, it’s not only about you.
I’m willing to entertain the notion, for the sake of argument, that maybe you are incredibly special in that you are always in 100% control not only of every deliberate action you take (and those deliberate actions are always 100% wise and responsible, and based on an omniscient knowledge of all underlying factors and potential interactions and outcomes); but also 100% in control of every automatic and unconscious activity of your body, as well as of everything that happens to and around you and the actions of any person that might affect you. If that’s the case, then you’re right, it would be irresponsible for you to get pregnant unless you really wanted to, and presumably if you did get pregnant you’d also be able to control the course of your pregnancy so that everything went perfectly for both your health and the development of your future child. And if something did go dreadfully wrong – for example the fetus developing a massive hydrocephalus that could kill both of you if it isn’t removed from your body – presumably that would be your fault too, since you could have prevented it and didn’t, so now it’s fair to let you suffer the consequences, even if that means a slow and painful death for both of you. Go ahead and take your chances that the fetus will die before its uncontrolled expansion irreparably damages your vital organs, and that your body expels it naturally before it goes septic. Your body, your choice. Not what I would choose, but some women do, and while I disagree, it’s their right.
Lonna, you may be omnipotent in the control of your destiny, and if that’s the case, then I agree, you should be subject to the supererogatory ethics you advocate. The rest of us ordinary mortals, no matter how hard we try, are sometimes going to fall short; sometimes going to be victims of bad luck; sometimes going to be trapped in situations that are awful but are the result of doing the best we can with what we knew going in; sometimes going to do things that are just plain stupid and if we’d thought it out we wouldn’t but it’s too late now. Perhaps your great power means that you don’t deserve compassion or second chances, because anything bad that happens is your fault. For the rest of us, bad things happen to good people all the fucking time.
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February 4, 2010 at 5:31 pm
A world with no abortions, ever « Intransigentia's Blog
[…] world with no abortions, ever My beloved has a troll. She’s a pretty much standard-issue anti-choicer, equal parts “Punish the Slutty […]
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February 4, 2010 at 10:42 pm
The Arbourist
See, I don’t need or want your so-called “help.”
Social responsibility is a good thing, you should try it sometime. Empathy (a precursor to social responsibility) starts with thinking about what other people may feel, or how their specific situation might impact their choices.
Judging others exclusively from ones’ own point of view could be considered to be myopic and rather limited in usefulness, generally speaking.
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February 16, 2010 at 9:00 am
Reflections on Gender « Dead Wild Roses
[…] defending what is “right”. And what is “right” is rape culture and the oppression of half the human species…how dare you challenge those […]
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March 27, 2010 at 7:01 am
Eatesuam
hello atributist, lonna…. i read all of the comments…. i am 20 years old, am a muslim….. now let me give u a very generalized example and u will agree that women get beaten are exploited because of thier own mistakes….. example of a rape case: a girl of 18 wearing shorts, small, tight shirt, revealing herself, attracts all men, but there are two types of men in our societies, one will bury his desire to have an interaction with that girl and other is over whelmed by his animal instints and can not stop himself….. lack of civilization is the whole reason behind it….. i agree that men do exploit women, but only when they let it happen…… how??? there is a difference in ur society and in mine, what is it??? everyone is made by God for its right place, we understand it, u dont…. y do women need to go to workplace in the first place, dont u like the men to earn for u, and u take control of the houshold matters???? y do u want to go out of ur house without the safe custody of ur father, ur brother, ur husband or ur son???? go out with one of them and u’ll feel that no one would dare look at u!!! but u want hav interaction with men….that is the reason u go out, ALONE!!!! secondly, u can never be equal to men….. God has kept this difference, for example all great scientists, doctors, philosophers are men…. men have more strenght, more patience, more ability to absorb adversity…. and the matter of reproductive rights….. a husband alone does not hold these rights, and a wife alone cannot have these rights, these rights are for both of them…..and these matters are solved with harmony of both sides….. in short, women hav thier responsibilities and men hav thier own……
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March 27, 2010 at 8:34 am
The Arbourist
u will agree that women get beaten are exploited because of thier own mistakes
Let’s start this off correctly. Women are beaten, exploited, and raped because most often men choose to abuse women.
a girl of 18 wearing shorts, small, tight shirt, revealing herself, attracts all men, but there are two types of men in our societies, one will bury his desire to have an interaction with that girl and other is over whelmed by his animal instints and can not stop himself….. lack of civilization is the whole reason behind it
How a woman dresses does not give others a ‘signal’ to violate her body and her rights in any situation. If a man rapes a woman, he is guilty of rape, period.
everyone is made by God for its right place
Bullshit. Next time you see God, ask him to give me a call so we can discuss his brilliance. Until then, lets keep the talk of magic sky daddy and magical books away from rational debate.
y do u want to go out of ur house without the safe custody of ur father, ur brother, ur husband or ur son???? go out with one of them and u’ll feel that no one would dare look at u!!! but u want hav interaction with men….that is the reason u go out, ALONE!!!!
God has kept this difference, for example all great scientists, doctors, philosophers are men
Well duh, if you oppress more than half of the human race and keep them barefoot and ignorant of course you will have more men in positions of power. Make the distinction that MEN not god are doing the oppressing.
a husband alone does not hold these rights, and a wife alone cannot have these rights, these rights are for both of them…..and these matters are solved with harmony of both sides
Women carry the child therefore have more rights and say than men, because she has the greater responsibility in deciding her reproductive future. How many men have you heard of lately that have died during childbirth?
And why does ‘solved with harmony of both sides’ sound like code for ‘doing whatever the man says’.
in short, women hav thier responsibilities and men hav thier own……
In short, you have a deluded and sadly negative view of more than half the human race. Your religion is patriarchal, ignorant and has no place in the 21st century. It is a regressive force that is stunting you, your women and your society.
So, if you have any arguments that do not involve the ignorant rantings of illiterate goat-herders that supposedly took place some 2000 years ago, please feel free to comment further. If not be prepared to a further dissection of your delusional beliefs and backward notions about the female gender.
Well firstly because I am a fully autonomous human being and under the law in Western societies are treated as such. The condition described above reminds me of slavery or indentured servitude. I note that both are okay in the bible and the koran, proving how irrelevant those particular magic books are to modern living.
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