Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Legal Struggles for Justice-- Connections

An Article that I read from the New York Times, was very upsetting that I feel happens way to often in society, is the blaming of the victims of  rape for their attacks. No one asks to be raped! bottom line. A very disturbing case I read about on line was about an 11 year old girl from Texas who was gang raped. This was said to have happened last November, in the town of Cleveland, about 50 miles out side of Huston.  They took the 11 year old girl who apparently lied about her age, to an abandoned saw mill and raped her.  The 11 year old girl was raped by at least 18 men, both juveniles and adults.

"Every adult male that had sex with this child should go to prison, I don't care what the color is. But I do not believe black males are the only ones that had contact with this young child," said Quanell X, the leader of Houston's New Black Panther Party. "It appears to me there's only been the selective prosecution of one community, which is African American."
In the article it was said that this particular town had a history of African American violence. There may be a great deal of prejudice here and that might be why only African Americanise were blamed for the rape of this young girl. but I highly agree with Quanell X that there were other races involved in this horrific act.
Something I find even more disturbing is people's reactions to these events, aka, "blaming the victim". Republican law maker, Kathleen Passidomo stated, “There was an article about an 11 year old girl who was gang raped in Texas by 18 young men because she was dressed like a 21-year-old prostitute." Really? No one asks to be raped! This is ridiculous that she would literally say that because of the way this 11 year old girl was dressed she deserved to be raped. No matter what you are wearing you could be at risk to be raped. But the way someone dresses by no means gives consent. This article relates to another article that we recently read "The Lesbian Continuum by Adrien Rich. It relates because it she addresses  rape and how it suppresses women.  " Forcing male sexuality upon women: rape, incest, torture, a constant message that men are better, and superior in society to women." In riches article it talks about domestic violence because a larger and larger issue. The number of incidence is sky rocketing. This just more and more suppresses a women. Not only does this apply with domestic or rape charges but also with harassment, and sexual assault. Men use this to make women feel trapped and worthless, like helpless sexual objects.

Another reading that we have done that relates to this topic is "Oppression" by Frye. This article relates because rape in itself is oppression. this allegation or rape is not only oppressive and disgusting, it is degrading. men feel stronger and women are further degraded. "You can't win you are caught in a bind, caught between systematically related pressures."  Girls are pressured in so many ways, to look pretty, and look amazing, but while doing that should they have to be afraid to look so good that they could be more vulnerable to rape? I think that in Frye wants us to draw away from the oppression and stand strong in ourselves, and not let anyone push us down or degrade us.
And no victim is ever to be blamed for being raped, it is never your fault.

3 comments:

  1. Great post. I can't even believe that. That poor girl. :( That's ridiculous that they were trying to make it look like it was her fault... She's just a kid!

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  2. Great post. I literally read most of it with my mouth open because I found it so amazing that people actually blamed the victim. People need to wake up and realize rape is rape regardless of the appearance or occupation of the victim.

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  3. great post i cant believe that she had to go through that horrible experience and still be blamed for her tragedy.

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