The idea that considering men dangerous or as potential rapists first is bad. I really want to agree, but I have a lot of difficulty doing so.
I'd argue it is sexism (because it's judging all members of a gender as a group, not as individuals), but a necessary evil nonetheless in our place and time? Maybe in the future some context will change, whether its human biology or pervasive surveillance or VR pornography (yes, crazy suggestions), but for now I don't see a way around it. It's really a subset of the caution that I think everyone should have about men and their potential for violence, male and female, it's just because most men are heterosexual, women need to pay special attention to the risks of sexual violence. It doesn't make me happy, but I don't know how to change it.
On the other hand, I think the sexism surrounding men and rape, the dismissive attitude of society towards men as victims of rape, is entirely unnecessary. Sexism most often cuts against women, but that's one definite way it hurts men.
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regna
(no subject)
Date: 2009-08-18 02:20 am (UTC)I'd argue it is sexism (because it's judging all members of a gender as a group, not as individuals), but a necessary evil nonetheless in our place and time? Maybe in the future some context will change, whether its human biology or pervasive surveillance or VR pornography (yes, crazy suggestions), but for now I don't see a way around it. It's really a subset of the caution that I think everyone should have about men and their potential for violence, male and female, it's just because most men are heterosexual, women need to pay special attention to the risks of sexual violence. It doesn't make me happy, but I don't know how to change it.
On the other hand, I think the sexism surrounding men and rape, the dismissive attitude of society towards men as victims of rape, is entirely unnecessary. Sexism most often cuts against women, but that's one definite way it hurts men.