When I first heard about the Steubenville, Ohio rape case I was horrified. Upon hearing about the death of Rehtaeh Parsons I became sick to my stomach.
Why is it that the victims of rape or sexual assault are made to feel that they were the cause of their attack? Why is it that the victims of rape or sexual assault are taunted by their peers instead of being shown sympathy and support?
Why is it that we as a society are only teaching ways to prevent rape and sexual assault, but not teaching our children to be decent human beings who would never even think to commit these kinds of heinous acts?
As a woman, I’ve heard over and over that I shouldn’t dress a certain way so as not to attract “the wrong kind of attention” from men. If I choose to wear a short dress or tight-fitting top when going out for drinks with friends, I shouldn’t be labeled a “slut” or someone who is “asking for it”. That is complete garbage. Women should be able to dress however the hell they want and not have to worry about their attire inviting other people to harm them. However, we seem to be living in a world where if a woman has had too much to drink or is wearing a slinky outfit that justifies her being sexually assaulted.
I believe that those that are in the position to nurture and guide children, such as parents and teachers, need to have more conversations regarding morals. It is evident in the case of Steubenville and the tragedy of Rehtah Parsons death that the youths involved lacked the knowledge of what is right and what is wrong to do.
In the United States, April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The goal and purpose of SAAM is to increase the public’s awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. I strongly believe that a major step towards preventing sexual violence is by teaching and guiding children to grow up to be good people who do not seek to harm others.
I know there’s a lot to be said on this topic. Share your thoughts below.
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Twitter: @_Camelia & @talkrealdebate