(no subject)

[oyceter]

ginmar's last few posts in general make me feel very queasy and very angry that I am female. I hate that I have to think about this, that I worry about walking outside when it's dark and I'm alone but my boyfriend doesn't. I hate that people I knew at college laughed at the Take Back the Night marches and thought they were unnecessary and quoted the same kinds of statistics on male rape or females lying about being raped (ala Disclosure, stupid ass book). I hate that I feel nidgy and frightened whenever a strange man talks to me, even if he's just being friendly. I hate that I feel almost physically threatened when men invade my personal space. I also hate that my mom tells stories of people being raped to make sure I am more careful, that my sister sometimes blames unwelcome attention from guys on herself being "too friendly." I hate that when she does that, my mom substantiates it and says my sister should be more careful who she smiles to, because people could get the wrong impression.

I hate that this fear has power over my life just because I am female.

Comments

Re: I'm with you on that,

[oyceter]

Exactly. And it places all the responsibility on the victim as well -- it reminds me of the discussion going on in Rahael's journal at one point about people feeling uncomfortable around these situations and the tendency to blame the victim.

And I hate feeling belittled whenever I go off about this because it's just a woman's issue, or whatever nonsense.

Sometimes I wish everyone would have to somehow live through the experience of being a racial minority or being female.

And you are most definitely preaching to the choir here ;). This issue (and issues like it) are my flaming red hot button issues.