Biblical scholar in Hebrew and Hebrew Bible: special interest in translation textual plurality, (Septuagint, Dead Seas Scrolls, Samaritan Pentateuch, Aleppo Codex, Leningrad Codex); feminist, womanist and post-colonial biblical interpretation; prophets and prophecy in the Ancient Near East and ancient Israel
Episcopal priest, product of the Black Church, author, blogger, preacher, teacher, lecturer, public speaker
It is also important that we name women who are raping boys. Antwone Fisher’s story is more common than we know. Boys who are raped by women tend to be even more silent, suffering from an extreme amount of guilt. They also need to know that it is not their fault and help is available.
Sorry to sound off-topic. If you are not an evolutionist, then my opinions might offend and I just want to be careful. Looking at rape culture through the lens of evolution might be offensive if that is not your working theory. I don’t want to sound insensitive.
Yes I believe in evolution. But evolutionary impulses are subject to moral imperative. Regardless of the role rape has played in the development of the species, we are no longer discussing pre-rational primitive animals.
In other sexually dimorphic primates, the female has no choice but to submit to the alpha male. My original comment was going to be that it is amazing that females have evolved sexual desire. Why would our species need it if propagation was the responsibility of the largest male? Also, rape is a tool of war so it would seem that in some circumstances, males feel entitled to rape. Is it their reward for risking death? The alpha primate protects his harem and any new female joining the troupe must submit sexually. Is power the same as entitlement and does war have a different moral imperative than peace?
I was listening to a congresswoman discuss the problem of rape in the military and she seems to have a solution. She advocated locking up men convicted of rape. I think this could lead to a dramatic lessening of incidents of rape – especially with availability of DNA testing. Apparently, the military has been trying to “educate” their way out of this problem. Appealing to self-interest is really the only way to achieve any meaningful change. It is interesting that since the onslaught of AIDs, rapists have been known to use condoms. Before AIDs, would they have worried about impregnating their victim? That is a behavioral change attributed to self-interest. The goal is for men (with free will) to come to the immediate conclusion that rape would cause themselves harm. Perhaps bringing back the widespread myth of vagina dentata would do the trick.
Prison is a consequence in the military and the civilian worlds. But the issue is more complex due the the abysmally low rates of conviction in the understandably low rate of reports. There is tremendous stigma in each camp and issues around evidence collection and preservation in the military in addition to the current practice of having charges/allegation adjudicated in the command structure which is counterproductive. What’s needed in both contexts is aggressive ant-rape education targeting men as potential rapists, not the standard don’t-get-raped education: don’t walk alone, or wear that or leave your drink exposed.
Anti-rape education sends the message that rapists are not aware that what they are doing is wrong. Men know they should not rape. It is time we allow them to mature and take responsibility for their actions. Besides, education is the present methodology and it is not working. It is the women who need education. We need to change the purity culture that says we are no better than chewed up gum if we are raped. Women need to undergo a paradigm shift away from the notion that our personhood is directly related to our vagina.
I agree the adjudication needs to be taken out of the command structure.
Wil
May 14, 2013 1:54 pm
Again, over simplistic. Issues of consent, legal age of consent, intoxication on the part of one or both parties, date rape, spousal rape in addition to serial predation require different levels of education. Some absolutely men know what they are doing and would be impervious to education. Others have no socialization or education in the law or ethics of consent. Anti-rape education is more than don’t rape. It is countering a culture of dehumanization, social, legal, moral, ethical issues and legal ramifications. And, men and boys and women and men are receiving a detailed and largely uncounted pro rape culture education: no mean yes, yes means anal, women always want it, women who dress like act like x want it. Women/wives/girlfriends don’t have the right to say no. That education is pervasive and effective. Saying they should no better is ineffective pedagogy. That’s not how education and transformation work. I agree with you about purity culture. Women are educated after a fashion; rape-prevention education centers around making yourself a less viable target – which shifts the rapist to a new target. I don’t maintain that all rape can be ended, but that rape culture as normative can be delegitimized which will have an impact on the number of rapes, prosecutions, convictions and climate for those involved and affected.
There was a 6% increase in sexual assaults between 2011 and 2013 in the military. This is after the educational methodology was implemented. If education was really a deterrent then the person most unlikely to commit a sexual assault would be the officer in charge of the Air Force’s sexual assault prevention program. He, however, assaulted a woman unknown to him. It was obvious by his mugshot that “no” meant “no” because of the deep fingernail gouges on his face. Reporting the sexual assault and prison time is the only thing that will stop a rapist which then becomes a deterrent for a would-be rapist.
One case doesn’t generalize to all. There is no single “educational methodology.” That some anti-sexual harassment efforts are being made doesn’t mean that they are optimal; that results are inadequate doesn’t mean scrap the whole program. The results reflect the curriculum and goals, which need to be revised as I have described in concert with other structural changes.
Cean James
May 13, 2013 12:09 pmIt is also important that we name women who are raping boys. Antwone Fisher’s story is more common than we know. Boys who are raped by women tend to be even more silent, suffering from an extreme amount of guilt. They also need to know that it is not their fault and help is available.
Susan Burns
May 13, 2013 12:38 pmI have not been able to ascertain through your blogging if you are an evolutionist. Are you?
Wil
May 13, 2013 1:15 pmSusan Burns, how and why does that matter and what does it have to do with rape culture?
Susan Burns
May 13, 2013 2:52 pmSorry to sound off-topic. If you are not an evolutionist, then my opinions might offend and I just want to be careful. Looking at rape culture through the lens of evolution might be offensive if that is not your working theory. I don’t want to sound insensitive.
Wil
May 13, 2013 3:17 pmYes I believe in evolution. But evolutionary impulses are subject to moral imperative. Regardless of the role rape has played in the development of the species, we are no longer discussing pre-rational primitive animals.
Susan Burns
May 13, 2013 4:09 pmIn other sexually dimorphic primates, the female has no choice but to submit to the alpha male. My original comment was going to be that it is amazing that females have evolved sexual desire. Why would our species need it if propagation was the responsibility of the largest male? Also, rape is a tool of war so it would seem that in some circumstances, males feel entitled to rape. Is it their reward for risking death? The alpha primate protects his harem and any new female joining the troupe must submit sexually. Is power the same as entitlement and does war have a different moral imperative than peace?
womenfirst
May 13, 2013 11:14 pmGot any ideas for ending rape, Susan? Among humans with free will?
Susan Burns
May 14, 2013 11:27 amI was listening to a congresswoman discuss the problem of rape in the military and she seems to have a solution. She advocated locking up men convicted of rape. I think this could lead to a dramatic lessening of incidents of rape – especially with availability of DNA testing. Apparently, the military has been trying to “educate” their way out of this problem. Appealing to self-interest is really the only way to achieve any meaningful change. It is interesting that since the onslaught of AIDs, rapists have been known to use condoms. Before AIDs, would they have worried about impregnating their victim? That is a behavioral change attributed to self-interest. The goal is for men (with free will) to come to the immediate conclusion that rape would cause themselves harm. Perhaps bringing back the widespread myth of vagina dentata would do the trick.
Wil
May 14, 2013 11:35 amPrison is a consequence in the military and the civilian worlds. But the issue is more complex due the the abysmally low rates of conviction in the understandably low rate of reports. There is tremendous stigma in each camp and issues around evidence collection and preservation in the military in addition to the current practice of having charges/allegation adjudicated in the command structure which is counterproductive. What’s needed in both contexts is aggressive ant-rape education targeting men as potential rapists, not the standard don’t-get-raped education: don’t walk alone, or wear that or leave your drink exposed.
Susan Burns
May 14, 2013 1:06 pmAnti-rape education sends the message that rapists are not aware that what they are doing is wrong. Men know they should not rape. It is time we allow them to mature and take responsibility for their actions. Besides, education is the present methodology and it is not working. It is the women who need education. We need to change the purity culture that says we are no better than chewed up gum if we are raped. Women need to undergo a paradigm shift away from the notion that our personhood is directly related to our vagina.
I agree the adjudication needs to be taken out of the command structure.
Wil
May 14, 2013 1:54 pmAgain, over simplistic. Issues of consent, legal age of consent, intoxication on the part of one or both parties, date rape, spousal rape in addition to serial predation require different levels of education. Some absolutely men know what they are doing and would be impervious to education. Others have no socialization or education in the law or ethics of consent. Anti-rape education is more than don’t rape. It is countering a culture of dehumanization, social, legal, moral, ethical issues and legal ramifications. And, men and boys and women and men are receiving a detailed and largely uncounted pro rape culture education: no mean yes, yes means anal, women always want it, women who dress like act like x want it. Women/wives/girlfriends don’t have the right to say no. That education is pervasive and effective. Saying they should no better is ineffective pedagogy. That’s not how education and transformation work. I agree with you about purity culture. Women are educated after a fashion; rape-prevention education centers around making yourself a less viable target – which shifts the rapist to a new target. I don’t maintain that all rape can be ended, but that rape culture as normative can be delegitimized which will have an impact on the number of rapes, prosecutions, convictions and climate for those involved and affected.
Susan Burns
May 14, 2013 3:32 pmThere was a 6% increase in sexual assaults between 2011 and 2013 in the military. This is after the educational methodology was implemented. If education was really a deterrent then the person most unlikely to commit a sexual assault would be the officer in charge of the Air Force’s sexual assault prevention program. He, however, assaulted a woman unknown to him. It was obvious by his mugshot that “no” meant “no” because of the deep fingernail gouges on his face. Reporting the sexual assault and prison time is the only thing that will stop a rapist which then becomes a deterrent for a would-be rapist.
Wil
May 14, 2013 3:54 pmOne case doesn’t generalize to all. There is no single “educational methodology.” That some anti-sexual harassment efforts are being made doesn’t mean that they are optimal; that results are inadequate doesn’t mean scrap the whole program. The results reflect the curriculum and goals, which need to be revised as I have described in concert with other structural changes.