Big story in the media today – Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane has been accused of allegedly raping an unidentified woman on August 2nd.
The owner of the Chicago Blackhawks is “disappointed but hopeful.”
In what, exactly?
Disappointed that one of your players is a possible rapist? Hopeful that this girl is lying in an attempt to extort “rape money?” Because I’m not entirely sure why the media is attempting to spin this story into some sort of accusatory victim blaming version of Twister? And I’m even more fucking pissed that the cycle of violence towards women is reaching a fever pitch.
We’re women and we’re not playthings and being a feminist isn’t a dirty word – it simply means we’re tired of your misogynistic bullshit.
It would almost seem that victim blaming is innate to us – in a country where “innocent until proven guilty” seems to also mean “it was obviously the other persons fault.” Women are being oppressed by our male dominated culture at an alarming rate and when we fight back, we’re asked if we’re “on our period.” Or why we’re so “emotional.” Or my personal favorite, that being a feminist means I’m a “dyke bitch.” Because that’s obviously a logical response.
What is terrifyingly problematic is that we are placing blame on women who are victims of a crime.
Rape culture is real. Victim blaming is real.
If you need examples of what rape culture is, Click Here.
Our society is upholding a culture of oppression towards victimized female voices. We are so desensitized to it that it’s made a mockery of feminist advances towards gender equality. We cannot trivialize or mock violence towards women. And we certainly cannot continue to ignore it’s existence. I’ve read countless articles and read numerous quotes that claim “rape culture is not real.” Victim blaming can be defined as “putting blame for the occurrence of a traumatizing event on the survivor instead of blaming the perpetrator.” Condoning violence and making excuses for the attacker’s behavior is objectifying and oppressing the victim.
Many facets of our society treat women as objects for sexual pleasure instead of equal human beings. Why else are the Kardashian’s so famous? It’s certainly not for their intelligent cultural contributions. The “dumbing down” of women and treating them as afterthoughts is one of the biggest reasons why rape culture exists. We’re not seen as equals, so how can our experiences measure up? If we’re just objects, violence towards women is normalized. This is because people who are misogynists will either not care about harm being done to women or will purposely cause harm to women because they dislike them and may choose to use rape as a way to hurt them. Now, of course, we can’t believe that all men are rapists or inherently violent towards women the same way we can’t assume that women are only pure and innocent and without sexuality. If we were to believe that men are more sexual than women, then they are effectively in control of female sexuality. Both of these schools of thought are mitigating factors; but we must realize that men who violent towards women ARE the attacker, there is no way a woman can “ask” to be raped. Her clothing, her hair, her speech – absolutely none of it can engender rape. The media needs to stop upholding the “myth of rape culture” because it simply is not a myth.
Men do not have permission to objectify women or their bodies, nor do they have the right to violate or perpetuate violence towards women. The female voice is one that must be heard when it comes to our collective unity and progress; we cannot live in fear that men will assume a “rightful” position over power against us. The political climate today is one in which it is assumed that women are the lesser contributor to society, with their rights being diminished accordingly to the male dialogue. Hollywood celebrates it. Men think it’s a passing joke. We as women are the only ones who can swing the balance of power in our favor by standing against the dangerous, slippery slope of rape culture.
For more information on rape culture, or to find out how you can contribute to the fight against it, please check out the following links.
FORCE: Upsetting the Culture of Rape
What the Trump and Cosby Allegations Reveal About Rape Culture
The Rebel Radical 