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Tuesday, 27 March 2007 14:08 |
Saying ëDonít be a victimí
is not enough to end rape
In Australia, where club and designer drugs are prevalent, one need not look very far to find public service announcements about them.
Itís intriguing to study the different approaches of television and print PSAs in their admonishments to the public: For example, the ads concerning ecstasy target the users, warning them of the health and legal repercussions they could face.
On
the other hand, PSAs regarding GHB and Rohypnol ó the common ìdate rape
drugsî ó target potential individuals who may be slipped the substances
without consent. Naturally, these potential individuals concerned are
mostly women.
Not long ago,
several females living on campus at the University of Wollongong in
Australia noticed pamphlets at their doors with helpful hints of how to
avoid getting drugged. None of the male residents received a pamphlet.
Nowhere to be found are the PSAs targeting those selling, distributing and administering the drug.
Nowhere to be
found are the statements to the rapists, ìYou do the crime, you do the
time.î That one is reserved for anti-drunk driving campaigns. Yet,
there are no campaigns informing motorists of steps they can take to
prevent themselves from getting killed by intoxicated drivers.
No one expects
them to assume personal responsibility for a criminalís actions; on the
other hand, women need to learn not to ever let their guard down.
It is small wonder that 90 percent of rape survivors admit to suicidal ideation afterward.
The only
difference between Australia and the U.S. in this issue is, the U.S.
has fewer public service announcements about designer drugs. The
message is still the same regarding sexual assault: donít be a victim.
So why donít we educate the music industry on steps to avoid being a victim of piracy?
In essence, itís
a question of power. The music industry has enough influence to scare
(some) people out of downloading music illegally ó and everyone knows
the law is on its side.
Women, on the
other hand, are perpetually portrayed as weak by the mass media.
Therefore, women need to take special consideration to not be taken
advantage of, to learn how to fend off male attackers, to be on high
alert 24/7.
Most women at
some point hear to always keep a close watch on their alcohol if they
go out to have fun, but no one hears, ìDonít poison other peoplesí
drinks.î
That rape is
illegal is understood. Yet, so is littering, speeding, shoplifting,
disorderly behavior and illicit drug use. One needs only to go to any
commercial establishment or drive down an interstate to see a sign
proclaiming that such behaviors will not be tolerated.
The sad truth
about sexual violence against women is, our society may not tolerate it
per se, but it tolerates the presence of sexual aggressors.
Encouraging
women to pursue self-defense classes and exercise caution is not a
negative thing, just as reminding people to lock their doors is helpful
information.
Nevertheless, it
should be expressed as a recommendation, not a necessity. The necessity
is assuring rapists that rape is a federal offense and, if caught, they
will face prosecution to the full extent of the law. Such a message
carries the potential to shift public opinion.
Even if the
numbers of rapes do not decrease, the public needs to be encouraged to
help find and punish the criminals so that the number of offenders on
the streets does decrease.
Rape survivors
are not the only group that fails to report the crime; friends and
acquaintances of the rapist also choose not to turn in the guilty party.
An
all-too-frequent view of rape is that it is a personal issue, hence the
promoted belief that it is an individual who should know how to avoid
the risk.
In reality, rape
is not so much a risk as a societal detriment that everyone has a
responsibility to report in order to prevent a rapist from causing more
harm.
The message ìDonít be a victimî makes about as much sense as, ìDonít get sick.î
One can do
things that might decrease the odds, but sometimes, it just happens. We
cannot tell a virus, ìDonít violate someoneís body,î but we can tell
that to human beings with free will.
Instead of
making women fear the possibility of assault, we should make sure the
assaulters fear the possible consequences of their actions.
Laura Eshelman
Wollongong, Austraila
ï
EDITORíS NOTE:
Eshelman is a senior majoring in mass communication at UNC Asheville.
She is studying abroad at the University of Wollongong.
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