Poem:
Rape Culture
They say: If you don’t want to be assaulted or raped….
“Don’t wear your favorite pair of shorts in the summer, even if it’s hot; you’re leaving your ass up for grabbing.”
“Don’t flirt and kiss a boy and then think you can say no to sex; you were leading him on.”
“Don’t drink at all; you’re at fault when he strips the clothes off your unconscious body and penetrates you.”
However
What they should be saying is: If you don’t want to be an assailant or rapist…
“Don’t assume what she wears determines her consent; abide by personal boundaries.”
“Don’t believe women owe you sex; your desires do not take precedence over her comfort.”
“Don’t rape her, whether she’s had zero drinks or five; you are disrespecting her body, her mind, and her soul.”
Do not teach girls how not to be raped. Teach boys not to rape.
I am not a victim of rape, but I am a survivor of rape culture. All women are. This is why we must address this pervasive culture and start a conversation about it as a society.
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