How can people do this?
In Suffolk on the 14th, a woman was forced into a car and raped. The rapist was in his 60s and had asked for help with heavy bags…
I just can’t understand it. I don’t see why someone can think that that is an ok thing to do, I cannot fathom how someone can justify raping someone. As with the man who raped and tortured the student in Columbia, there is a thought process that these men go through that I cannot begin to comprehend.
I suppose it’s the same with all criminals - it would be strange if you could understand them, understand the reasoning behind their actions. You would have something in common with them. But this isn’t like stealing a loaf of bread to feed your family, this isn’t like bank fraud. This is such a serious, terrible crime, this is a crime against womankind and yet still, so many people, all over the world, can find it in themselves to rape. Can justify it to themselves, can live with themselves having done it. Would do it if they could get away with it (as seen in Malamuth and Check’s research in a uni in the US, where 1/3 of the all male participants said that they would rape if they could get away with it).
Part of me seems to think that if we could understand, maybe we could stop these men. Prevent them from terrorising women, from torturing and raping women.
Ultimately though, I suppose, it comes down to the education of men (because, strangely, it shouldn’t be the case that women have the responsibility of defending themselves, it should be the rapists that are being stopped) and the efficiency of the enforcement of law…
Either way, it’s highly depressing that this is still such a frequent occurrence, not only in our country but all over the world. It’s disgraceful that people think that it’s an ok thing to do, and that women so often get the blame. It’s disgraceful that people think you are making up statistics if you tell them what they don’t want to hear, that a woman can be penalised for what she was wearing or for her relationship history or indeed just for being a woman, it’s disgraceful that there isn’t a bigger effort to prevent this from occurring. It’s disgraceful the amount of men who get away with it, and the amount of women who have to live with the memory of such a horrific experience.
Really, how can we ever be proud of a country where there is so much disgrace?
5 comments
Comments feed for this article
June 19, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Lucy
Actually I got a film yesterday, the brave one, have you seen it?
It tries to tackle the idea of a female sereal killer and shows the whole process. I loved the film (except the ending) but its really well shot…
Anyhow I thought it was relevant, youknow…
June 19, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Lucy
Although, I say serial killer, she does actually go around killing people who commit terrible crimes…
June 19, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Jacob Ward
…and bank fraud isn’t a serious crime?
A bad enough event can topple a bank, which means the unemployment of its employees, which leads to greater overall suffering than that caused by one rapist.
June 20, 2008 at 12:16 am
Lucy
Jacob - actually, thats a fair point, but I suppose a bank robbery would not cause the same intense trauma as a rapist…
Also, Caitlin, just a little point to make that of people 18 and under, 95% knew the rapist and in general 80% of victims knew the rapist, so, sure it would be justified by them the same way as possibly someone could justify killing a lover. you said you couldnt understand why they would do it… I’m making suggestions.
And also cold rapists are most likely disturbed, many coming from care and from great povery and were probably victims of physical and sexual abuse and frequent drug abusers. Many would not have had a propper education and many would not have been taught morals. Again, not an excuse but just rationalising your argument. When people go through shit they deal with it in different ways and you haven’t been through the struggles they have. Neither have I to that extent, but do you understand where I’m coming from.
I’m not saying this completely justifies rape, I’m saying that there is always a reason, even if that reason is not clear.
June 20, 2008 at 11:49 am
Caitlin
Yeah Jake, bank fraud is serious. I know. But I don’t see it as on a par with rape, I don’t think it is as serious a crime to commit and have to be able to justify with yourself. Again - we differ. Please let’s not argue.
Lucy - I know, I think it’s awful that such a high percentage of people who rape are known to the victim. The thing is, that doesn’t go with the whole ‘And also cold rapists are most likely disturbed, many coming from care and from great povery and were probably victims of physical and sexual abuse and frequent drug abusers. Many would not have had a propper education and many would not have been taught morals’
Unless…does cold rapists mean you don’t know them? :S
It’s certainly something which awareness needs to be raised about - a rapist isn’t always some dodgy guy standing around in the shadows in a big trench coat, it can be (and is indeed more likely to be) someone you know.
Again though, if it’s the same as justifying killing your lover, it’s still beyond my comprehension why and how people can behave so disgustingly. I don’t expect to be able to understand, though. As you say, there’s always a reason, and whether that reason is just because the person is totally morally corrupt, or because of a bad experience in their past, we could only truly understand if we had the same experiences…