[Trigger: Discussion of rape]
I think you have an understanding of the world and a dire need for an open conversation about sex and consent when rape is more common than smoking, yet among the media, pop culture and conversations in most middle and high schools, the people that we shame are those that have consensual sex or wear clothes that make them feel good. We hurl slurs at people who engage in consensual sex, even if it was their first time and especially if it was more than once. We turn our noses up at them. We glare at them from across the room and gossip about how nasty they probably are to our friends. We isolate them, other them, treat them like pariahs. We hand out numbers like scarlet letters.
Rapists though? Rapists are still allowed on the high school basketball team while his victim stays silent on the sideline and is kicked off the cheer leading team. Rapists become the joke source; something to laugh at in a comedy or in a circle of friends. Rapists disguise themselves in black and blue uniforms and get their buddies to protect their back by throwing the victim in jail. Some rapists, don’t even know they’re rapists. Rapists walk 15 out of 16 cases.
And if we’re not shaming people for having sex it’s because they’re a man and probably cisgender, but then we’re treating it like an achievement. An award. We don’t ask about consent. Who cares? He got it in.
It’s disgusting when you realize that a woman or someone who is perceived woman and engages is consensual sex, is considered far more abhorrent in the public eye, than rape is, even though it happens every two minutes within the U.S. alone.
Love,
Taylor
(via ispeakprophecies)
