Jezebel 
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New York, 4:18 AM
Sun Dec 20
19 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/05/09
I wish it was more of the norm for someone to call when something of such a horrendous nature is occurring. #richmondrape
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11/05/09
Is it just a "no, duh" thing among the powers that be--lawmakers, school administrators, whomever? Am I missing something? Why DON'T schools in at-risk communities include a regular a curriculum against rape that targets would-be victims (girls, but guys as well) and...well...would-be perpetrators? Why isn't a discussion of rape and mutual consent part of school? During grade school, at least once, counselors might make students aware of the concept of sexual assault at the hands of parents or other adults, so why not rape (at the latest, by sixth grade)?
[www.nytimes.com]
This article describes a class on "empathy" to counteract bullying (I forget the meat...hope it isn't just a way to let adults off the hook for not intervening, but nonetheless, prevention and dealing with students directly is also part of the solution, right?) Unsurprisingly, it seemed that the results were mixed. Still, at least they're trying. This is a step in the right direction.
It SHOULD be so easy for people to figure out, and yet considering how much the population across the board still think a person's drinking too much, being a sex worker, being married, or "leading someone on" and then saying "no" at initiation of intercourse ALL fail to meet the standards of "rape rape"....apparently, no, this shit is not registering with lots and lots of people.
I still remember the post on just this topic on Jezebel, and am not surprised at one of the reactions I saw from a guy interviewed--no shit, there's such a thing as date rape, or mutual consent. It SHOULD scandalize people that this isn't universally understood as a problem, like murder or theft.
Given that it isn't, how the fuck is this not a part of high school health class? It's bad enough this country seems to let wingnuts dictate sexual health policy among kids, but sexual assault prevention? Is a class that discusses rape too scandalous? Would it offend parents? In a community like THIS, what foundation could any legitimate indignation be based on? #richmondrape
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Because to teach that RAPE IS WRONG, end of story, that idea unfortunately doesn't fit into the rape culture in America. When I posted something about the Richmond gang-rape on my FB, two guys were like "well, unfortunately, rape happens and she should have known better". Thank heavens, sixteen other people (mostly men) jumped all over them for saying such a thing. But I sometimes feel like those 13 guys are the minority in the world. #richmondrape
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11/05/09
That's one thing "youth centers" or "community centers" note, yes? #richmondrape
11/05/09
Actually, it's true that it should be taught everywhere, but somehow I doubt people would be cheering in their seats at the opportunity to fund this unless they saw it as necessary, and what else would there be but statistics to distinguish that?
That said...I can see it pissing off plenty of students, but yes, actually, I don't see why it shouldn't be part of (at the very least) a high school health course. #richmondrape
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The comments about him being scared and about snitching made me assume he was either younger than her or that he had previously been involved with, related to or targeted by gang members at some point.
But that is all assumptions on my part. #richmondrape
11/05/09
I guess I'm just grumpy that all those men saw what was happening and it took a woman to say "enough". #richmondrape
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I went on a field trip with my classmates; a man exposed himself to us (ha, of course he did--we were a bunch of teenage girls in our school uniforms, just begging for it). A classmate informed the teacher and she told her to buzz off.
The thing is--I can't actually think of anything the teacher could have done, beyond snapping a picture of the asshole on her cellphone or something, and even if it's humiliating and frightening, one of the reasons these crimes are so difficult to deal with is because the offenders work quickly, and then run. #richmondrape
11/05/09
Not only were we the only people on the platform to say anything, but after it was all over, his friend told him that he was stupid to speak out, because he "escalated" the situation. The friend spent the rest of the night, and part of the next day, trying to make my boyfriend feel bad for saying something. Personally, I think he just felt guilty for being a coward.
So, a lot of the time, people just don't know WHAT to do because they feel helpless and think that anything they do will make the situation worse. #richmondrape
11/05/09
Margarita acknowledges the whole "no snitching" culture. I hope with her name and face out there she and her family will be okay. #richmondrape
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That is empathy. #richmondrape
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