Short Post 4/12

Brownmiller’s essay, Against Our Will; Men, Women and Rape, because she is writing about a significant issue in society of over 35 years ago.  It is 2011 and we still have the significant, unfortunate issue of rape in our society.  Brownmiller does a great job at outlining the motives of men involved in rape cases.  We see the common theme of power involved in every sex act.  Brownmiller defines rape as being on every girls mind from childhood and something women always are fearing.  She calls for activism of women to put an end to rape and not allow the excuses of rape being a woman’s fault.  At the end of her essay, she says, “Now we must deny it a future” (317).  Brownmiller strives to fight rape and prevent it from spreading.  However, today we still have a large issue with rape, which is disgusting.  The one could thing that has changed since 1975 is the technological advances we have to track down the perpetrator and the medical advances to prevent diseases.  According to 2007 data, every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. I agree with Brownmiller that it is important that woman speak out.  She goes through the history of rape and it use to be embarrassing and women felt uncomfortable reporting it.  I am sure a lot of women remain silent today, but there are a lot more support groups today than there use to be.  The issue of power is extremely prevalent in rape and domestic violence.  We see in Crenshaw’s essay the arguments defending domestic violence and defining it as a community issue and not a feminist issue.  All men know that they have the power to abuse, physically or sexually any woman.  However, most would never dare abuse a woman, but there are men who decide to demonstrate their power.  All women will always have the fear of being attacked.  I have read a bunch of stories in newspapers and magazines where women speak out and I find them to be extremely beneficial.  They allow women who have not been sexually assaulted to learn how to keep themselves safer.  It is pathetic that in all countries, women feel unsafe walking alone at night.  We are just as much part of this society as men, yet we always feel as if we are vulnerable no matter how many self-defense classes we have taken.  Women need to ban together to speak out and support each other and prove that these men will not get away with the disgusting acts they have performed and the psychological damage they have created.