Responses to rape

Press, 25 May 1984, Page 12

Responses to rape

Sir,—P. Clements (May 19) implies that as more and more women assert themselves and strive for increased independence the incidence of rape has increased. Following this train of thought, Vernon Wilkinson says that radical feminism is making women to be seen as competitors of men instead of complementary. From these two letters the implication is that if women are going to continue to move out of their “place” in society, it is acceptable for men to rape them until they see sense, and move back into the submissive “complementary” role. — Yours, etc., LEONNE WATSON, KEVIN WATSON. May 21, 1984.

Sir,—P. Clements (May 19) says that because rape is a sexual form of assault, we need not help children to grow up better people by teaching “sexuality.” Children usually obey and copy their parents first. With so many marriages breaking up, so many fathers incestuous, so many violent, unloving, neurotic, psychotic, bitter or dishonest parents, huge numbers of children need something better than moral teachings to improve our nation’s mental health and happiness. The Johnson Report considers a wide range of behaviours and encourages an informed, thoughtful and responsible choice. Part was a reasonable survey of sexual behaviour that led the “concerned” parents, often from ignorance, to move to have that report suppressed. Sexual antagonism is an element in male domination. If male violence is a reaction to losing thatjiomination, women are

still the victims. Nothing really has changed in this area. — Yours, etc., SUSAN TAYLOR. May 20, 1984.

Sir,—Having read Jacqueline Steincamp’s articles on rape, I was surprised by the timidity of her approach in writing them. What really surprised me was the response from P. Clements and Gary Fiso (May 19). Rape is not a crime in the ordinary sense. Anyone, at any time, can be assaulted or robbed, but only women can be raped. That is the intrinsic difference between “ordinary” crime, and that of rape. Unfortunately men can not seem to come to terms with this notion. I once attended a conference where the guest speaker was from a rape crisis centre. She said that there was conclusive proof that where courses on human relationships were taught in schools the incidence of rape declined markedly. It appears that in this male-domin-ated society we men are scared to allow change to occur, in case we in turn have to change ourselves.— Yours, etc.,

PETER W. KENNEDY. May 19, 1984.

Sir,—Vernon Wilkinson (May 21), has followed P. Clements (May 19) in attempting to blame feminism for an increase in the incidence of rape, yet it is feminism that has created the climate in which public awareness of rape is being raised, its many myths dispelled, and rape crisis centres set up to help the women victims of this violent male behaviour. It is long past time that we men gave up the private approval of the act of rape that goes with our public condemnation, and began to chal-

lenge those ideas and views in ourselves and each other that degrade women. The ideas of male superiority and sexual conquest are causes of rape. They must be countered by education and discussion among men about human sexuality and our attitudes towards women. Men must take on this responsibility to change ourselves, for it is we who rape.—Yours, etc., A. S. WHITE. May 21, 1984.