Have your say
Dress
Asking for it or up for it?
The issue regarding blaming women who get raped for dressing indecently is not just one fold as many of you're claiming, its two-fold.
The first issue deals with the act of rape. People who rape women are the worst cowards on earth. They're to be punished/executed according to the law whilst dignity, respect, and honour of innocent victim must be restored and her info must be held in strict privacy. Not to mention she must be compensated by the state.
The second issue involving the dress-code of women is a completely different topic. Just like we have Shariah laws against hate-speach, psychological abuse,
etc. and strict punishments for those who incite others to violence/commit crimes, there are similar laws in Western constitutions as well.
The laws that specifically deal with dress-code of both genders is called the Public Indecency Act that outlines what considered 'private parts' of both genders and which parts of body is it permissible to reveal in public. Indecency laws in most western countries dictate that women's hips, breasts, and vagina must be covered. Whereas in Islamic traditions, which derives its rulings from the Quran and Sunnah, state that womens entire body must be covered except for feet, hands and face, and men should be covered from the navel to the knees.
Even western laws clearly state that it is a crime to dress indecently and recognizes the fact that it arouses not just men, but also women, and the act of dressing indecently encourages civil disobedience, and this crime is punishable by law. In the US alone for ex, maryland has a three year jail term with a few thousand dollars fine whereas another state has a 15 day jail-term with $1k fine. So, it varies by state and depends on their religious/secular affiliations because these laws in the US are either derived from Bible based or man-made secular laws.
Having said that, the argument that some of you espouse that implies how women should never be held accountable for dressing immodestly in case of rape...is essentially a rebellious Feminist argument that challenges religious based male authoritarian laws affecting the female gender, and attempts to reinterpret and redefine those laws from their own womens-only perspective.
All constitutions in all parts of the world, western or Eastern, recognize Public Indecency laws and define dress-codes for both genders. And almost all religious traditions mandate it as well. However, the irony and hypocrisy of western critics who criticize Islamic regimes, Iranian/Saudi/Taliban and others, for enforcing Public Indecency Laws and punishing people with 40 lashes and considering it barbaric. Just as Western countries have the right to enforce their laws, similarly muslim countries have similar rights, and UN declaration of Human rights also acknowledge it. It is just sheer hypocrisy to deny others the right to practice and implement laws according to their own religious/cultural tradition.
To the Iranian/Taliban /Saudis the mode of punishment through imprisonment for years, which has far more grave psychological/emotional consequences adn not to mention longer jail terms in 10*12 jails effectively destroy peoples life, are far more 'barbaric'than letting people go after a few lashes.
Therefore, It shocks me to see people who deny the fact that indecent/immodest dressing, particularly of women, stimulates men into acts of civil disobedience. From an Islamic standpoint, hitting on women, complementing their appearence, and even touching 'em, and extraneously cases of rape occur, would all be considered crimes. These cases of abuse are not just confined to physical assaults, but also verbal/emotional assaults and they take place in far greater numbers that many of you have ignored.
Having said that, people who still think rape cant be caused by indecent exposure of body need to get their heads out of sand and see reality for once.
questions? contact me thru facebook Pauline Baxter
Author: Pauline Baxter, Female, Glasgow
Date: 29/06/2010
Replies to this post
I didn't understand 100% of what you said, as your post was pretty convoluted and hard to follow. But there are a few quotes I wish to address:
"Having said that, the argument that some of you espouse that implies how women should never be held accountable for dressing immodestly in case of rape...is essentially a rebellious Feminist argument that challenges religious based male authoritarian laws affecting the female gender, and attempts to reinterpret and redefine those laws from their own womens-only perspective."
For the most part, the western world is changing into a place where women's voices are encouraged and heard. We don't live in a time where men have all the power and influence and make the laws concerning how women should behave with no input from the women their laws affect. Thus, women can and do advocate for themselves and for other women when their concerns are not otherwise heard. The idea that women aren't asking to be raped because they are wearing revealing clothing is only a "rebellious feminist argument" if you believe that women shouldn't have power and influence in society and should simply believe and do what they are told. I would also add that victim blaming isn't a "woman's only perspective", it should be a universal perspective.
"It is just sheer hypocrisy to deny others the right to practice and implement laws according to their own religious/cultural tradition."
A lot of your post had to do with dress codes, and the different dress codes of different countries. Since this campaign is based in Scotland it could be applied to Scotland, the UK, and maybe the US, Canada, and other parts of Europe. Generally, these countries have laws that require women to cover their breasts and vaginas, though some countries are more lax than others. This campaign is not about women who violate decency laws, but about women who dress within these limits but still reveal a lot of their bodies, and are thought to be "asking for it" because they are wearing revealing clothing.
"Having said that, people who still think rape cant be caused by indecent exposure of body need to get their heads out of sand and see reality for once."
The idea that rape can be "caused" by exposure of the body is a rape apology because it implies that the rape survivor caused the rape to happen. The reality is that the RAPIST caused the rape to happen. HE is the one that forced himself upon her. The blame should lie with him and only with him. I could walk from one end of town to the other with nothing but a pair of high heels on and not be raped. Or I could be at home in loose fitting clothing and get raped. The difference is the presence of a rapist. Contrary to popular belief, men are not born with a rape gene and are not without self control. Rapists have no respect for women and thus do not believe that they should have to control themselves or respect a woman's body or soul, and that has NOTHING to do with what she is wearing. A man that doesn't respect women doesn't respect women at all. Choice of dress won't change that.
Author: Chelsey Worth, Female, Canada
Date: 03/07/2010
Have your say
Natasha, Female from Glasgow“Rape seems to be the only crime where it's seen as ok to put the victim on trial.”
Joss, Female from Connecticut“Short skirts don't cause rape. Rapists cause rape”
Helzo, Female from Renfrewshire“About time something like this was shown on TV. Hopefully it will make everyone realise there cannot be any excuse for rape - EVER.”