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Drink
Why the double standard?
What really puzzles me is how drunkeness is used completely differently by media and courts when it comes to the victim and alleged perpetrator - when a woman has been drinking she becomes more responsible for what happened to her, as she put herself in a vulnerable position and is a less reliable witness due to her intoxication; but for the man, the more he has drunk the less responsible he is deemed to be for his behaviour - drinking is taken to be an acceptable excuse.
I can't get my head around why it is women's task to avoid and prevent something which men do - and given that 10% of reported rapes (and given that so few are reported it's probably much more) are of men, by men; why aren't there similar pressures for men to protect themselves?! (Obviously I don't think it is the victims' task to protect themselves, whatever their gender; but if we're going to be unfair we may as well be fair about it!)
How can we change this? Given that the government has scrapped compusory sex education and refuses to include issues like rape and domestic violence on the national curriculum how are we get the message through that raping someone is not OK?
Author: Clare, Female, London
Date: 02/07/2010
Replies to this post
I understand what you mean. I remember when I approached the local police to report that I had been sexually assaulted, during my interview the constable asked me if the perpetrator had been drinking. I remember being upset and saying that I didn't think it made a difference. I later got a phone call telling me that he wasn't going to pursue the investigation because my actions were too "suspicious" and that my being incredibly intoxicated didn't excuse MY actions. Talk about a double standard!
Author: Undisclosed, Female, Canada
Date: 12/04/2011
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.”