Blog Post 7

Hannah Dickie

3/20/15

Blog Post 7

Rape and Fear

            Today in class we discussed the case of Rihanna and Chris Brown. Chris Brown physically assaulted Rihanna and some people blamed this incident on Rihanna. They said well she was talking to other people, or well she gave him an STD. Is that any reason to punch someone you supposedly love in the face? In today’s society somehow the blame always goes from the person who was the actual abuser to the victim. Well her skirt was to short, she was flirting, she pretty much asked for it. This doesn't make any sense, as far as I know no girl ever is asking to be beat or raped. In the society we live in it’s always the women’s fault for being to sexual and causing this to happen. Maybe if we taught people to respect women and it’s not okay to rape or hit instead of teaching girls they need to cover up and not be to flirty this problem wouldn't exist. In my high school last year a girl who was a sophomore and a senior, captain of the hockey team were at a party together both had been drinking and they ended up sleeping together. Of course because its high school once Monday came around everyone knew. The girl was so upset because she didn't mean to do it, it just happened. But pretty much most of the school was talking about her like it was all her. She couldn't turn to anyone for help because she was being told she would ruin his hockey career and the hockey team wouldn't make it into the play offs without him. She was pretty much forced to remain silent. It was talked about for about a week until people slowly started to forget about it and the next “big” story happened. I still couldn't believe it though that people were actually putting all the blame on her, I mean it does take two people to do it. But no one ever said anything to the boy because he couldn't do anything bad he’s too good for that. Hopefully in the near future if something like this happens people won’t put all the blame on the victim and actually blame the person doing the crime.

            Another thing we talked about was how women are always having to be super observant to what’s around her for fear of being the next target. From a young age were taught to stay away from strangers and to yell and run to get away from bad guys. As boys get older they slowly stop worrying about that because eventually their going to be able to stand up and defend themselves. However for girls that fear of being targeted never really goes away especially for girls my size (4’11). I could never defend myself from someone twice the size of me. I would try my hardest but in the end they could probably just push me and I would fall over. My boyfriend is a 6’2 hockey player so when I’m with him I can kind of let my guard down because I don’t think anyone would really try to mess with him. However I’m still watching my surroundings to make sure were not being followed. Whenever were driving (especially at night) and we drive past a bigger guy or a group of guys I always lock the car doors, and my boyfriend just laughs at me and thinks it’s just something stupid I do. He doesn't understand that it’s a habit I have from being a commuter and having to drive alone. I don’t know when someone is just going for a walk or if someone’s going to try to get in my car. He doesn't have to think about those things because for one he’s huge and could take people out but two because he’s a guy and has never had to think about someone trying to jump him. It’s sad that just because I’m a smaller size women I always have to be prepared for the worst and ready to defend myself at any second of the day.