Comments on: WAM! Panel Summary

By: Madeleine

Madeleine — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:32:33 +0000

Hey I just wanted to say I really enjoyed the panel, I thought you guys did a great job.

By: Cara

Cara — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:05:06 +0000

For the record, it was actually a woman who asked this question.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:57:00 +0000

EKSwitaj:

You’re right

sadly I do understand however that most men, i.e. who are not the well educated pro-feminist type, won’t understand why they didn’t include men on the panel – they’ll just conclude that it was discriminatory and that as a result, will see all of what was said and all conclusions of the panel as biased and they won’t let it sway them

By: Being Amber Rhea » Blog Archive » links for 2009-04-09

Being Amber Rhea » Blog Archive » links for 2009-04-09 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:31:24 +0000

[...] WAM! Panel Summary : The Curvature "One method used to illustrate the way that rape is actually not only accepted in popular entertainment, but in many ways more accepted than consensual sex, was to use the MPAA’s ratings system. The kiss of death rating NC-17 is hardly ever given for films on account of violence, but regularly threatened with regards to consensual sex. One example used was the case of Boys Don’t Cry, which was threatened with an NC-17 rating not for the violent gang rape scene, but for a scene that depicts the wiping of the mouth with the back of the hand after performing consensual oral sex." (tags: rape culture rapeapologism feminism wam panels violence sexism society misogyny) [...]

By: Aunti Disestablishmentarian

Aunti Disestablishmentarian — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:36:34 +0000

Hey- I was there, and I have to say THANK YOU. This was a fantastic and informative panel– even for those who know the drill. The focus on prevention was invaluable, and all four of you were brilliant and engaging.

The comments were somewhat indicative of much of my experience at the conference: Kind of 101, which surprised the hell out of me.

Glad I went, though. Despite many frustrating moments, there were an equal number of inspiring moments.

By: EKSwitaj

EKSwitaj — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:26:15 +0000

Crystal: not all foxes have eaten chickens, but they’re a lot more likely to eat chickens than other chickens are.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:36:35 +0000

“the panel was on women who are raped by men – you don’t allow the fox into the hen house”

Not all men rape. It was this panel’s desision to have a female panel, and that’s fine, but I think your metaphor is inappropriate in this case — not all men prey on women.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:36:34 +0000

I’m glad Ashley didn’t answer the “why are there no men on the panel” question

the panel was on women who are raped by men – you don’t allow the fox into the hen house

By: Becka

Becka — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:49:04 +0000

You know what, I thought you did a really good job moderating the comments regarding violence against men. While we definitely have to remain open minded, I think it is totally reasonable (and responsible) to make that statement that this (rape and violence against women) is what we’re talking about right now and this is where our focus should be. It seems like often we get scared that we’ll percieved as one sided and so we preempt that with the ‘to be sure’ type statement, when sadly that often derails what we’re really meant to be talking about. I think it is safe to say that the majority of the people at the session are against all violence, and while it is important to recognise that it doesn’t only happen to women, we experience it overwhelmingly more so and that not only is it ok, but it is imperative that we focus on ways to end that.

By: Marcella Chester

Marcella Chester — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:57:08 +0000

Thanks, Cara, for the summary. For me the questions on not reporting rape highlights an area I only mentioned very briefly by giving the title of the book, Cry Rape.

This is the book about the woman who reported stranger rape in Madison WS, was coerced into recanting and charged as if she were the criminal. Only because she refused to go away was the forensic evidence in her case processed. This evidence matched a registered sex offender later rightfully convicted of raping her.

Thankfully, the criminal justice system is changing as laws have changed and some law enforcement agencies have abandoned bigotry against those who report rape. If I were raped in my current home of Rochester, MN I would definitely report, but I would only do so with a victim advocate at my side.

While this agency changed willingly, other agencies will only change if we follow Ashley’s example of making specific demands and refuse to go away until those systems are measurably improved.

I firmly believe that we can succeed if all of us who want rape culture to end work strategically and point out all of the illogic and falsehoods which are used to defend unjust systems.