I’m not so young or unaware that people often say really stupid
things. I’ve been known to say stupid things to and I’m sure everyone
knows someone who speaks without thinking or just says the daftest
things. But picture this, you know you are a public figure; you might
even be running for a prominent political or religious position, then
where the hell is the thought process that filters the crap that comes
out of your mouth. Really if you are looking to be in a position of
influence or high public visibility there definitely needs to be a
very distinct brain to mouth control. I know I shouldn’t be but I’m
really bothered by the latest crap I’m hearing being discussed about
legitimate rape. I’m sorry but there is no such thing as an
illegitimate rape, a fucking rape, is still a fucking rape.
Picture this: you’re in a club or bar or wherever you go to hook up
with or meet people. Let’s assume for this scenario you are both the
legal age for consensual sex and alcohol. You see someone that you’re
interested in and they seem to be interested in you too.
Unsurprisingly you both lean in kiss, have a few more drinks than you
ought to and before you know it you’ve gone home together. The
question is how much of that decision has been influenced by alcohol
or any other intoxicating substance, and would you have done this
sober?
Scenario 1: After having had sex, do you turn to face the other person
with guilt/remorse/disgust? Whatever the emotion, regretting the
actions that lead you here let’s say you turn away, hoping the other
person will have left by the time morning dawns. Come morning you wake
to find the other person having sex with you again. You protest, try
to pull away, but your forced back down, and told to enjoy it like you
did the night before. Afraid, yet regretful you lie back to await your
fate.
Scenario 2: Once you get home, you go to the bathroom to freshen up,
and you’re a smart person, so while you are splashing water on your
face you think about the consequences of your actions. Do you have any
idea who his person is, do they have a STD, a criminal record, or
maybe you’ve just changed your mind, might be the person you see in
the light of day looks and feels different from the person in the
darkness of the club a few hours ago. You tell the person you’ve
changed your mind, and to leave. Instead the person ignores your words
and continues nonetheless for the task you both come here for. Maybe
the person is too drunk or sexual to understand what it is they are
doing to you. Maybe the person doesn’t care.
Scenario 3: You are married. You’ve had an awful day at work, and you
just want to go to bed and pretend this day never happened. Before
you’ve fallen asleep your partner comes from home, and initiates sex,
you say no, that you’re not in the mood. Your partner doesn’t care,
they want to have sex and as the lawful partner you are required to
give it up. Your partner forces themselves onto you and you give in as
you don’t have the will or energy to fight today, the day has drained
you completely. You oblige unwilling or willing, it’s irrelevant,
truth is you didn’t want this, not today.
In my world, and realistically (it should be in everyone else’s world
too), all three scenarios lead to rape. The issue of legitimacy really
doesn’t come into it. Legal partner, or random stranger, rape is rape.
No should mean no, whatever the circumstance. And people should be
able to say no, and know that the no should carry weight.
The great tragedy about human interaction is there always depth to
people, misunderstandings, miscommunications, regrets, and people
changing their minds. I read someone’s article the other day and she
made the most horrific statement, and whilst it is horrific it is hard
to deny how truth it was. “There are also going to always be people
who are capable of and will carry out sexual assault or rape”.
And it’s those people who should be prosecuted to the fullest and
hardest extend of the law. So yeah, when someone who doesn’t
understand how consensual sex or rape works, it does make me mad.
Really, really mad. I never have, and probably never will suffer fools
gladly.
Anyways final thought - maybe it’s important to remember or understand
that if someone is intoxicated, they are NOT CAPABLE of consenting in
any circumstances. If someone you are sexually active with is
intoxicated, let me make it clear you are taking advantage of them.
OK.. vent over.