For anyone who has read this article (Huge, massive, billboard-sized trigger warning), let me just say that I am so very sorry. I am sorry that you, who may or may not be a victim of sexual assault, but if you're not has probably been on the other end of sexual violence or attempted sexual violence at some point in your life, had to read some scumbag's self-justifying rape apologism, all the time wondering whether this made YOU less safe in a world with these men, and those who publish them; whether this meant YOU should feel empowered by your sexual assault, even though you feel like ice inside instead; whether this meant that the world is really as hostile as this website where you used to feel at home.
What really got me was how very much like an assault it felt to read THAT piece on THAT blog. To look at the headline "American guy in Paris freed from idea of consent" and think that Jezebel was going to tear him apart. Then to click the link, and start reading a first person narrative of someone advocating unwanted touching and kissing of women in bars as "liberating" (for the m-fing women!) and getting a girl drunk as embracing life, and wondering when this clever satire was going to turn and reveal how wrong-headed this sleazeball logic was. And then to get to the bottom and realize that none of it was a joke? That one of my favorite websites had just actually given a platform to a rape apologist, without unpacking his argument, offering a counterpoint or at least warning its readership that the website had done a complete 180 on what kind of content to publish, and they should probably take their morning coffee and bagel elsewhere?
Read this comment thread for an incredibly sorry explanation for said behavior, and some very articulate explanations as to why said sorry explanation is complete and total b***sh**. Read Sady's historical take on said b***sh** here.
Then please go check out one of the other excellent feminist websites that are out there. Fighting the a**holes. Instead of publishing them.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
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I suggest that anyone who is bothered by the article not visit Jezebel on Monday. Not even once. Many commenters have promised to quit the site for good, but at least a day off is warranted and should be doable by all. On that day, I would like to invite anyone who likes to post on femonomics about how you have personally been affected by a lack of formal, protected, free consent. Submit guest posts to femonomics at gmail dot com.
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