I once had an online conversation with a man who did not feel rape was an act of sexism, even though most rapes are committed by men against women. He said that men who rape are just sick in the head and it had nothing to do with sexism. I told him this:

Perhaps if you consider it racially you might understand this viewpoint. Look at the lynching or tarring and feathering of black men and how it was a de facto sport at one time in America. One might argue that these weren’t racist white people who committed these acts but sick, devilish people, and that is true (because you have to be sick in the head to actually pour hot tar on somebody or hang them just for fun) but it is also true that these acts were encouraged and supported because the victims in question were black. Racist acts of physical violence including murder are supported in a culture where people are discriminated against because of the color of their skin. It’s like that with rape/sexual assault. One might argue that these weren’t sexist men doing this but sick, devilish people, and that is true (because you have to be sick in the head to sexually assault anybody) but it is also true that acts of sexual assault including rape are supported in a system where people are discriminated against based on their sex.

This blog entry written by Trula. Thanks for visiting Seed & Flame!

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