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From: jorge@parallel.UUCP (Jorge Gustavson)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: How to stop it.
Message-ID: <259@parallel.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Sep-84 14:07:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: parallel.259
Posted: Fri Sep 21 14:07:43 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Sep-84 06:17:49 EDT
Lines: 29



	I agree with Ed Turner (astrovax) that self-defense techniques
(NOT martial arts) is a good idea.  Rape is a crime of domination and
humiliation,  not sex (although sexually linked, in some way).  Younger
women (might) have a greater incidence of rape as a population (perhaps,
as someone suggested) because they are more inexperienced and vulnerable,
hence tempting targets for sickos who need to get off on this kind of thing.

	Another step in the right direction is to RADICALLY alter the way
police and society deals with both rapists and their victims.  Some have
suggested MUCH stiffer penalties; I am not sure if that works.  (Women 
Against Rape in Santa Cruz claims that peer confrontation in a public
setting is more effective than prosecution, especially in discouraging
repeated rape behavior).  Some have suggested rehabilitation (as a sickness);
again, ???

	One thing is clear, however.  We must remove the burden of guilt
from the victims, and encourage women to break with current societal
conditioning to the point where a rapist must contemplate the possibility
of being SEVERELY injured when attacking a so-called "weak and dominatible"
woman, on the streets, or in her home.

------------
Jorge Gustavson
{ucbvax!sun,sri-unix}!parallel!jorge

"And if you stop and think about it, you won't beleive it's true,
That all the love you've been giving has all been meant for you."