Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sdcc7.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcc7!ma155acq From: ma155acq@sdcc7.UUCP ({|stu) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: Only a few nuts rape? (Sonia Johnson) Message-ID: <1331@sdcc7.UUCP> Date: Tue, 4-Dec-84 17:20:43 EST Article-I.D.: sdcc7.1331 Posted: Tue Dec 4 17:20:43 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 6-Dec-84 06:08:50 EST References: <10011@watmath.UUCP> <136@ihu1m.UUCP> <> <1949@nsc.UUCP> Reply-To: ma155acq@sdcc7.UUCP ({|stu) Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center Lines: 31 Summary: In article <1949@nsc.UUCP> srm@nsc.UUCP (Richard Mateosian) writes: > >Shortly before the election I heard a talk by Sonia Johnson entitled >"Why I'm Running for President". The reason was that no other candidate >reflected her point of view: all of the world's major problems arise >from the basic concept of "having power over". Our acceptance of this >concept as fundamental to all relationships from interpersonal to inter- >national grows out our society's promotion of the power of men over women. > >The principal tool for enforcing the power of men over women is terror -- >the fear of rape being just one example. Thus, all men benefit from the >fact that women fear rape (benefit in a narrow sense), and the man >who would not consider raping a woman benefits just as much as the rapist. "Benefit in a narrow sense": That's an understatement! I do not believe that average man (the non-rapist) benefits *at all* from the woman's fear of rape. The fear of rape is a disadvantage for both sides. Men have not gained their "power over women" by the use of rape (how they did it, I don't know. But I will deny that it was rape). If anything, this fear seems to be a disadvantage for men, because they can always be accused of being a "potential rapist." Especially when it comes to relationships between the two sexes. I usually find that women are more hesitant to become involved with another man because she has to decide whether he is a "potential rapist", and this is hard on the man, as well. Victor Romano ------------------------------ Who are these men of lust, greed, and glory? Rip off the mask and let's see. -SuperTramp