I believe the little girl was walking and the guy came up to her and told her he had a gun and took her to an isolated place where her proceeded to sexually assault her. When he saw her he knew that it would be a matter of Power, which he had over and used to his advantage since he was bigger than she was and older. Of the six types of gendered violence described in our text I think that this is an example of both Gender Intimidation (pg. 285) and Sexual Assault (pg. 286).
This story is an example of Gender Intimidation because when he approached her he made her feel frightened and unsafe. Prior to and when the sexual assault occurred she may have felt inferior to him because of the fact that she is just a little girl who didn't stand a chance at fighting back. Afterward, the little girl, as even older women do, will feel humiliated and sometimes place the blame on themselves.
I think it is also an example of Sexual Assault because it was a rape which is "one type of sexual assault". It included a "sexual activity that occurs without the informed consent of at least one of the people involved."
When I read Chapter 12, I couldn't believe that it said according to a legal definition, "a man or woman who is forced to have sex with another man has not been raped". To me that doesn't make any sense or is coming from someone who has never been sexually assaulted or has a family member that has been through this ordeal. I think anytime someone is forced to engage in or commit a sexual activity that they do not want to do or are not aware of, like when intoxicated, should be considered rape.
Ilia
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I heard about this story to on the radio actually going to work today. It’s a horrible situation. It seems this is all we hear about in the news these days. Priest molesting boys and older guys molesting and raping girls. It gets to a point where we as a society need to draw the line and do something about this. More often now is it publicized then it was back in the day. You make two valid points about Gender Intimidation and Sexual Assault. Both are two major things that go on in many of these cases. An 11-year-old girl cannot do much when a grown man is they’re trying to rape her. She feels powerless and defenseless. I am sure many times when the victim tries to fight back and it can end up worse! I totally agree with you as well. If someone is forced to have any contact with someone else without there consent that is some kind of assault charge. I remember in my one class we talked about this one time and a kid says well a person cannot be force to do anything they don’t want to do, they just use that excuse. I couldn’t believe someone could say such a thing, because many times a person has no choice but to do what the person is telling him or her to do. It gets to a point where this world is getting to be a horrible place and I hear older people say how much is changed. Most people can’t even let their kids outside by themselves anymore!
ReplyDeleteIllia, the best part about this story was when residents of the neighborhood sought out and caught the alleged rapist, beat the living crap out of him and held him there for the police to arrive. The rape itself was sickening and we hear it all too often and a sometimes the poor child even ends up dead. When my daughters were around 10 and 11, I used to actually cry when I would hear a story like this and try to imagine what my beautiful little innocent girls would endure if it happened to them (I am getting choked up just writing this). I am a firm believer that if found guilty, this sick individual should be castrated as part of his sentencing. Although I know there are times, just as with serial killers, there exists serious psychological problems with these individuals, I do believe that society’s attitude towards women and this screwed up perception of men that they have the right to “take” sex from women is at the root of the problem. I was an undergraduate at Rider, living on campus, from 1979 – 1984 and date rape was one of those dirty little secrets on campus. I only wanted to be with women who wanted to be with me. I believed then just as I do now – that NO means NO – and it doesn’t matter how far it has gone before NO is said! I could never understand why any man would force himself on a woman (including a wife) or take advantage of a girl incapable of making that decision. As you put it and I agree – Rape is Rape.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThis story is so horrible that I just don’t want to believe it. I never watch the news, have no clue what’s going on in this world. The news is just too depressing and upsetting and when I have a few minutes to watch TV I rather watch something light and funny. What is wrong with this guy that he sexually assaulted an 11 year old girl? There are so many sick people out there. I agree that he probably felt inferior to her since he was so much bigger than her. The legal definition of rape is so wrong, what was that written in 1950? I can’t believe if a man or woman who is forced to have sex with another man is not considered rape? I agree that when anyone is forced to have sexual relations with anyone else it is definitely rape. I know my kids are never leaving the house. It's a shame to think of society as such a horrible place.