ONE NEED only an overview of classical history to know that sexual violence against women is not new. The rape of the Sabine women and the rape of Lucretia were both foundational events in Roman history.They signified the founding of Rome and spurred the transition from the time of Roman kings to the Roman Republic, respectively. In antiquity and traditionally, women have been helpless against the wiles of aggressive, lustful men. But last week at Take Back the Night (TBTN), hosted by Feminism is for Everyone (FIFE), women and men together spoke powerfully in a series of events to tell the University community that women are helpless no more.
Although both men and women were encouraged to share their stories of sexual violence at the Speak Out last week, I will concentrate only on sexual violence against women, though sensitive to the fact that it affects men, too.
Many radical feminists claim that sexual violence against women is a symptom of a patriarchal society. Because of the supposed power structures in place that give men a disproportionate amount of institutional power, equity is not enough. Revolution is in order. Instead, I want suggest that what we need is not more gender neutrality, but less. When proper relations between the sexes are firmly established and codes of conduct are ingrained in cultural mores, we will facilitate a decrease in violence against women.
I am not one who claims that all sexual violence statistics are exaggerated so that feminists can raise the flag higher in their man-hating campaign. Even if one or two studies are exaggerated, it is pure delusion to maintain that there is not a real problem with sexual violence.
While sexual violence may never totally disappear, it is important to start where we are. What of, for example, a scantly dressed, drunk girl passed out in a fraternity house? Sadly, it's not an unusual scene on any college campus. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network National Network, 38 percent of reported rapes are perpetrated by a friend or acquaintance. Also, the University Health Promotion Campaign posits that, "64.9 percent of UVA students usually make sure if their friends have been drinking, they are not left alone with a stranger." In the remaining 35 percent of cases, it is not hard to imagine a drunken night gone terribly wrong.
And yet, women, at least in part, go to parties and wear revealing clothing for male attention. Whether they'll admit it or not, partying with male friends, having a man buy you a drink, and even occasionally going home with a cute pursuer sums up the after-hour goals of many collegiate females. Even the creepy guys add some flavor to the evening and make for a good laugh in the morning. Granted, girls will not go out without their girlfriends, but if partying consisted of "girls' night" every single night, there would be far less incentive for it. By the same token, when men party they are in search of female attention, and, probably to a greater extent, in search of sex. An all-male party is derided in colloquial language as a "sausage fest," referring to the overabundance of male genitalia. This is basically the dating scene and it is not always so innocent.
If women plan to do something about sexual violence, it cannot solely be through an emotionally healing confession hour. There must be collective, concerted action to tone down our sexualized culture by behaving more moderately and dressing more modestly.
It is my sneaking suspicion, too, that if women demand more respect, in words and in actions, they will receive it.
Among the first demands of TBTN was, "the right [of women] to move freely in their communities at day and night without harassment and sexual assault." If this legitimate right is demanded alongside the right to wear whatever you want and drink as much as you want, it is naïve and futile. I am not saying that men have no agency or even diminished agency in cases of rape when a woman is dressed like inappropriately or drunk. Of course men have agency. They are ultimately culpable for acts of sexual violence against women. As Carly Romeo, current publicity officer for FIFE said in an e-mail, "If the person(s) who sexually assaulted [a woman] hadn't done so, then [she] wouldn't have been sexually assaulted." But we cannot view the problem of sexual violence in isolation from other (very relevant) cultural phenomena.
Sexual violence will not cease entirely just because women take it upon themselves to behave more modestly and responsibly.But I am just optimistic enough to believe that it will help individually and culturally. Every avenue towards reducing sexual violence, whether an awareness week, a Speak Out, a lesson in personal responsibility, a revitalized and genuine dating scene or rehabilitation for offenders, counts.
Christa Byker's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at cbyker@cavalierdaily.com.
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