Last spring, AU celebrated national Men Can Stop Rape Week here at AU. It was a moving experience for a number of students and shed light on a topic that I would hope most of us have not experienced! But instead of Men Can Stop Rape "Week," maybe the "week" should be left off.
During the week, T-shirts and posters were displayed about the campus in the main buildings, lounges and food court. Several dozen white T-shirts painted with interpretations by victims about the effects of rape were hung on the walls. Some included messages like "I am 14 and I am strong" or "rape hurts" with tears being shed or just pictures of sad girls. Sadly, I overheard some guys comment "Gee, seeing the T-shirts makes me feel bad about being a man."
Allan G. Johnson, who holds a doctorate in sociology, wrote in his book, "The Forest and the Trees," that "When women [...] talk about how sexism affects them, individualistic thinking encourages men to hear this as a personal accusation: 'If women are oppressed, then I'm an evil oppressor who wants to oppress them.' Since no man wants to see himself as a bad person, and since most men probably don't feel oppressive toward women, men may feel unfairly attacked." More simply perhaps, that comment alone in response to the T-shirt display separates the men from the boys - the men able to recognize and acknowledge the message being conveyed with empathy for the victims and the boys continuing their macho rants against women.
One guy commented that he thought the T-shirt painted with the girl crying bloody tears was "going a little too far." This column is not meant to point out rape statistics or quote psychological findings from experts. The T-shirts alone should speak clearly and loudly to all, more than any expert. Rape is a vicious, violating, bloody and, as frequently heard in the news, a fatal act. Perhaps it would have even been more compelling if there had been blood not only in the tears, but also from the vagina. The display should have brought tears to all of our eyes even trying to imagine the pain this one individual was expressing.
There were also posters displayed on campus with a man and woman and the caption "When she asks me to stop, I stop." Once again, a passer-by macho boy reacted with "he must have been doing something pretty bad for her to be like ooooh, stop now." Who is to say how far is too far? The message is plain and clear: If you have any respect for the person you are with, then you will hear what they are saying and comply with their wishes. The poster shouldn't have to display a green light or red light and list acceptable and unacceptable activities between the two.
Again, this column isn't about rape statistics or in-depth prevention strategies like self-defense classes or avoiding being out and about alone in the dark but rather to encourage students on our campus to grow in thought before they speak. Rape works both ways. T-shirts by men who have been victims should also be considered. Hopefully, the Rape Awareness Week will have enough impact to last all year.
Rachel Lincoln is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and the women's issues columnist for The Eagle. You can reach her at edpage@theeagleonline.com.
This is Rachel Lincoln's last column for The Eagle. She will be taking over AU Tango next year and looks forward to putting all of her time and effort into the club. If you would like to apply for her position or if you would like to write another column for The Eagle please e-mail Editorial Page Editor Charlie Szold at CSzold@theeagleonline.com.
