This past week we have come across a handful of articles that are all in some way related to victim blaming and rape culture. Here is what we have compiled so far, AND IT IS ONLY WEDNESDAY! Victim blaming should not be tolerated by anyone- no matter if they are a billion dollar company (Disney) or the #1 ranked female tennis player in the world (Serena Williams).
http://www.xojane.com/it-happened-to-me/disney-rape This article is what got us started with our “victim blaming” theme this week. “It’s difficult to ask every person that reads this article to stop supporting a company that is so pervasive in pop culture (though be my guest, as they say). Nevertheless, I have a feeling that with enough publicity over how poorly their company handles sexual assault accusations, Disney might actually do something proactive about it. So if you would, share this article wherever your online presence may be. We’ll see what happens.”
http://jezebel.com/it-happened-to-her-xojane-lied-and-said-she-was-raped-514150648 Jezebel later followed up with this story which stirred even more of a controversy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/18/serena-williams-steubenville-rape-victim_n_3462519.html In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, tennis star Serena Williams was (oddly) ask to discuss the Steubenville rape case. Her comments to the reporter were shocking and quite disturbing coming from an international mega sports star.
http://serenawilliams.com/blog/statement-2/ This is Serena’s official apology directly from her personal website.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2013/06/19/serena-williams-steubenville-rape-victim-shouldnt-have-put-herself-in-that-position/?hpid=z3 Full story from the Washington Post
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/06/18/cnn-airs-report-on-domestic-assault-victim-she/194497 Last week British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and her husband, Charles Saatchi were seen at a restaurant engaging in what appears to be domestic assault. Photographs of Saatchi with his hands around Lawson’s neck have surfaced on the internet. During a CNN report on the case one reporter referred to Lawson as being seen as “sort of subservient”. Twitter users followed up stating that Nigella Lawson’s silence on the situation “makes her look weak”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/10124010/Nigella-Lawson-yes-it-can-happen-to-her.html ”No victim lets it happen – but perhaps we do.” This article is a bit more empowering and sheds light on how celebrities are capable of experiencing the same thing that every day people go through. It also questions why the bystanders took pictures and stayed silent while witnessing this clear display of domestic assault.
This is only three of the many, many stories of victim blaming. That isn’t to say there are not more out there. Feel free to share your own stories and/or articles you have found pertaining to Victim Blaming and Rape Culture.
-AFW
