My friend said, “It’s not her fault, but …” and I gasped.
In the wake of four rapes and one sexual assault reported at Cal State San Marcos this September, and the filing of a civil case alleging gang rape at Cornell University, chatter on every platform has been plentiful — informed and otherwise.
None of it is surprising. Those who are enlightened grasp the opportunity to educate the public.
“We must teach people to honor affirmative consent, but states’ definitions differ.”
“We must provide more security around residence halls, but that won’t stop rape by acquaintances.”
“We must help survivors seek justice, but so many are harmed by the process.”
Those who are not enlightened grasp the opportunity to continue the normalization of sexual crimes, knowingly or not.
“Well, what was she wearing?”
“Was she drinking or drugging?”
“Did she say ‘yes’ at first?”
“Why did she even go to that frat party?”
“She should have known better.”
No, not surprising. What is surprising is to hear someone presumably enlightened say, “It’s not her fault, but …”
A response repeated by many.
“It’s not her fault, but why would she put herself in such a dangerous position?”
“It’s not his fault, but what does he expect, getting sloshed at a bar?”
“It’s not their fault, but sex-crazed frat boys are dangerous.”
“But” is such a powerful word, powerful because it can negate whatever precedes it.
In translation, “but” means:
“It’s her fault. She put herself in that dangerous position.”
“It’s his fault. What does he expect, getting sloshed at a bar?”
“It’s their fault. They should know ‘sex-crazed frat boys’ are dangerous.”
“Frat boys”?
Sexual assault is not a “boys will be boys” meme, no matter how many of them litter social media. Sexual assault is a product of our culture.
According to the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, conducted in 2023-24, disturbingly close to half of women in the United States experience sexual violence in their lifetimes (45.1%), and 21% report attempted or completed rape. More than 1 in 6 men in the United States experience sexual violence (16.9%). An estimated 2 out of 3 rapes go unreported.
What should we do? Teach potential victims how to avoid becoming victims? How? Sexual crimes are not about sex; they are about exerting power over another. Anyone — young and attractive or not — is a potential victim.
Can we teach dangerous frat boys not to be dangerous? After countless generations of teaching “boys will be boys,” how do we undo that learning? Is it too late once they hit the frat house porch? Is it too late to learn respect and empathy?
Enlightened folks know we must do something more than blame the victims and protect promising young men’s lives. Sexual violence is devastating, traumatizing, even sometimes fatal.
But…
Kit-Bacon Gressitt lectures in women’s, gender and sexuality studies at California State University San Marcos.
