How to Rape Your Spouse and Get Away With It

You might find yourself in Ohio for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or to cheer on the Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena but there’s another fun thing you might want to do the next time you visit: rape your spouse and legally get away with it.

Yes. You read that correctly. Despite the fact that we are in 2017, there is still a state that does not punish spouses who commit marital rape in certain circumstances

The Ohio Revised Code defines marital rape as illegal and it is punishable as a felony. The definition of rape states that the act occurs when a defendant compels a spouse to engage in sexual intercourse against the victim’s will by “force, threat of force, or deception.” However, certain circumstances are exempt from this as seen in cases where spouses are drugged and then subject to sexual assault or intercourse.

State Rep. Greta Johnson, D-Akron, a former assistant prosecutor in Summit County, saw an issue and sought out change by introducing House Bill 97. This bill seeks to remove the exemption of marital privilege from all rape statues as well as many subsections. Ohio is one of eight states with such exemptions within rape legislature.

Supporters of the exemptions claim that House Bill 97 will create an opportunity for more false claims and find hope in the fact that a similar proposed bill did not pass two years ago.

However, Johnson continues to fight an uphill battle and is optimistic as less than a month ago, the Ohio House voted 92-2 in favor of a bill that updated domestic violence laws to allow victims of dating violence to obtain civil protection orders against their attackers.

Something that is truly shocking is the fact that not a single Republican signed on as a co-sponsor to the bill. Partisan affiliation has interfered with the rights of women and men experiencing sexual violence at the hands of their spouses. To hear that such antiquated laws are still in effect as well as have a lot of backing is disheartening. Women are forced to see their rapists roam free because of exemptions such as this which causes serious trauma and unimaginable mental stress. What’s even more unfortunate is that State Representative Greta Johnson’s commitment to this legislation will end this month as she is resigning from her position as state representative in favor of a local position. One can only hope that her leave will not lessen the already sparse discussion about this issue.

Signing off,
Joanne

How Bollywood has Contributed to Rape Culture in India

In 2015 an Australian man was accused of stalking a woman and blamed it on Bollywood. At first, I laughed and then I thought back to every movie I had ever watched and came to a shocking realization: He was absolutely right in is way of thinking.

For years, Bollywood films have normalized the hyper sexualization of women as seen in the off-plot song and dance numbers featuring a scantily clad woman who serves no other purpose than to flash some skin and act as a tease. These item girls have always been a part of every Bollywood film to the point where it has become overlooked but it wasn’t until this case come up that I started to analyze the plot of the beloved movies I had come to associate with my childhood.

Up until recently there were little to no female characters who were independent in nature and were characterized as strong. For years, women have played the love interest and are primarily driven by their male counterparts. Men are also characterized by their violence and virility. Combined with the fact that Bollywood rarely discusses issues of gender-related violence and sexual assault (a prevalent issue all across India), the obliviousness to the sensitivity of the issue (nonchalance with rape as it can be tied into comic relief), as well as the normalization of cat-calling and sexual harassment because of a woman’s choice in clothing, Indian men are raised to believe this is appropriate behavior.

When Sandesh Baliga said Bollywood movies had taught him that relentlessly pursuing women was the only way to woo them, he had a legitimate point.

Baliga’s case was an eyeopening experience for prominent figures in Bollywood who began to take action. A famous Indian actor began an campaign called MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination) and enlisted other stars to support the movement.

A short film titled “No Country for Women” took Bollywood tropes and juxtaposed them with incidents of rape and gang rape in India which hit home for many.

Pop culture and media has a glaring impact on the youth of today and that is entirely unavoidable. To raise a generation that is respectful of one’s boundaries should not prove to be so difficult but yet Indian film and television make it so. We should make it a priority to boycott misogyny in the media so that young boys and girls and learn to be better people based on what they are exposed to on a daily basis

Signing off,
Joanne

Calling all Rapists! Come Join Us at our International Meetup Day

Just when a video of a cute dog that can say ‘I love you’ restores your faith in humanity, along come the pro-rape activists. 

It’s hard to believe that anyone would be pro-rape considering you’d have to be a seriously sick person to stand by such a horrid act but that’s where Daryush Valizadeh comes in, or as the internet knows him Roosh V.

In February of 2015, Valizadeh made headlines when he proposed that rape should not be made punishable by law if done on private property.

“If rape becomes legal under my proposal, a girl will protect her body in the same manner that she protects her purse and smartphone. If rape becomes legal, a girl will not enter an impaired state of mind where she can’t resist being dragged off to a bedroom with a man who she is unsure of—she’ll scream, yell, or kick at his attempt while bystanders are still around. If rape becomes legal, she will never be unchaperoned with a man she doesn’t want to sleep with. After several months of advertising this law throughout the land, rape would be virtually eliminated on the first day it is applied.”

Valizadeh made headlines early this year when he launched an “International Meetup Day”for his supporters who are meant to gather in a covert manner in locations all around the globe. Approximately 165 meetings are schedules in 43 countries and this decision has sparked backlash from leaders all around the globe.

Mayors in the U.K, Canada, and Australia as well as petitions surpassing 50,000 signatures have called for the blogger to be banned from each respective country. Women, gay, and trans men are barred from attending such meetings.

Valizadeh has promised to “exact furious retribution upon anyone who challenges [his followers] in public” and has stated that the meetup is meant to solidify his followers as well as create friendships among them.

I remember when women were leaving scathing reviews on Roosh’s book to ensure that would not make it on Amazon’s ranks. In his book, he details an incident which would be considered rape in the United States as the woman was intoxicated and did not express consent. Roosh has profited from his misdeeds and is a blatantly hateful individual whose ideas of neomasculinity encourages misogyny.

To conclude, an individual who promoted the legalization of rape and masked it under the title of satire was put in his place by thousands of people around the world effectively proving my belief that hate will never win.

Signing off,
Joanne

The Shot Tasted Round the World

We’re all pretty knowledgable about the link between alcohol and sexual assault but were you aware that there is a shot out there that can prevent such a thing from happening?

The Iberian Rooster, a Florida restaurant, and a South African Hooters made waves in December of 2016 when some signs in the women’s restrooms were posted on the likes of Facebook and Twitter.

“Is your Tinder or Plenty of Fish date not who they said they were on their profile?” the sign reads.“Do you feel unsafe, or even just a little bit weird? We’re here to help. Just go to the bar and order an angel shot.”

If the shot is ordered neat, bartenders know to escort the customer to her vehicle. If ordered with ice, the bartender will call an Uber or Lyft. And, if the customer orders an angel shot with lime, the bartender will call the police.

This trend began in St. Albens, England after staff at The Brickyard posted a sign instructing women who were uncomfortable with their date to ask the bartender for Rachel or Jennifer. These pseudonyms alert the bartender of their discomfort which would then prompt the staff to call for a taxi.

With the rise of dating apps from 2009-2017, there has been a steady increase in cases of rape occurring during the first face-to-face meeting of people who met online. The veil of anonymity provided by the internet emboldens people who dare to take risks they usually wouldn’t. Relationships involving individuals who meet online progress at a much faster rate and along with that comes a whole slew of problems. Online, people tend to flirt or behave in a promiscuous manner that may not necessarily reveal their desire to engage in intimate acts. However, a lack of proper communication between both parties can create situations where the expectations are mismatched and suddenly one becomes a victim while the other takes on a role as the offender.

In this day and age, it is nice to see that bars are taking a step forward to prevent sexual assault and rape. The fact that sexual aggressors use bars as a “staging ground” for selecting, isolating, and even incapacitating their target has become normalized but there seems to be very little action taken by such establishments to create a safe space for their patrons. However these little steps go a long way.

Collective Action for Safe Spaces (CASS) has identified the issue and chosen to address it by implementing a project entitled Safe Bars. The project focuses on teaching people skills for intervening in unwanted sexual aggression. Bar staffers are taught to recognize subtle signs that may indicate discomfort and cover specific strategies for intervening. Bystander intervention techniques include distracting the aggressor and getting involved if given even the slightest hint of physical discomfort as the cost of checking is slim to none but the cost of letting it pass can be fatal. Safe Bars also encourages staff members to share with bar patrons safety messages that encourage respect that let customers know that bar staff are available for help as well as actively promote bars that adopt safety standards. ‘Safe Bar’ certifications are awarded to bars that complete the training.

So far 20 Bars have been credited as Safe Bars and the numbers are only getting better. In September of 2016, Safe Bars received over a hundred requests to set up programs across the United States.

Although there is action that is currently being taken, the movement itself is small and unbeknownst to many. It is our responsibility to encourage this and aim for every bar in the United States to be labeled a safe bar.

Women should never have to experience victim blaming or feel threatened when they’re going out to have a good time. We need more angel shots, more safe bars, and we need to adopt the title of a Rachel or a Jennifer and become the change we wish to see in our generation.

Signing off,
Joanne

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Goodbyes are never easy.

We struggle with goodbye when we have to leave a friendship or when it’s announced that our favorite TV show will be leaving Netflix at the end of the month.

As America extends a farewell to President Barack Obama and prepares for President-elect Donald Trump to take over the reins, they also prepare to say goodbye to Obamacare and “every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama” (Trump, 2016.)

In simpler words, we can expect radically different legal landscapes for campus sexual assaults as Trump plans to reverse Obama’s actions on college sexual assault.

The Obama administration succeeded in bringing awareness to campus sexual assault and opened up hundreds of investigations of schools for possible violations of Title IX – “the federal law that prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of gender” – over the manner in which the schools dealt with campus sexual assaults. However, many see this as a set of “overly aggressive  enforcement actions” and seek to raise the burden of proof.

This all comes after students who were found guilty of sexual assault filed lawsuits alleging their due process rights were violated during the investigation and ruling of the cases.

Advocates for accused students wish to raise the current lowest possible burden of proof, the “preponderance of evidence” standard to the obstinate “clear and convincing” standard. Another approach that is being considered is the “de-federalizing” of the campus sexual assault issue.

Law enforcement will be given greater deference which can result in an accused student being found innocent in court, but guilty in school

As a senior in high school with college looming over the horizon, I am excited for what the future has in store for me. In the midst of deciding what building to dorm in, what classes to take, and what social activities I should partake in, it seems like the last thing on my mind should be the possibility of drug-rape or sexual assault.

But it’s not. I’ve already had the talk with my father who is becoming increasingly concerned for his daughter’s safety as more and more news reports file in about fraternities encouraging students to engage in nonconsensual sex if provided with the opportunity and rapists whose sentences are overturned or reduced (cough Brock Turner cough). 

Trump’s rumored policies concerning such an issue creates a frightening environment for women who wish to seek out an education. No student should ever have to compromise their morals, their dignity, or their body in search of a better future and let’s hope that under Trump’s administration no one ever shall.

Signing off,
Joanne

How a Culture’s Parenting Mistake is Putting Indian Women at Risk

New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration when one anxiously waits for a new beginning but the start of 2017 only reinforced the idea that women are limited in their freedom in countries like India and Germany.

Women in Bangalore, India were groped, grabbed, pinched, molested, and catcalled despite the many safety precautions that were taken like police officers and CCTV cameras. This act of mass-molestation is not something new but is quite familiar to the streets of Bangalore or the likes of Cologne, Germany where there was a repeat of last year’s mass-molestation by migrants.

The home minister of the state of Karnataka blamed the women’s western sense of dressing which she claimed enticed men into committing  such acts of sexual assault. Had they not wandered the streets without the presence of a male family member, such incidents would not occur.

That very same day, #NotAllMen trended on Twitter in India as men began to take offense to the generalizations made about sexual assault as it was not representative of all Indian men. Rather than address the issue head on and take responsibility, they resorted to a hashtag that enforced the fears women come to face every day.

Currently there is no legislation concerning acts of mass-molestation but that is something that needs to be addressed. The importance of this issue may seem minimal to many Americans but the truth is that everything carries over. Indian women were blamed for their Americanized style of clothing which speaks volumes about American women.

Before legislation is approached, it is important to enact social change that will spark a movement about this. Most Indian women are still living in a very traditional environment and they need such events to gain the attention of world powers like the United States so that the publicity will force society to rethink their decisions.

While that is still in the works, Indian women are beginning to reach out to a new demographic: parents.

From a young age, Indian women are reared to follow a strict set of mantras that encourage modest dressing, discourage late nights spent outside of the house alone, and cover a broad sense of topics that limit their freedom.

These mantras point back to the fact that if disobeyed and faced with the consequences, women would be blamed for their lack of heedfulness.  However, an Indian male is never raised with mantras that provide such restriction or caution. The lurking fear that is always skirted around but never called out by name (rape) is almost never a point of discussion when born male.

It’s time to change that.

It’s time for parents to start teaching their sons about consent.

It’s time for sons to be taught that a woman’s role as a wife, a sister, or a mother should have no say in whether he is enraged by acts of sexual assault and rape.

It’s time for men to learn that there is no excuse for sexual assault or rape and that nobody is deserving of it or asking for it.

Women should not be living in fear of the world they are forced to circumnavigate. Rather, men should actively take a stance against and protect them from the issues that they are plagued with in society.

Signing off,
Joanne

Rape Culture and Harry Potter: Both Fantasy

Milo Yiannopoulos, a British journalist and technology editor for Breitbart News, sparked controversy in late 2015 when he arrived at Amber Rose’s annual SlutWalk with libertarian politician Lauren Southern with some contentious signs.

The signs in questions (“‘Rape culture’ and Harry Potter: Both Fantasy“ and “Regret is not Rape”) were torn to shreds after they were both ejected from the Slut Walk.

On The Sam Roberts’ Show, Yiannopoulos elaborated his stance on rape culture and how it is a myth created by the left wing.

“Rape culture, an environment in which rape is excused and victims aren’t believed, is certainly not what obtains in America today. Least of all on campus where this focus is generally placed. It’s simply not true”

Yiannopoulos goes on to name instances of campus rapes and calls them “hoaxes.” He also states that high profile campus rapes put future victims in danger of not being believed.

“I object to the lie about rape culture because it encourages narrative over facts journalism and the ultimate result of that is ordinary women aren’t believed,” Yiannopoulous said.

Yiannopoulous then accuses the women involved in high-profile campus rapes of lying and diverts the conversation to his hatred for feminists.

Colleges have invested disparate amounts of resources into sexual assault prevention and awareness and comments like Yiannopoulous’ discourage further action towards creating more policies. The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (Campus SaVE) Act, was the legislative outcome of years of increased attention and activism but in lieu of Yiannopoulous’ statements and his supporters, we are unlikely to see more preventive measures being taken out.

Yiannopoulous is indirectly activating the suppression of such cases in order to protect women who are raped in the future. This is extremely dangerous as the suppression of such cases doesn’t bring light to the issue at hand or even assert that this is a serious issue plaguing the United States.

The Breitbart editor doesn’t mince his words but his proposed actions provide some insight into what the future of a pro-rape world will look like. Although his stance only concerns the United States, the proposal of such actions will have global implications.

Let’s hope that our future generation will never have to live in such a world.

Signing off,
Joanne