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From: kmw@iheds.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: 60 Minutes on Rape
Message-ID: <324@iheds.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Jan-84 00:22:21 EST
Article-I.D.: iheds.324
Posted: Mon Jan 30 00:22:21 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Jan-84 06:47:52 EST
References: <288@houxu.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 35

While I agree with the point of Larry Welsch's article, which was that
if hormonal imbalance can be pin-pointed as the cause for an act
of violence the man or woman should be treated, not imprisoned, I
must question his casual aside that rape is worse for a man than
for a woman.  
 
The specific case was rape of a man by a man.  If you meant that rape
of a man by a man is worse because the physical act itself is
"unnatural" (or at least less accustomed) you miss the point.  Rape
is in no way natural to the woman.  Its physical similarity to love-making
is more a nightmare than a mitigating factor.  The potential, and
actual, violence in the two cases is the same.  The potential for
physical damage is the same.  The psychological stresses resulting
from being physically dominated and violated are the same.
If you were thinking of anal or oral rape, that happens to women as well.
 
I suggest the following exercise to men:
 
Imagine (REALLY imagine) yourself in a situation where you are raped.
The rapist has a weapon, or there are more than one of them -- whatever
it takes:  put yourself in a situation where you can't get out of it.
If you honestly run through what your reaction would be, and not just
skirt the idea intellectually, you will begin to have a pretty good
idea how women view it.
 
A basic difference in men's and women's perceptions
of being raped is that women know they are more likely than
men to be rape victims, and are more likely to have thought it through.
It is not an abstract concept for us.  If rape of a man by another man seems
worse (to a man) than rape of a women by a man, may I suggest it is
because it hits closer to home; THAT kind of rape not an abstract concept 
to him.
-- 
K. M. Wilber
iheds!kmw or mvuxt!kw