Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mnetor.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcs!mnetor!sophie
From: sophie@mnetor.UUCP (Sophie Quigley)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Re: Re: "provocative" clothing
Message-ID: <877@mnetor.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 27-May-85 21:27:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: mnetor.877
Posted: Mon May 27 21:27:54 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 28-May-85 11:50:12 EDT
References: <734@oddjob.UUCP> <193@timeinc.UUCP> <1549@reed.UUCP> <1397@watdcsu.UUCP> <253@ihlpa.UUCP> <1415@watdcsu.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Computer X (CANADA) Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 38

HMMMMMMMMMMM  HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM   (clearing my throat)

This "provocative clothing" discussion is starting to make me EXTREMELY
angry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know that some of you men out there are trying to be "helpful" by explaining
to us poor women that "provocative" clothing might increase our chances of
getting raped.  Well, you are NOT being helpful;  as a matter of fact, you are
being absolute nuisances and insulting our intelligence.

WE are very aware that any rapist will use whatsoever excuse he can get
to be "provoqued" into raping.  We are not bumbling idiots.  We know
very well, that if we wear sexy clothes we will be usually at least
accosted once.  We know very well that we stand a greater chance of
being raped.  So, we are very aware of the dangers, much more than any
of you are.

HOWEVER, we have to live too, you know, and we do occasionally like to
dress up and look nice because that's part of the pleasure of being
alive.  We also like to be attractive, and don't even mind it if
strangers find us attractive.  Why, after all, we even enjoy looking at
attractive strangers ourselves.  So, if we are doing all these things,
it is because we derive some emotional satisfaction out of it, and
(damn it!) life wouldn't be worth living if we could not even enjoy
such simple pleasures as looking good.

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO WEAR NICE CLOTHES!
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO WALK ALONE LATE AT NIGHT!
(Add a few "Damn it!" to all of the above and repeat five times)

furthermore,
NOBODY HAS A RIGHT TO RAPE ANYBODY ELSE!!

So, could we please concentrate our attentions on the *real* problem:
How to stop rapists from raping.
-- 
Sophie Quigley
{allegra|decvax|ihnp4|linus|watmath}!utzoo!mnetor!sophie