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From: meg@sii.UUCP (Marta Greenberg)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Rape and Ugly Male Attitudes
Message-ID: <414@sii.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Jun-85 16:31:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: sii.414
Posted: Mon Jun 17 16:31:35 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Jun-85 09:05:31 EDT
Organization: Software Innovations, Nashua NH
Lines: 35

> SOPHIE,
> You know that a lot of women are asking for it.  I mean look during the
> summer, tight shorts, no bras, big brown nipples showing.  SHEEEEEIT.
> (at least in california)
> 
> Most of the time, the woman is unconsciously asking to be raped.
> She takes no precautions, ie. walks alone in the night, and wears
> provocative clothing.
> 
> Larry G. Kim

If a guy is dressed for the summer, like in shorts and no top, is
he "asking for it"?  I mean, women appreciate the view, too.  Maybe he's
turning us on.  But that doesn't mean the guy is asking to screw with
any random woman off the street.

One answer to this (that I have heard in discussions) is that the
guy probably would be amenable to sex if a woman came up and
propositioned him.  Sure, some men would enjoy it.  But with any woman,
no matter how attractive she is?  Or, put another way, what about
a woman he found totally repulsive?  Does his dress require him to
submit to her desires?  The guy reserves and we allow him the right
to say no.  His dress (or where he's walking, when he's out, etc.)
doesn't cause us to say that he's asking for it.

Another thing to remember is that not every guy dressed like that is
asking for sex.  They expect a negative response to be taken at face
value.  Some men would not even enjoy being asked.

By the way, people, Larry's article shows up one reason many have
argued about provocative clothing being a factor (major or minor)
in rape.   Picking up on this idea can lead to distortions like
Larry's.  (This does not mean that clothing is or isn't a factor!)

Marta Greenberg, decvax!sii!meg