In my essay, I explain a little about the misconceptions around sexual assault and prove there is no prior action by a woman that warrants, justifies or even tempts sexual assault. I also give a few tips on how to help prevent sexual assault.
Sexual assault is not your fault. A woman can dress, act and talk however she wishes. There is no excuse for sexual assault, nor are there any instigating factors that may excuse it or lessen its seriousness. There is nothing a woman can do to “tempt” a person into perpetrating sexual assault that leaves her to blame unless she forces him with something such as a gun to his head.
The common misconception is that the way a woman dresses, or the way she acts may tempt a sexual assault. For example, she may act suggestively or maybe even promise sex and then laugh at a guy and make fun of him when he tries to take her up on the offer. Such women may be deemed as “Asking for it,” but that is not the case. Such actions are dumb, but they are not asking for sexual assault. The perpetrator has to make a decision to assault a woman, after which point the blame is completely on the perpetrator.
Such foolish misconceptions are not limited to sexual assault. For example, in a relationship a man and woman make a promise to be monogamous. If the woman left the man in a locked room full of sex-hungry women, then the man may cheat. In such circumstances, the female partner may take part of the blame for locking the man in the room, but the blame lays 100% with the man because he made the decision to cheat. He was not forced to cheat in the same way a sexual assault perpetrator doesn’t have a gun to his head and isn’t forced to sexually assault a woman. The second that the man makes the decision, he is 100% to blame.
You cannot prevent sexual assault.
Just like murder, robbery and surgery, you cannot prevent these things from happening; you can just lower the risk of it happening to you. Here are a few tips to help lower your risk.
- Stay clear of men you suspect may not have good decision-making skills
- Report people that will not leave you alone or that make you feel threatened
- Do not do things you do not want to do under any circumstances!
- Remove yourself from situations were irresponsible men have alcohol or drugs
- Grow to trust a man and know more about him before being alone with him
- Learn how to protect your drinks and food from contamination
- Stick with other women and try to avoid private situations with an all-male group
- Understand that you are not to blame for sexual assault and that it is your right to act and dress as you wish
- Do not get too drunk to the point where you are incapable of looking after yourself.
- Go out with an accountabilabuddy (account-abil-a-buddy), where you are responsible for that person getting home safely, and that person is responsible for you getting home safely
- Let people know where you are if you feel threatened
- Learn self-defense and you may fight off sexual assault, robbery and even murder.
Conclusion
Women should not be on high alert for sexual assault. It is common, but so is mugging, and you do not walk around with your hands wrapped tightly around your purse. Sexual assault is not your fault in any shape or form, it is the man’s decision only, and the perpetrator needs to be brought to justice right away or he will do it for the rest of his life. Protecting yourself from sexual assault is mostly about avoiding mistakes such as getting so drunk you cannot protect yourself.
