In light of the recent dredging up of Elevatorgate, along with the recent comments from The Amazing Atheist, here’s me getting up on my soapbox again because this nonsense has left me in a pissy mood (pardon my rambling and somewhat disconnected thoughts here):

(Trigger Warning: rape, sexual assault)


Rape is never the victim’s fault.


People get raped regardless of what they’re wearing, or even what they look like.


Both women and men get raped.


A person should learn how to keep oneself safe, whether man or woman, and not just because of rape. And learning how to keep oneself safe doesn’t necessarily mean studying a martial art or carrying a weapon (though it might be the right choice for some). It means making smart choices, living defensively, to keep oneself safe.

The above advice in no way implies that rape is ever the victim’s fault. Self-protection comes with no guarantees. Violence is random, chaotic and surprising, and even those best trained and equiped to handle it can be overcome in a conflict. Learning to stay safe on the streets is a way to stay confident and keep the odds in one’s favor as much as possible. There are no guarantees. Still, I will repeat: advising people to learn how to defend themselves in no way at all implies that the victim of rape (or any assault) is to blame for what happened.

Men need to be educated on how to treat women.

Rape jokes aren’t funny (sorry, Reddit).

People should be able to tell someone that they were raped without fearing judgment or condemnation.

Women are not weak.

Men can (and should) be feminists.

Men should not be villified.

Women should have every right to decide what happens to her body. If men could get pregnant, you can bet your ass that abortion would be an unquestionable right.

A woman should be able to wear whatever the hell she wants without being shamed by the conservatives and puritans, objectified by the misogynists and chauvinists, or belittled by the privileged and unenlightened.

A woman can show strength and power without utilizing her sexuality.

A woman can be sexual if she damn well pleases. The choice is hers.

Feminists often disagree with each other on all sorts of things.


Women shouldn’t feel pressured into looking like supermodels and Barbie dolls. Women come in many shapes and sizes, and that’s okay.

There is no one standard for beauty - and that’s a damn good thing.


Okay, I’m done.

— Dead-Logic