What if the attacker has a gun/pepper spray?...
Not to mention that many women state their bodies just shut down like they weren't even there, even if they had a way out/way to defend themselves.
Not to mention that many women state their bodies just shut down like they weren't even there, even if they had a way out/way to defend themselves.
My wife, for what it's worth, will put a bullet in a rapist and not think twice. I told her to put more than one. If that seems 'crass' or 'tacky' or 'unenlightened' or whatever else to anyone here, I really don't care. It's not your body and life we're talking about here, and it's not like she has the ability to fend off a motivated 200+ pound attacker without one.
I'm advocating that telling a rape victim that she could have/should have done more to defend herself is stupid and disgusting.
I'm fucking thrilled if your wife has the capacity to do that. That's great. I really fucking hope she does.
Thinking that every woman can do that, or that it would be possible in every situation (or even most) is absurd.
You don't tell them what they should have done to prevent it. But when someone does prevent it, do you tell them they shouldn't have had the ability to?
And I think you're selling women short in terms of what they're capable of. Casting women as helpless victims isn't helpful either.