My niece was raped, when I found out my first reaction was one of anger and wanting to go and find the guy and hurt him real bad.

My brother in law also had the same feelings, and still does, that this had happened to his daughter.

Sadly there were also some girls involved, who my niece thought were her friends who helped set her up.

'they simply need to stop participating in a chauvinistic culture that allows for rape to occur.'

I'd like details on that. I mean I've always felt I was being held responsible for other men that rape (or are violent), but it's the first time I've been given a cryptic clue on why I am responsible.

I would have thought a rapist would most likely have a hatred, or a fear of women, and be needing to assert control. This fear of women would more likely come from childhood powerlessness, manipulation or abuse from women I would have thought.

Alternatively a taught hatred of women from a father figure could cause hatred of women (maybe not powerlessness though), but I doubt that would be as powerful as a personal greivence from abuse at the hands of a mother.

I cant think of an example where I would have participated in a chauvenistic culture, but it's a pretty broad term and possibly subjective. But it seems by doing so, I would have allowed for rape to occur. This would never be my intention, and I wonder how I could ever make up for my actions that have allowed other men to rape.

I wonder if women ever participate in this culture, or if this culture didn't exist whether rape would still occur.

Dear Usual Suspect,

let me nip this in the bud. I DO NOT support blaming innocent men for the poor behavior of a very small group of human being who commit these crimes (both male and female).

In fact I think that the overwhelming majority of men are just as disgusted by these crimes as women are and this is precisely why I wrote this article- detailing the fact that although some men do rape- most men are actually deeply offended by rape and sometimes personally hurt by it.

What i will say is that chauvenistic attitudes (held by both men and women) enable rapists to commit their crimes with greater ease. For examples, attitudes like "well she was drunk, she was asking for it", or "well she was wearing a short skirt- she was asking for it" or "women are like uncovered meat- they are asking for it" shift the onus of responsibility off the perpetrators and onto women and it is these attitudes which (in providing a spurious defence for rapists) make it harder for victims to speak out, becasue they are fearful of being blamed.

It is the ONLY crime in Australia where we continue to shift the blame off the perpetrator and onto the victim. It is the only crime where victim's are blamed for the actions of the perpetrator. If men and women stop espousing these chauvenistic attitudes then we go some way to making it easier for victims to speak up, and this in turn is going to make it harder for men to rape and get away with it.

I've spoken up about being sexually assaulted becasue I dont buy into the crap that it was my fault. As far as I'm concerned I don't care if you're naked, drunk, and passed out in Kings Cross at 4am- nothing gives someone the right to violate them. I was walking down my own street after a day at uni when I was assaulted- there is NO excuse for any of this.

I hope that makes my position clear.

Nina Funnell

The ripple effect of trauma is well documented. It doesn't apply to victims of sexual assault alone. Take for example the suffering of children of Vietnam vets or the family and friends of murder or robbery victims. The ripple effect is well-recognised by a range of organisations that deal with victims and their families.

Pity the media don't generally account for the wide-ranging effects of trauma - no matter what the cause.

Well clear Nina. Thanks for the clarification. Maybe chauvenistic isn't the right word. Maybe sexist assumptions? I dunno.

'..(in providing a spurious defence for rapists) make it harder for victims to speak out, becasue they are fearful of being blamed.'
I accept that could be the case, but really I don't see these kind of attitudes from anyone under the age of 60 or so. Perhaps I need to get out more.

Much more damaging I think, is the few false accusations which add doubt to all legitimate cases in an environment when there often is very little evidence.

'It is the ONLY crime in Australia where we continue to shift the blame off the perpetrator and onto the victim'
I certainly don't, and I'm not sure the justice system does either. I think maybe as I said there is very little evidence in a lot of cases, and I cant imagine how terrible it must be for women to be poked and prodded immediately after just being violated to get evidence to assure a conviction.

A bit off topic, I also think if we re-separated rape and sexual assault people would give rape figures much more credence, and rape would be rightly separated from pinching someone on the bum (Which BTW I know isn't acceptable, but I don't see it in the same league as rape either). The word 'Rape' should be used more to describe rape, and the word should keep it's power in being the most terrible of crimes.

Nina's account is quite horrific. No doubt with the porn industry having its way as depicting men and women as meat the increase in these attacks will and are inevitable. The anger should be directed towards the social engineers who insist on their 'rights' to be indulgent rather than to be concerned for the safety of women and children. The more we depict humans acting like animals the more we will behave without any morality (except those outward earth worshiping morals).