May
29
Jezebel discusses a report in the Telegraph’s claim that the torture photos the Obama administration refuses to release depict the sexual abuse of prisoners.
The Telegraph report has provoked a variety of thoughtful reactions among people, some of whom — like Vanessa Gezari — now agree with Obama’s decision and the reasoning behind it. There’s an interesting debate to be had, too, about whether it’s appropriate, given things like rape shield laws and the stigmas attached to being a victim of sexual abuse, to release pictures of victims being assaulted — which is certainly something that would not be done in the United States in a criminal case — or whether the need to confront the true horror of what was done in our name trumps the right to some privacy of the victims.
What do you think? Regardless of other issues around whether or not such photos should be releases, do you think “the need to confront the true horror of what was done in our name trumps the right to some privacy of the victims”?
May
28
“Sexting” Hysteria
Tags: sexting
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Comments Off
Lately it seems I hear about “sexting” – the act of sending sexually explicit photos of oneself via cell phone – constantly. Mainstream news sources, blogs, word-of-mouth: everyone is up in arms about teenagers, particularly teenage girls, participating in this trend. Here at TAASA we’ve even starting getting training requests to talk specifically about sexting.
Lots of people are freaking out about girls sending their pictures because of the typical worries about sluttiness. In my opinion, the real issue is the fact that people are being charged with possession and distribution of child pornography over these images. And by “people” I mean the teenagers who are consensually involved in the sending and receiving of said pictures. This isn’t only happening in cases where adults are involved or perhaps the recipient forwarded the pictures without the subject’s consent. In some cases, pictures that involve teens in their underwear are being labeled pornography.
Canada’s National Post featured an article about the way that sexting has been overblown by adults and the media.
Sexting grabbed headlines in recent months as teenagers in U.S. states such as Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas were charged with child pornography after sharing provocative pictures with classmates or friends. Last October, for example, a Texas teenager spent the night in a juvenile detention centre after his football coach found a provocative picture that was texted to him by a fellow student.
In some states, a convicted teen is forced to register as a sex offender for 10 years or more, even if he or she sees no jail time.
I appreciated the viewpoint expressed in this piece because it talks about something that, as a society, we tend to try to ignore and/or deny: the fact that teenagers (yes, even teenage girls!) are sexual beings and it is normal for them to express themselves sexually. Peter Cumming, an associate professor at York University in Toronto, points out that teenagers regularly engage in sexual activities, and he cites examples such as “spin the bottle” and “strip poker.” Parents and other adults may not like the fact that these activities ocur, but there isn’t the widespread panic about them that surrounds sexting. Why is that?
I venture to guess that it is because new technology has the ability to stir up hysteria simply because people haven’t learned how to respond yet. Yes, there are legitimate fears for the privacy and safety of the people taking these pictures of themselves, but is branding teenagers pornographers for the “crime” of expressing their natural desires and instincts really the way to keep teens safe?
May
27
“Anti-Obesity Activist” Compares Overeating to Rape
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | 1 Comment
The Guardian interviewed “anti-obesity activist” MeMe Roth, founder of the organization National Action Against Obesity.
In addition to perpetuating lots of dangerous ideas about healthy eating and body image, plus heavily shaming people who don’t meet her expectations of a healthy weight, MeMe actually goes so far as to compare eating with rape. It’s beyond appalling that this woman is trivializing the experiences of rape victims in order to call attention to her so-called cause.
“The defence has been made in the case of sex criminals that there is pleasure on the part of the victim. The same is true with what we’re doing with food. We may abuse our bodies with food, but it’s incredibly pleasurable. From a food marketer’s point of view, when your quote unquote victim is so willing and enjoying of the process, who’s fighting back?”
May
26
A Simple-Minded Proposal
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Tim Love | 1 Comment
When I was in the airport a couple of weeks ago, the man in the three-piece suit who was behind me in the security line read the back of the my t-shirt which says “Do the right thing – be nonviolent.” Some of the highlights of the brief but painful conversation that ensued included statements such as “You know studies have shown that women are actually more violent than men,” and “I think your proposal is quite simple-minded.”
I could write about the misguided idea that women are more violent than men and my defensiveness regarding the “simple-minded” comment, but that’s not what still has me thinking about that guy two weeks later. I keep replaying my response to him. I tried to go head-to-head, or study-for-study, with him, and I wish I hadn’t. There probably is a study that says that women are more violent than men, just like there’s a study that says that eating too much tofu can make you gay.
Justice and truth are things of the heart, the soul and the head, and I didn’t address all of those. I could have talked about how many of the women, children and men in my life have been the victims of violence at the hands of men, and challenged him to think about the violence that the people he cares about have experienced. I also could have brought his attention to the major societal-level violence (war, police brutality, economic inequity, etc.) and how men perpetrate the vast majority of it, and how it is men (primarily white, wealthy, heterosexual, etc.) who gain the most from it. Shoot, I could’ve even talked about the history of science – traditionally dominated by white men – being rife with misuse in order to “prove” racist and sexist ideals, but that’s a whole different blog. Experience, our own as well as other people’s, shows us the overwhelming truth of men’s violence and its far reaching impact. Next time, I hope I remember to go heart and soul-to-head when someone tries to deny that violence.
Has anyone found ways to talk to people that really resonates and gets people to feel the reality of men’s violence with their hearts and souls?
May
26
Daniel Hood was recently offered a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee after being denied 27 other scholarships on the basis that when he was 13, he (and at least one other person, a then-17-year-old male) was convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting his then-14-year-old cousin.
SAFER’s Jenna asks, “when do we give second chances?” This is a tough question, I think. When is a person capable of fully understanding their actions and the consequences and impact of those actions on others? 21? 18? 16? 13? What if Hood had been 12 or 10 years old when he committed the crime?
On the one hand, Hood has served his punishment, so he has the right to pursue happiness in his life. But, was it right for the University to offer him a scholarship? Apparently many other schools thought he was undeserving. It’s possible, though, that Hood has completed therapy and understands and takes responsibility for his actions; we can’t tell based on reading a news story about him. If he has though, does that make a difference?
SAFER’s Jenna also asks whether we would be so concerned about this if the scholarship were an academic one, rather than football? What if it was for a different sport? Are we perhaps so alarmed because of the hyper-masculine, aggressive nature of football and the stereotypes about the players? I know it certainly makes me more uncomfortable – but is it fair or right?
I don’t think that there’s any easy answer here. The fact that Hood was a child when he committed the rape does, in my mind, mean that he deserves different consideration than an adult or an older teen. Of course, this is a slippery slope and it’s difficult or impossible to draw a clear line.
I think it’s vital to always honor sexual assault victims and take rape seriously, that’s why I do this work. I also think it’s important, however, to allow perpetrators who complete therapy and demonstrate true remorse and understanding about their actions to pursue rewarding lives.
May
19
The Continued Adventures of the Humorless Feminist
Filed Under Humorless Feminist | By Melissa Heald | 5 Comments
My brother competed in the Funniest Person in Austin contest for the second time this year and last week was the semi-finals. About 16 comics competed that evening. I’ve blogged before about the plethora of rape and domestic violence jokes I typically hear when I visit Cap City, but I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught last week. I would guess that about half of the comics made at least one joke about raping a woman or child. For example:
“So my uncle’s a pedophile… I only know cuz [sad voice] he’s my uncle.”
Another comic told a joke about his girlfriend wanting to pretend they were strangers in order to spice up their sex life: “So I slipped her a roofie, had sex with her, dumped her body in a field and went home. A few hours later she shows up banging on the door and screaming for me to let her in, but I just said, ‘sorry, I don’t let strangers in the house!’” Later in his set, he followed up with: “Sex with my schizophrenic girlfriend can be really great depending on which personality I get. If I get the sex-crazed cougar, that’s really cool, but if I get the 12-year-old with emotional problems… that is AWESOME.” This guy’s ignorance about schizophrenia versus dissociative identity disorder is the least of his worries with that one. Read more
May
18
Don’t Tell, Cuz I Didn’t Ask
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Tim Love | Comments Off
I have to admit it; I can’t stop talking about my heterosexuality. My office has wedding pictures prominently displayed. I never hesitate to talk about my partner and my kids. (I recognize that talking about my kids doesn’t necessarily mean I’m heterosexual, but let’s be real, when I do, many of you think of me as heterosexual.) I don’t really care if it makes you uncomfortable; I’m going to make sure you know I’m a heterosexual anyway.
While this seems a little silly to say, it’s true. I do regularly assert my heterosexuality, whether intentionally or not – it just goes mostly unnoticed because we live in a heterocentric and heterosexist society, where heterosexual is the “norm.” Just how heterosexist became clear to me recently when someone said her husband doesn’t have a problem with homosexuals, except when they tell you about their homosexuality. As someone who identifies as heterosexual, I have the privilege of being able to talk about my life and my identity, all of it, without fear, and I see heterosexuality portrayed all around me constantly. People who identify as LGBT in our society are pressured to hide a part of their identity and their humanity because of the serious repercussions of identifying as anything other than heterosexual. Read more
May
15
An Open Letter to Sexual Assault Victims in Texas
Filed Under Announcement | By Annette Burrhus-Clay | 6 Comments
Recently a Houston television station ran a story about a rape victim who was billed for her own rape exam. The news piece implied this was a common practice in Texas despite being told by several sources, including the Deputy Director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA), that this was not the case. This news story, riddled with inaccuracies and half truths, was picked up by other news outlets and blogs and it took on a life of its own. Activists, advocates, survivors and other concerned individuals from around the country were justifiably angry and began to demand answers and action. The problem is there isn’t really a problem, just the perception of injustice that is spiraling out of control.
TAASA is concerned that this misinformation will have a chilling effect on a rape victim’s willingness to report the crime and get a forensic/medical exam (rape kit). We want to assure everyone that the cost of a forensic exam is not billed to the victim. This is always the responsibility of law enforcement and they in turn can be reimbursed for up to $700 though the Crime Victim’s Compensation (CVC) fund. If the cost exceeds this amount it is absorbed by the law enforcement agency or hospital, not the victim.
Additional medical treatment is not part of the forensic exam and billed separately. All crime victims, i.e. rape, gunshot, mugging, etc. are billed for medical treatment. They are eligible to apply for reimbursement of these costs through the CVC fund. The CVC fund is statutorily the “payer of last resort,” so if a victim has medical insurance it will be billed first. This is to assure the fiscal integrity of the CVC fund and make certain that funds remain available to crime victims who are uninsured or underinsured. Rape victims are not singled out in this process for reimbursement, it is consistently applied to all crime victims and this process is replicated with few variations across the country.
As with any system there is the possibility of human error. A victim could be misinformed or struggle to make sense of the process. This is the principle reason TAASA believes rape crisis advocates are so valuable to rape victims. Rape crisis advocates are not formally part of the systems or institutions that rape survivors must navigate, but are a valuable ally to victims when they encounter barriers or inconsistencies. I wish the rape victim in the Houston story had an advocate to help her through this very difficult time. Our only interest in this situation is that rape victims are supported and assisted. I encourage rape victims to access the services they so desperately need and not be deterred by the perception that they will be charged for their rape exam.
Respectfully Yours,
Annette Burrhus-Clay, Executive Director
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
May
12
Update on Sexually-oriented Business Bills
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald | Comments Off
Yesterday, Emily Ramshaw blogged about HB 982 and HB 2070 on the Dallas Morning News’ “Trail Blazers.” Neither bill was heard yesterday, but HB 982 just passed in the Senate. HB 2070 may or may not be heard in the House today.
Although HB 982 passed, the good news is that Sen. Carona withdrew the amendment that made it automatically prevail over HB 2070 if it also passes. This means that there’s still a chance that 2070 may pass and the Governor could sign it and veto 982.
Visit@TAASA on Twitter to read my tweets from the 982 hearing earlier and keep an eye out because Nichole or I will be tweeting about the proceedings when HB 2070 is heard.
May
12
Sexual Assault Resource for Journalists
Filed Under Announcement | By Melissa Heald | 1 Comment
Via @AEJMC I heard about a training project for journalists on how to report on child sexual abuse from the Journalism Center on Children and Families.
Contents include:
- statistics;
- information on preventing child sexual abuse;
- tips and story ideas;
- information about sexual offenders who target children;
- offender behavior and risk measurement;
- characteristics of sexual offenders: pedophiles, non-pedophiles and juveniles;
- tips and story ideas;
- and several interviews from experts in the field.
This resource might be helpful if you see troubling news coverage of sexual assault in your community. Read the tips and story ideas about child sexual abuse and prevention and offenders who target children for help thinking of stories to pitch to your local media.