More abstinence-only insanity: You can't rape a slut

[Joanne98]

I recently attended a book reading by some of the contributors of Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape. The book (which is wonderful and you should go buy) deals with many subjects around "rape culture", particularly the common practice of blaming the victim of rape if she has a "loose" or "slutty" reputation. Our society far too often holds up a pure and virginal ideal for women, and once this "seal" is broken or they display "unnaceptable" behaviors, they become "dirty" and "get what is coming to them".

Amplify Your Voice's diary :: ::
A few days after the reading, I came across an abstinence-only until marriage program in Ohio (yes, the same Ohio with Derek the Abstinence Clown) that pretty much reinforced every crazy aspect of a rape culture that blames the victims of rape if they do not pass the "purity" test. It’s bad enough that abstinence-only programs like these withhold and distort vital information that young people need to protect their own sexual health, but adding this acceptance of rape culture is the icing on the Shit Cake.

The Ohio program is Abstinence ‘Till Marriage, which started receiving annual CBAE grants of $600,000 in 2006 (set to run until 2011). On their "Miss the Mess" website, you can enter the "Party Room", where you learn the story of Rochelle, Jason, Monica and Tanner. Each person tells their perspective about what happens during and after a party one night.

Rochelle tells how she drove her drunken friend Jason home after the party, and then is raped by him. Jason denies that the rape happened, saying their sex was consensual. Monica and Tanner observe that Jason was being a drunken idiot the entire night, with Monica (Jason’s ex) adding her opinion that Rochelle has a reputation for "putting out" and being a "slut".

The site then asks the question: "Based on all accounts, whose story sounds the least credible?"

Guess who is the "correct" answer? Rochelle.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/2/13/132853/662/547/697109

Here's their website

The ATM Education combined leadership has over 50 years of experience teaching various abstinence 'til marriage programs in Ohio including reaching 55 schools in Columbus, Ohio and Franklin County helping direct the Ohio Abstinence Campaign and building abstinence programs in 35 Ohio counties. Another 20 Ohio counties have programs that use our curriculum, Relationships Under Construction. ATM materials and resources encourage healthy decision-making about avoiding risky behaviors, such as alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and sexual activity for young people.

ATM Education serves 17 counties in north central Ohio including Allen, Ashland, Crawford, Delaware, Fairfield, northern portion of Franklin, Hardin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Perry, Richland, Seneca, Union and Wyandot.

http://www.missthemess.com/who/index.php

Here's the grant their getting..
http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&parentID%20=487&grandparentID=478&pageId=853#federal

I live in Ohio and I have to say.. IT'S AN OUTRAGE THAT PEOPLE WHO THINK WOMEN SHOULD BE RAPED IS GETTING STATE MONEY!

Ohio is looking at a shortfall in unemployment benefits. I think we can find better uses for taxpayer dollars than this nonsense.

[Deja Q]

1. Jason is an asswipe.

Now a person may or may not be "loose".

That sure as hell isn't justification (or even a pallid excuse) for rape.

Indeed, from what I had read, one could infer it was a mere OPINION this Rochelle was "loose". Not a direct, actual fact.

I'm not keen on "loose" activities (self-respect, possible disease, heartache, the usual tangential cant), but rape is infinitely worse and it's disgusting how she is the one getting the raw deal.

Put this Jason creep in jail. There is NO justification for rape. Period.

And how dare this organization, which seems to condone the scenario outlined, demand money? They're sickening.

[XemaSab]

2. This website is pegging the bullshit meter by sentance 2:

"Growing up is not as simple for them as it was for their baby-boomer parents."

Man, my mom has some stories from the 60's that would send my grandmother straight into her grave. My mom didn't screw around (much), but some of the things her friends got up to! Damn! :o

Oh, and on edit, half the kids in the neighborhood were molested, she was almost raped in high school, she was slipped a mickey once... basically all the shit we worry about now? Was going down in Fresno in the 1950's.

[Joanne98]

7. I know. That's a long term project for the right. Blame the boomers for everything.

They're trying to start a generational war so they can repeal social security. And of course they are copying the "generation gap" that happened in the 60's. One thing about the conservatives that you can always count on is their complete inability to come up with anything on their own.

[glowing]

3. This is disgusting.. is this the type of faith based initiatives that Pres.

Obama or anyone would think is ok.. would he think its ok for one of his daughters to deemed as someone who "deserved it".. b.s.

[Enthusiast]

4. I'm from Ohio

It is filled to the brim with these ignorant fundy types. They also believe non-believers should be executed. The rape thing comes as no surprise.

[Joanne98]

8. Well. They need to get their welfare grants cut off.

[Enthusiast]

9. True. But they never think of that, lol nt

[madmom]

11. I'm also from Ohio, my SO and I have been excommunicated from his family because we are non-believer...

[Enthusiast]

12. OMG! We would be excommunicated

if my wife's family knew what we believed. They suspect we believe BAD stuff because we are DEMONCRATS, lol. I have nutters on my side, also, just fewer.

[Berry Cool]

5. I can't believe my Ohio tax dollars are going to pay for this garbage in other counties.

And why is SIECUS giving them a grant? This stuff goes against everything they stand for!

It is NOT up to WOMEN to prevent rape. It is up to MEN. If they don't forge ahead after being told NO, or even when things are nebulous, rape will not take place!

[adamuu]

6. Derek the what? I had to look it up.

http://www.dailygotham.com/blog/mole333/derek_the_abstinence_clown

[TankLV]

10. Rochelle is "loose", but THE HORNEY DRUNK RAPER is not...

Rochelle is "loose" and always looking to trick, and gets drunk alot, so she's a slut.

Jason is horney all the time, looking to get laid all the time at the drop of a hat, but he's not a slut, and being just a guy...

See how DIFFERENT that is?

You can't?

OK, how about...

Do people even LISTEN to what they're saying, or READ what they write?...

evidentally not...