Is Indecent Dressing a Justification for Rape?
A Rebuttal to My Sunday School Teacher
Why do girls get raped? Are there justifications for rape? Is indecent dressing a justification for rape?
Until now, I used to adore my Sunday School teacher. However, she didn't impress me with a particular Sunday School class that has haunted me for weeks. The topic was "Indecent Dressing", it was going well until she started "justifying rape".
I asked if indecent dressing was a justification for rape, and she said "YES". She said men are moved by what they see.
She was able to twist the story to make it look like girls lure men into raping them. She just found ways to blame girls for being raped.
To her, the girls that dress indecently are "devils". She said, "Girls, don't be a devil to men". This is not a debate of "dress how you want to be addressed" it is an issue of VICTIM BLAMING rape victims.
Rape is rape!!! I just feel we should stop shaming the victim and making the culprit look like the victim. A man who feels the need to rape a lady doesn't need to be lured by the devil. He is the devil himself.
A girl reports a rape incident, and the first question you ask is "How did she dress?" or "Where was she?" Like... Are you insane?!!!
It's frustrating how society slut-shames women at every slight opportunity.
Rape is a heinous crime that has plagued Nigeria for decades.
Sadly, many rape victims in the country face the added trauma of victim-blaming.
Victim-blaming is a situation where the victim of a crime is held responsible for the crime committed against them. It is a common practice in Nigeria, especially when it comes to rape victims.
Victim blaming in Nigeria takes many forms. It is often seen in the way people react to rape allegations.
For example, people may say that a woman who was raped deserved it because she was wearing revealing clothes or because she was out late at night. Others may suggest that a woman who was raped must have done something to provoke her attacker.
Victim blaming is also evident in the way that rape cases are handled by the authorities. Many rape victims are afraid to report the crime to the police because they fear they will be blamed for the assault.
In some cases, the police may even tell the victim that they brought the rape upon themselves through their actions or inactions.
The problem of victim-blaming in Nigeria is deeply rooted in cultural and societal norms. Nigerian society is deeply patriarchal, and women are often viewed as inferior to men.
As a result, when a woman is raped, people may automatically assume that she was somehow responsible for the crime.
The prevalence of victim-blaming in Nigeria is alarming! It not only adds to the trauma that rape victims experience but also makes it difficult for them to get justice.
Many women who are raped do not report the crime to the authorities because they fear they will not be believed or that they will be blamed for the assault.
It is time for Nigerians like my Sunday School teacher to recognize the harm that victim-blaming causes and take steps to combat it. One way to do this is through education.
Nigerians need to be educated about the nature of rape and the fact that victims are not responsible for the crime committed against them.
In conclusion, victim blaming is a serious problem that plagues rape victims in Nigeria. It is a cultural and societal issue that needs to be addressed if Nigeria is to make progress in combating rape.
P.S.: I do not hate my Sunday School teacher. I just feel she should make conscious effort to stop victim blaming.
I am Wemimo from Feminist Inc and I stand against victim blaming.
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