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This falls into the ‘we really shouldn’t be surprised’ files. Believing is reading:
Students and staff at Osgoode Hall Law School are demanding an apology and explanation from the Toronto Police Service after one of their officers suggested women can avoid sexual assault by not dressing like a “slut.”
On Jan. 24, a campus safety information session was held at Osgoode Hall, where members from York security and two male officers from Toronto police 31 Division handed out safety tips to community
members.Ronda Bessner, who attended the session, remembered being surprised by what the officer suggested to women.
“One of the safety tips was for women not to dress like ‘sluts.’ He said something like, ‘I’ve been told I shouldn’t say this,’ and then he uttered the words,” said Bessner, Osgoode assistant dean of the Juris Doctor Program. “I was shocked and appalled. I made contact with the police [...] and we’ve asked for a written apology and an explanation.”
Man, everything is headed backward. Somehow, I can hear this bull-shit coming out of the mouth of Super Toews. Yes, the Colonel Sanders look-a-like who decided to change the lingo from ‘sexual assault’ to ‘rape’.
I dunno, between the changing of the lingo in the criminal code and cops giving advice on how women should dress, I have the distinct feeling that rape shield laws will be the next to go, because, women are such evul temptresses, right? I mean, remember, it seemed to be all Julie Couillard’s fault that Ex-Lax Max’s career went downhill.
Ladies, next time you read or hear of a Harpercon or one of their cheerleaders preaching how we must help the repressed women and girls of Afghanistan, give a big scoff.
I’m confused. What’s “dressing like a slut”? Is it anything other than a nun’s habit and sackcloth, or are those irrepressibly lust-inducing and sexy, too? Perhaps a burqa will suffice? Sheesh…
ck Reply:
February 17th, 2011 at 7:17 AM
Bina, I think “not like a slut” to these people basically means…well, go to your church social, go to a Sunday Mass…along those lines, and you’d probably be on to something…something puritanical. Watch”Little House On the Prairie”
It’s far deeper than how you dress; far bigger, wider-reaching problem. This is putting the responsibility on women.
What we need to do is get rid of patriarchal religions, that would help. Not having a Holy Book that advocates rape would help. Bible does.
If he wanted to discuss prevention, he could at least have talked about self-defense, group action (see Starhawk’s writing on communities); assertiveness training, using anti-rape devices, staying fit and strong; places to avoid, and so on.
On the face of it – for someone who doesn’t think about it, not showing cleavage, or anything else seems like a solution, but that’s not what rape is about. Cretan women went bare-breasted, and Celtic women did too – in Ireland rape (before Christianity polluted the place) was punishable by death.
Acceptance of rape is systemic – we have patriarchal religions, 2 of which use the Bible which condones rape and violence against women. Start with that.
I repeated myself. Read Reviving Ophelia – good book about how toxic this culture is for girls.
Let’s not forget that this creep was chosen,I repeat CHOSEN to represent the force at this meeting. All too sadly I fear he truly does represent the prevailing opinion of the cops on this matter and goes a long way in explaining why sexual assault all to often goes unpunished.
ck Reply:
February 17th, 2011 at 7:19 AM
Kev, I fear that you’re right. It’s all part of this trend, send us on a backward spiral. This is what’s in vogue and many love it. Scary!
If the cops want to stop being treated like fascists, they should stop dressings (acting) like them.
thanks for blogging about this! hope you don’t mind the plug, but we’re trying to organize a protest on this and putting together a group of people. The protest will take form in a protest at York, at 31 Division, writing letters, or a combination of such.
the idea is that it is not just the officer, but this is symptomatic of a larger issue when it comes to institutions and their (improper) treatment of marginalized bodies.
if you have facebook, here’s a link to further details.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/alyssa-t/no-more-institutionally-inflicted-violence-on-york-campus/10150096609060735
and if not, you can email me at [email protected] if you are in Toronto and are interested in protesting within the next week!