There has been a spate of cab drivers charged with sexual and violent offences. According to ABC news (via Triple J radio) the police have asked women to be "careful" by sitting in the back and being aware of cabbie registration
I have many feelings about the police asking me to modify my behavior to avoid rape, but just this to say: Why not make a public service announcement reminding people not to rape?
Really, why not?
Is it because rape is already illegal, and you shouldn't have to ask twice? Nice thought, but it clearly isn't working, so why not put out a little reminder?
Is it just easier to ask women to change their behaviour? Do you see us as more compliant?
Maybe its because you suspect that women getting in cabs, alone, at night, are kinda the problem? The hussies! /sarcasm
Is it less confronting to appeal to women than to ask men to not act like self-important misogynist jerks? Is it hard to face a group who, lets face it, look more like you than I do (the majority of the police force still being men) and ask them to change?
And why is it still ok to talk about women, when you mean potential victims of rape, but not about men when you mean potential rapists?
No I'm not suggesting the all men are rapists , and yes, I know women can be rapists, but I am very uncomfortable with rhetoric that gives a gender to victims, but keeps the identity of rapists in the dark, as if the vast majority of rapists were some other species, rather than being (most often) men.
Whatever the reason, its about time you got over it. Last time I checked, not getting raped was not my full time responsibility, but not being a rapist is still part of the citizenship contract, isn't it?
Credit where it is due:
The "full time responsibility" line comes from this article (love the line): http://pervocracy.blogspot.com/2011/01/supply-side-rape-prevention.html
