If the Kent State Gun Girl ever shoots a white man in self-defense, everybody who ever cheered her on will decide she is the most vicious, unnatural creature on God's green earth and she should have given him a chance, he had his whole life in front of him.
Victim blaming rape culture says that women who are overpowered or coerced should have defended themselves... but women who defend themselves from men, all other axes of power being equal, are mistrusted and vilified.
I've got no patience for men who want to project their Death Wish power trip fantasies on women, because not only are the questions of self-defense they spend hours choreographing in their heads not abstract for us... we don't have the same social sanctions they do.
The same little voice that goes "Well, why does she have to be so judgmental? He could be a nice guy." when we, say, text a picture of a license plate before getting into a guy's car will be whispering to the cops, the jury, the press if we defend ourselves as a man would.
"Why'd she have a knife? Why'd she have a gun? Why'd she escalate? How did she know his intentions? Did she give him a chance?"
Look at the sentences for wives who kill husbands, as opposed to the other way around. Even when there is abuse. Even in self-defense.
Violence from women, against men, is regarded as unnatural. Society recoils from it, and makes excuses for the men.
Violence from women, against men, is regarded as unnatural. Society recoils from it, and makes excuses for the men.
Society openly scorns the idea of men inflicting violence against women. That's the trope. "Real men don't hit women."
But also, "Boys will be boys." and "That means he likes you." and "It's a family matter." and "You have to show them who's the boss."
But also, "Boys will be boys." and "That means he likes you." and "It's a family matter." and "You have to show them who's the boss."
The open avowed scorn for violence against women isn't half the deep seated despite for violence by women.
The former is regrettable.
The latter is unnatural.
The former is regrettable.
The latter is unnatural.
I'm not saying women shouldn't defend ourselves.
I'm saying... we have stuff we have to weigh, in case we win.
Society is quick to blame victims, but it doesn't begin to know what to do with us as victors.
I'm saying... we have stuff we have to weigh, in case we win.
Society is quick to blame victims, but it doesn't begin to know what to do with us as victors.
