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Wednesday, November 15, 2006 12:00 AM

I'm a student in Scandinavia terrified of rape

I'm starting to see attackers behind every bush. Am I being silly and paranoid?

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  • Tuesday, November 14, 2006 07:39 PM

    Fear of Stranger Rapes Used As Weapon Against Women

    Although I do not know the exact statistic for rapes in Scandinavia, I do know that the vast majority of rapes in the US are not stranger rapes (the type she appears to fear most) but rapes committed by those one knows--acquaintances, dates, friend of a friend, etc. In the US, that's 89% in fact. The numbers may be different in Scandinavia, but probably not such a vast margin as to make my point--that the dissemination of fear-tactics against women by the media and by mis-leading self-defense course curriculum are in fact weapons used against women in and of themselves to spread fear and further silence the real epidemics of rape, domestic violence, and the sexual assault world-wide. By always pushing rape to the margins, to a woman walking alone at night, instead of focusing the light on the real epidemic of rape culture in patriarchy, we further alienate and re-victimize women/children whose stories are not being told (and others who might be tomorrow's victim). In this forum, let's talk about the real epidemic and how men and women can work together to expose the roots of sexual violence and work toward its end.

    Peace

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