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Brutal Gang Rape of a Teenage Girl Calls Attention to Violence Against Women
As more suspects are arrested and more information about the savage crime of the gang-rape of the 15-year-old California girl surfaces, the media has done follow-up stories ranging from community outrage, questions of school safety, lack of parental involvement, the state of American youth and even angles investigating the so-called "bystander effect" – why people watched the attack but didn't intervene. Though media have done a good job following this story and getting people to reflect on their moral consciousness, they have yet to raise the issue that plagues and threatens women's lives everyday.
The community denounced violence last week at a rally in front of the school, but this was a specific crime targeting a specific gender – this was an act of violence that targeted a woman. Every minute three women are raped in the U.S. Teenage girls are especially at risk. According to a 2000 National Crime Survey, girls ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely to be victims of rape, attempted rape of sexual assault.
Could it considered a gender-based hate crime? Just last week President Obama signed the landmark hate crime legislation to extend existing federal hate crimes laws beyond the narrow scope of protected federal activities and also includes – for the first time – violent crimes committed on the basis of actual of perceived gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity. Prosecutors could use the new hate crime legislation to go after the alleged rapists. The vicious nature of the crime and the possible collaboration and planning of the gang rape could propel prosecutors to use the new legislation.
The 15-year-old girl was preyed upon by a group of men and boys because of her gender. A plan to further weaken and enhance her vulnerability was orchestrated by giving her alcohol. Then she was reportedly brutally beaten and sexually assaulted for more than two hours by as many as 10 men and teens, while a reported 20 or more bystanders watched, laughed, photographed, videotaped and cheered on as the attack took place.
Like most violence, violence against women is not accidental – it has a purpose. It is used as a weapon of war, intimidation, the ultimate power and control, breaking of the family and community, and denying women's status. It is import for the media, the Richmond community, and the nation to identify crimes like the gang-rape as an act of violence against women because we need to make better connections on how to respond and prevent crimes like this from happening. The focus on prevention is what gives crimes against women their defining characteristics, and a chance for law enforcement, parents and communities to respond better.
A statement written by the victim was released last night. In it she says, "Violence is always the wrong choice. We realize people are angry about this but let the anger cause change, change that is necessary to keep our children, our neighbors and our friends safe." We must change the way we look and think about safety for our girls and what we are doing or not doing to protect them.
'Deadbeat Dads'
Looks like your engaging in communal blame.
Sure, they're are men who don't live up to their fiscal responsibility, but there's much more to it.
Ever hear the phrase -- 'dead broke' dads. Fathers who are scrapping the poverty level. After a divorce, the man usually vacates his home but is legally responsible to pay at least part of the expense.
Lets not forget unfair child custody laws.
Also, many women choose to have children out of wedlock and act as gatekeepers when deciding how much time dad spends with his kids.
Also, what is mom doing with her child custody payments? -- Botox??
Bottom line: The VAST majority of fathers are not deadbeats. Assuming otherwise could be defined as misandry.
Your comments are typical. A man must walk on egg shells when speaking of a woman. Women on the other hand, can say pretty much what they want without consequence.
Believe me, fathers are anything but privileged. Kind of throws a wrench in your patriarchy theory.
If you want to attract more men to your movement, you might want to try being less hostile towards men.
I have decided to donate a small amount each month to a domestic abuse organization as well as an organization such as this that was founded to speak for women's rights.
I strongly believe that we have to do something about the way women our being viewed in our society today. When it has reached a point that women being abused, tortured, murdered is commonplace in our society it is time for action. I hope others will join me.
There needs to be a presumption of joint custody. There needs to be some way that a non-custodial parent can hold the custodial parent accountable for how child support is spent.
If boys were not raised in a culture that is hostile towards fathers, maybe they wouldn't be so reluctant to be one. I know from experience the uphill battle that a father has if he decides to fight for his parental rights. I never let that stop me, but I'm sure there are countless fathers out there that never even tried because they knew the odds were stacked against them.
@tkingin1, I agree that this is a very disturbing story. But violence against women is not, and has never been, commonplace. The vast majority of violence on this planet has always been against men. I don't remember the exact statistics but its something like 90% of assaults are against men, 99% of deaths during war are men. When violence happens, a man is much more likely to the victim than a woman.
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