"I think we also need to start talking about the power that women have to control the situation. There's law enforcement, you can refuse to cooperate with that kind of behavior. I think that many times, men get away with this because they are allowed to get away with it by the women," Johnson said.

Johnson also expressed disappointment that more women didn't come forward sooner, saying women need guidance to stand up against harassment and report it."

She is totally Stepford-wiving the issue.

So, we are to believe that men are such Neanderthals that if they see a woman with bare shoulders, etc. they cannot control their impulses? And bearing those shoulders, etc. is the fault of the woman?

Utter poppycock. End of story.

I know lots of women like that who still infantilize men pretending rape is about sex - while it was bad that they did that, it's all just raging male hormones; their parents did a bad job and didn't teach them self-control early enough.

They also think rape is something a stranger would do, so meeting up with someone you don't know "that well" alone is also risky behavior.

It wouldn't surprise me that someone who's "old school" thinks that way. Sounds like something someone would say to my mom when she was in high school. It's sooo 1950's...

Haele

Not sure how that fits into the 'privileged' bucket.

White or black, it doesn't matter. When I grew up, privileged or protected girls and women were taught that it was "boys being boys" and you'd all be okay if you dressed a certain way, or didn't put yourself forward.

And if men "cat-called", or pressured just a bit to the line to get a date or a kiss, it was supposed to be a complement and if he was a good man, he'd either leave you alone afterwards, or want to marry you. That is, he was supposed to leave you alone if you said "no" loudly and firmly enough and didn't confuse him with all those outward signals that you wanted attention. Men get confused sooo easily. Because the preachers have been saying for hundreds of years - Good Christian Women are supposed to be a civilizing effect on men.
Sex was something that you only provided once he agreed to take care of you for the rest of your life. Even if you took a bit of a risk and didn't wait for the ring. And if he loved you and left you, it was because you were foolish and wanted attention from a bad man instead of a good man. That's the "old fashioned" way.



Those of us who weren't lucky enough to live in a smaller town where everyone knew each other, or weren't able to work in a more cloistered environment primarily around other women knew differently. Sexual pressure, sexual harassment, rape - it's all about a perception of power over someone.

Haele

But she definitely is contributing to the "you asked for it", mentality. Shame.