When I was in my teens, I was part of a young feminists board founded by a pair of YA writers. I was about 16 and the age range was 13-20ish at the time. The number of young women who truly, honestly believed that it wasn't rape unless they fought back or outright actively said "no" (and sometimes not even then) was shocking. Many said nothing like that was even covered in school sex ed (if school sex ed covered anything more than just abstinence and horror stories about STIs).
If young women believe these things and often don't learn otherwise until college (if then; I've gone back to abovementioned board and found folk I knew who were members back when I was still there and spouting crap like if a women wears a skimpy dress, she's responsible)... the impression I've gotten is that it's even less talked about among men. It's just a mess all around, and education about enthusiastic consent starting in school would help a lot, I think.
Rehabilitation in general is something we in the US are bad at. It was interesting to me to read the news coverage and commentary in various communities on the mass murderer in Norway; folks here in the US were basically calling for blood and questioning why Norway thought there was any chance of rehabilitating ANY criminal, of ANY sort. The folks over in Norway, who have a very good rate of rehabilitation, were all o.O
American society in general is very revenge based, which I can understand on an emotional level, but it leaves some huge issues with criminals who might be able to be rehabilitated. Certainly not everyone, but other countries have proven it's possible.
It's really complex and something I'm not sure of even how to start to put into place with all the issues with society as it is, but something needs to change.
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If young women believe these things and often don't learn otherwise until college (if then; I've gone back to abovementioned board and found folk I knew who were members back when I was still there and spouting crap like if a women wears a skimpy dress, she's responsible)... the impression I've gotten is that it's even less talked about among men. It's just a mess all around, and education about enthusiastic consent starting in school would help a lot, I think.
Rehabilitation in general is something we in the US are bad at. It was interesting to me to read the news coverage and commentary in various communities on the mass murderer in Norway; folks here in the US were basically calling for blood and questioning why Norway thought there was any chance of rehabilitating ANY criminal, of ANY sort. The folks over in Norway, who have a very good rate of rehabilitation, were all o.O
American society in general is very revenge based, which I can understand on an emotional level, but it leaves some huge issues with criminals who might be able to be rehabilitated. Certainly not everyone, but other countries have proven it's possible.
It's really complex and something I'm not sure of even how to start to put into place with all the issues with society as it is, but something needs to change.