I Write Letters, Too

Trigger warning

Dear Mr. Ward,

I will admit that I don't watch your show, Tough Love. I think I am exceedingly glad that I don't.


Still, I was quite nonplussed when I read that you opined that one of the women on the show, Arian, was going to end up "getting raped" if her present pattern of behavior—raunchy and inappropriate, I believe were your words?—continued. She enjoys taking risks, said you, putting herself "in that position," and there are consequences! Arian should be more "classy!"

Hmmm, I thought, is Mr. Ward really suffering under the ildelusion that "classy" women don’t get raped? That rape occurs because "raunchy and inappropriate" women "ask for it?" Surely not!

But, in case you are, I'd like to point you here (or here or here) and here, where the entirety of the blog deconstructs and proves the fallacies of rape apologies like yours.

And I'd like to challenge you, Mr. Ward, to realize that "in that position" often means existing as a woman or anyone perceived as weaker or more vulnerable in a rape culture.

Yes, a rape culture.

How else would you describe a culture in which the logical consequence of acting a certain way or wearing a certain thing is understood to be the violation of one's bodily autonomy?

xoxo,

elle

P.S. Oh, and expect more letters.

H/T Alessia via belledame on twitter