A Call for Men to React to Sexual Assault
From Amendment Twenty Eight/Mike Wilson
Reposted from Occupy Oakland Open Forum on FB
I’ve been jolted into action by a FB comrade, Sri Louise, who pointed out that it should be the heterosexual men among us who call attention to the gang-rape in Steubenville, OH last August, and the very official cover-up and defense which is still going on. In response, I’d like any and all who are willing to form an assembly to draft statements direct…ed at the Steubenville rapists and their defenders and to plan a press conference and other actions. I believe we need to work collectively on undermining the assumptions of hegemonic masculinity in order to form as many missteps as possible. One action I have is to plan a vigil for the victims of sexual assault. Instead of identifying the victims, we could cite the perpetrators, or we could narrate incidents of sexual assault without including any names. In doing so, we could include some incidents that are not as newsworthy as gang-rape for the sake of enlarging our understanding of what constitutes sexual assault. I’ve had the idea that we could plan to hold such a vigil on April 1st, which is the first day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. But here’s one of many places where I need the help of an assembly: the National Sexual Violence Resource Center – a non-profit – is the only sponsor of SAAM that I know of. Should we support their foundation, and should we ask for their guidance and resources?
To white men who are afraid to admit participating in patriarchy: face the fear because your very safe and privileged positions in society make it easy for you to do so. Openly admit that not reacting to rape – whether in Steubenville, or India, or at a party you went to on the weekend – makes you complicit in patriarchy. If you’re afraid – as I am – that you have not yet reached a stage of evolutionary development to avoid criticism from women even as you try to express their value, then I say: Suck It Up, Dudes! Even if the corrections offered by women are not worded in a way that Emily Post would approve of, accept them for what they really mean, which is that there is hope you will learn to be conscious of the many implicit and secret mechanisms of patriarchy. Every living creature in the universe knows dangers and exclusions that you’ve never experienced, and yet they still keep you company. You have nothing to lose; instead, you will gain respect by admitting you’ve been clueless and that you’ve played a part – even without intending to – in sustaining the root of capitalism and state bureaucracy, which is patriarchy.
Please participate in calling the attention of our comrades and witnesses to the manly practices of disregard, intolerance, and violence. If you are willing to be part of an assembly to raise awareness of and to fight the metastasis of the Man-in-charge disorder, you can confront me at any Occupy Oakland General Assembly on Sundays, 2:00PM, at 19th and Telegraph. I’ll also be attending the City Council meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, January 15, 5:00PM. My name is Mike Wilson, and I’ve included a picture of myself so you can find me in the crowd.
A Call for Men to React to Sexual Assault I’ve been jolted into action by a FB comrade, Sri Louise, who pointed out that it should be the heterosexual men among us who call attention to the gang-rape in Steubenville, OH last August, and the very official cover-up and defense which is still going on. In response, I’d like any and all who are willing to form an assembly to draft statements direct…ed at the Steubenville rapists and their defenders and to plan a press conference and other actions. I believe we need to work collectively on undermining the assumptions of hegemonic masculinity in order to form as many missteps as possible. One action I have is to plan a vigil for the victims of sexual assault. Instead of identifying the victims, we could cite the perpetrators, or we could narrate incidents of sexual assault without including any names. In doing so, we could include some incidents that are not as newsworthy as gang-rape for the sake of enlarging our understanding of what constitutes sexual assault. I’ve had the idea that we could plan to hold such a vigil on April 1st, which is the first day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. But here’s one of many places where I need the help of an assembly: the National Sexual Violence Resource Center – a non-profit – is the only sponsor of SAAM that I know of. Should we support their foundation, and should we ask for their guidance and resources? To white men who are afraid to admit participating in patriarchy: face the fear because your very safe and privileged positions in society make it easy for you to do so. Openly admit that not reacting to rape – whether in Steubenville, or India, or at a party you went to on the weekend – makes you complicit in patriarchy. If you’re afraid – as I am – that you have not yet reached a stage of evolutionary development to avoid criticism from women even as you try to express their value, then I say: Suck It Up, Dudes! Even if the corrections offered by women are not worded in a way that Emily Post would approve of, accept them for what they really mean, which is that there is hope you will learn to be conscious of the many implicit and secret mechanisms of patriarchy. Every living creature in the universe knows dangers and exclusions that you’ve never experienced, and yet they still keep you company. You have nothing to lose; instead, you will gain respect by admitting you’ve been clueless and that you’ve played a part – even without intending to – in sustaining the root of capitalism and state bureaucracy, which is patriarchy. Please participate in calling the attention of our comrades and witnesses to the manly practices of disregard, intolerance, and violence. If you are willing to be part of an assembly to raise awareness of and to fight the metastasis of the Man-in-charge disorder, you can confront me at any Occupy Oakland General Assembly on Sundays, 2:00PM, at 19th and Telegraph. I’ll also be attending the City Council meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, January 15, 5:00PM. My name is Mike Wilson, and I’ve included a picture of myself so you can find me in the crowd.
[I do not know how to copy and paste a photo here, so did not include the photo, my apologies.]
See, also:
http://steubenville2013.wordpress.com/
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