An OB/GYN writes to George Will about college rape

[Triana]

Dear Mr. Will,

I read your recent column on the “supposed campus epidemic of rape, a.k.a. sexual assault” and am somewhat taken aback by your claim that forcing colleges to take a tougher stand on sexual assault somehow translates into a modern version of The Crucible that replaces witchcraft with rape hysteria.

. . .

This weekend I was out dancing and experienced what I think you referred to as “micro-aggressions.” I had my buttocks pinched three times and my breasts groped twice. I was called a “bitch” and a “50-year-hag” when I politely declined hopeful suitors. Whether it is a cat call or a grope these actions represent sexual aggression and Mr. Will they have little to do with sex and everything to do with aggression. I wish someone taught those 40-something-year-old men in college that verbal assaults are not the appropriate response to “no thank you” and that pinching a women’s behind is not a mating ritual.

There is no woman who I have ever met personally or as an OB/GYN who thinks that surviving a rape confers some sort of privilege. I am genuinely curious if you interviewed a few young women hoping to earn their college rape badge or is that just a conclusion you reached looking at the issue of sexual assault through the myopic lens of misogyny?

. . .

There is no survivor privilege, just survivors.

THE REST:

http://drjengunter.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/an-obgyn-writes-to-george-will-about-college-rape/

[betsuni]

1. George Will never listen to anyone

Smug-faced ... I can't think of a good word bad enough to describe him.

[gratuitous]

5. Oh Will might respond to this letter

He'll point out that "There is no woman who I have ever met" should be "There is no woman whom I have ever met." Then he would chuckle superciliously, and Fred Hiatt would rush out to say that he stands by his stupid columnist.

Then the boyz would all high-five each other, agree that they had once again bested those stoopid gurls, and retire to the Real He-Man Woman Haters Clubhouse to smoke cigars and drink brandy.

[spooky3]

2. The entire response is great but a trigger warning is needed.

[tblue37]

3. I hope people will follow your link and read the whole letter. It

is more than twice the length of the excerpt and is very good. Here is another good part:

And you have the gall to wonder why some women might not immediately (if ever) report a rape? I am a 47 year-old financially and professionally secure woman in a stable, loving relationship and it took 25 years and your jackass column to get me to speak up about my rape. How easy do you think it is for a scared 20 year-old to call 911 or walk into a police station and say, “I was just raped?”

[BlancheSplanchnik]

6. just finished reading the whole article.

Powerful. Very very powerful.

[redqueen]

16. I hope so too.

I doubt most will.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. I'm glad to see so many responses to him

He deserves to be fired, but misogyny isn't taken that seriously yet.

[Hekate]

7. Follow the link -- very powerful. And she calls G. Will a jackass! nt

[hatrack]

8. Thermonuclear . . . yet precisely targeted

How's that exposed skin, George?

[cui bono]

9. k n r

[nomorenomore08]

10. Mr. Will should stick to writing about baseball. And that's the most charitable thing I can say.

[Enthusiast]

12. But, think about it. Could he be right, even about baseball?

I'm sure he gets that wrong too.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. He Does

He's clueless about everything. He thinks vocabulary and intellectually gravity are inextricably linked. So, if he's got the latter down, it automatically makes the former true.

That fatal flaw means any opinion he has lacks the depth as every other no matter the topic.

[Enthusiast]

11. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

George Will was a complete asshole before he ever even made the comments on rape, now.............................

[deutsey]

14. In his oh-so-neat-and-tidy world of ideological abstractions

Will never has to sully his views with messy ol' reality.

Quite the charmed life he has.

[redqueen]

15. kpete's subject line was better.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025105594

Wish he hasn't deleted his OP.


K&R anyway

[redqueen]

17. I was disturbed to read several comments recently about people being suspicious

if a woman waited even months before going to the police.

I hope those people click the link and read this whole piece.

Because they fucking need to.

[catrose]

18. Awesome, Dr. Gunter eom

[mstinamotorcity2]

19. Like I said he is

probably GUILTY of the Crime.

[mainer]

20. If it's such a privilege, why isn't George Will volunteering to be raped?

Surely it would confer upon him some wonderful special rights that he could enjoy.