(Trigger Warning) A horrific story out of British Columbia: Candian news outlets are reporting that a sixteen year old girl was gang raped last Saturday night at a party. The incident was apparently photographed and videotaped and the images were then posted on Facebook and other Internet sites. Meanwhile, across the world in Perth, Australia, a 14 year old girl was recently allegedly raped by two teens while a third filmed the incident.
The media has dubbed the Canadian incident the “Internet photo rape” or the “Facebook gang rape” and are of course examining the role of social media in this crime and in the lives of teens. It’s a valid line of questioning as long as we don’t lose site of the fact it is people who commit crimes, not the Internet. The images of the incident did not “go viral” they were spread, by people.
Has the Internet desensitized us? Probably. But our blame-the-victim culture desensitizes too. What are we teaching our children when Roman Polanski is lauded by Hollywood, when a reporter is harassed and her clothing becomes the headline, when a man kills his wife and her so-called nagging is cited as the cause?
For more facts on rape and information on prevention and victim support, visit RAINN, The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
(Trigger warning) There is also an excellent, related post on rape culture at Shakesville. But it is not an easy read.







