In yesterday’s newspaper, I read two different articles about hate crimes. One was an article stating that the number of hate crimes has increased from last year. As the number of agencies reporting varies every year, it is hard to determine the exact number of hate crimes and whether there is a true increase or decrease. (For example, Alabama agencies reported only 1 hate crime for 2006—unfortunately, that is probably not an accurate statistic.) The study defined hate crimes as those motivated by a bias against race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin or physical or mental disability
The second article was an editorial that covered several topics related to hate crimes, and part of it questioned the current notion of not including sexual violence as a type of hate crime. Upon reading that, I had to revisit the earlier report on hate crimes—and of course, it did not include sexual violence as a hate crime.
Redefining and treating rape as a hate crime will better address the underlying causes of rape. Too often, the blame is shifted back toward the victims—they should not have been out so late, they should not have dressed a certain way, they should have taken the proper safeguards if putting themselves in a vulnerable situation. But no one should have to fear being the victim of an act of violence just because she is female, just as violence should not be targeted against people of certain races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, or sexual orientations. Rape does not have to be an extra fear at night for women, in addition to all the other dangers that are the same for both genders.
Here is a link to the article about hate crimes. I can’t find an online version of the editorial at the moment, but if I do, I’ll post it:
Hate crimes rose 8% in 2006
3 comments:
I also believe that rape is most definantly a hate crime. It is very important to "address the underlying causes of rape" and reinforce the idea that the vicitm is not the one at fault.
However, I couldn't help but notice that when you referred to rape victims, you said "she". While women are more often times the victims of rape, men are also raped. Unfortunately, because of the negative stigma and fear of embarrasment, many men do not report their rape cases to the police. As we discussed before in class regarding gender roles, society has created an image of men as strong, aggressive, non-emotional beings. Therefore, men often times feel the need to embody these characteristics and fear other's reactions if they were to report being raped. For example, an article entitled "Can Women Rape Men?" reported that "cops are known to laugh at men who turn up to report being raped, telling them in some cases they should consider themselves lucky."
Current laws in many states define rape as a man having non-consensual sexual intercourse with a woman. However, men of all ages are being raped and sexually-abused. Do they not deserve protection under the law?
I believe men will continue to not report their rape cases as long as gender roles and social stigmas are present. In addition, legislation needs to be changed to accomodate rape as a gender-neutral crime.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20061111T200000-0500_115197_OBS_CAN_WOMEN_RAPE_MEN__.asp
I most definitely agree with you in saying that rape is a hate crime. I don't think that any individual rapes another individual out of love or any positive emotion. They have to know that they are inflicting an immense amount of pain on their victim and are causing their victim to undergo such a traumatizing event that may greatly affect them for the rest of their lives.
The only problem that I have with your post is the face that you say, "But no one should have to fear being the victim of an act of violence just because she is female." It may not be as common as a hate crime for males, but males are rape victims as well. This extra fear at night that you mention that females may experience as a result of this hate crime is also applicable to men. We may think of men as being stronger and those who are the rapists themselves, but men can also be the victims of these hate crimes as well.
In fact the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network states that while one in six women are victims of sexual assault, one in thirty-three men are victims of sexual assault. Even though this number is substantially lower, the hate crime still exists to both men and women.
Here is the link for the National Rape, Assault, Abuse, and Incest, Coalition
www.RAINN.org
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