On the "promotion of casual sex among young people encourages sexual assault" meme.... [View all]
I've heard this explanation for why sexual assault is so prevalent on college campuses articulated by several commentators, particularly conservatives. The implication is that casual sex in and of itself is to blame for high incidences of rape and other assaults on women.
What is conveniently whitewashed in this explanation are the unequal power relations between men and women in all relationships-not just casual sexual partnerships. The idea that being in a committed relationship or marriage will magically make men respect women simply does not bear out when you consider the amount of sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse that actually occurs in committed relationships-including marriages.
The real issue is this: there are a non-negligible number of men who feel entitled to have sex with any woman they want, regardless of the woman's feelings or if there's any chemistry between them (or in some cases, if the woman even knows the man exists). Unfortunately for these men's sense of entitlement (but fortunately for everyone else) the days of female sexual agency and autonomy controlled by men are over, and you can thank feminists for that. Yet some jealous, resentful, misogynistic men apparently haven't gotten the memo that women can and should have the freedom to choose their sexual partners-which also must mean that they can choose who they do not want to have sex with.
-My $0.02.
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