DISQUS

alesbianandascholar · 1 year ago

Ooh, ooh, I have more! Directly from a University of Iowa Police Chief E-mail last spring (that made me throw things):

- NEVER do your laundry alone
- Do not enter an elevator alone with a man. Wait for the next one.
- Never consume alcohol. If you do consume alcohol, by the way, regardless of your age, the university saferide service will not pick you up.

Don't get me started on how much that last one infuriates me. Also the fact that the saferide service is not available to men, though I can see that one a little bit more. I love the Home Alone image - a related tip from our Dear Chief was that women should NEVER put their first name on a mailbox, always an initial, and NEVER list their first name in the phonebook.

hysperia · 1 year ago

Never work at night. Never travel home from work alone. Don't use public transportation at night. Don't jog in the park, day or night. Don't be young, middle-aged or elderly. Never look vulnerable. Carry mace in your left hand and brass knuckles in your right. Never mind alcohol, don't drink ANYTHING in a bar - remember rape drugs. Don't go to university but, if you must, don't live in residence. Don't be disabled. Don't have male friends who haven't been castrated. In fact, never have male friends at all - remember, rape isn't about sex, it's about power. Don't let your divorced mother re-marry. Don't go to church. Never find yourself alone with your uncle, grandfather or any male family friend. If you find your country is at war, emigrate immediately. Don't be poor. Don't get a job. Don't accept packages from Fedex. Never get stopped by a police officer. Don't let fire fighters in to your burning house. Don't have broken appliances. Don't rent your house or apartment. Close your eyes. No, grow eyes in the back of your head. Never relax - you can't afford to let your guard down. Don't be alone. Don't be with anyone either. In fact, lock yourself up tight in a concrete room with no windows and no doors - windows can be broken, locks can be jimmied.

If this doesn't sound like living, swallow it. Every man is your enemy until proven otherwise. Don't ask any man to have your back -don't ask women either - they may have male friends or relatives.

Aaahhhhhhh, what a relief. Thanks for this.

Derek · 1 year ago

Thanks for the additions, you two! My initial intentions were to make a vlog on this, but stuck with a post since I didn't think I'd have enough material for a vlog. With the "tips" you provided, though, I just might make one in the future, with due credit, of course!

monika · 1 year ago

Don't forget that a good chunk of sexual assaults occur at the victim's home (usually by someone known to the victim). Therefore, I would add to 'don't go out' - don't stay home either!

Louise · 1 year ago

Don't lie down either. I know a woman who was told that she 'asked' to be raped because, at a party, while slightly drunk, she went into one of the bedrooms and lay down to sleep. She was fully dressed, lying under a duvet and comatose. She awoke to find a man lying on top of her and well, you can guess the rest. So, women, when you want to go to sleep, make sure you do it (sleep, that is) standing up. Ah, feck it, just put a bullet in your head and even then you've got to worry about the necrophiliacs.

Nicely satirical, btw. A point well made.

Derek · 1 year ago

That's really upsetting. I wish I could say it's unbelievable, but it's not.