Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Rape is without a doubt, one of the most brutal crimes in society. It destroys and damages, it takes and breaks people. But, did you know there are those who feel rape should be legalised?
I kid you not, on 16 February 2015, a blogger by the name of Daryush Valizadeh, known online as Roosh V, wrote an online article about why rape should be legalised. In fact, he titled the article How to Stop Rape.
By legalising rape on private property, the author explains how women will be more cautious about the men they trust, where they go to and take preventive measures to ensure they do not fall victim to rape.
While he claims the article was satirical, one needs to wonder if there are men who really feel rape should be legalised?
Whether raped by a stranger or a close family friend, the horrors of rape cannot be ignored. So, why would anyone want to legalise rape? While rape is a criminal act in virtually every community, did you know there are certain countries where spousal rape is not a criminal act?
These countries include:
- Afghanistan
- Botswana
- China
- Ethiopia
- Pakistan
- Haiti
With Roosh airing his views on why rape must be made legal, alongside spousal rape allowed in certain countries, are there other men who believe women should be less?
The Men’s Rights Movement (MRM) is one such movement. This group feels men are the real victims of rape. Yes, that’s right. According to them, one just needs to look at the crime statistics and know that women are not the real victims of rape and domestic violence.
One of the group’s concerns is false rape allegations. While this is admirable, as there are men who are falsely arrested, this group does not feel rape victims should get anonymity. The accused’s name is often handed out, while the victim remains anonymous. The MRM feels this allows women to freely abuse the system and keep men downtrodden.
Some members of the MRM even oppose criminalising spousal rape. What!? Certain movements within the MRM, especially in the United Kingdom, the United States and India, feel that criminalising spousal rape can result in false cases during divorce proceedings. Also, the movement feels sex is a part of a healthy marriage. How they believe raping their wife forms part of a healthy marriage is not only beyond me, it is simply insane.
The MRM also feels feminism gives women more rights than men. They believe something needs to be done about the feminist movement.
With social media offering these men a platform to voice their views, will women ever find true equality? What are your thoughts? Do you think men still subjugate women? What do you feel must be done to men who feel it is their right to dominate women? And do you think South African women have more freedom than those from other countries?
