Oh, so sexual assault is about loss of control, hm? Monday, January 21, 2008
This ad, along with its accompanying campaign, pretty much makes me want to scream. For hair-ripping fun, you should really check out the video at keepcontrol.ca.
For now, let’s focus on this image of genius, shall we?
“Aidan didn’t think he’d be raping his friend’s sister.” Under the slogan of the campaign (”KEEP CONTROL”), the statement suggests that, a) Aidan just lost control after five drinks and that, b) it’s worse that he raped his friend’s sister, rather than some random stranger.
The ad perpetuates the myth that men simply lose control when they drink; that sexual assault wouldn’t occur as often if they didn’t drink as much. True, alcohol may be used as “liquid courage,” but it doesn’t make someone do something ze doesn’t want to do in the first place. Sure, I may have a couple of drinks in order to encourage myself to get up on the dance floor, but it’s not like I didn’t have that planned in the first place. Further, alcohol doesn’t make people commit outrageous crimes such as sexual assault. Think about it: Is someone going to stab herself in the eye because she’s had a few drinks? No!
So, let’s put the blame where it belongs - in the hands of the perpetrator. Aidan didn’t rape his friend’s sister because he had too many drinks; he raped his friend’s sister because he’s a perpetrator who uses sex in order to gain power and control over women.
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