In all honesty, I do think the way a woman dresses can predisopose her to attacks. In the same way, you wouldn't leave an expensive car unlocked, with the windows down in a rough neighborhood, or in the same way you don't take dodgy shortcuts whilst alone in an unlit area, you wouldn't (IMO) dress provocatively and then expect not to be a victim of abuse.

It takes two to tango.

So presumably then, as a man, if you walked around a beach in Speedos and were subsequently raped by another man, you deserved it?

I'm not saying a woman deserves but it shouldn't be a complete surprise. We don't live in a Utopia where anyone can be themselves and express themselves without any consequences. We live in a time where child pornography, human trafficking and prostitution are rife.

I don't wear speedos but I also wouldn't be alone on my own in a strange place. If it were known that men who wore speedos were raped, I for certain would not wear them.

I'm talking about danger and minimising your risk. I live in a rough neighbourhood. It's the kind of place where you don't go out after 9pm and if you have to, it's best to go by car and failing that in a group. I would happily walk to my old workplace but if I did weird shifts eg finish at 2am etc, I'd drive there and back. I always park my car in the garage. If I didn't, it could be vandalised or stolen. I reduce the risk by parking it in the garage. I have two sisters and they both know not to wander around the streets when it's dark. They dress much more conservatively, will arrange appropriate transport home (failing which I will drive and pick them up), travel in groups etc. They are aware of the risks of not following these points and if they broke them and something happened (eg they were walking round in bikinis at midnight and were raped), I'd be a lot less sympathetic towards them and they know this.

Hope that clears things up a bit.

Any person should be able to walk naked down any street at any time without fear of harassment.

Ok, you increase your chances of harassment if you do so, but this should never be considered when it comes to punishment for actual assaults.

The law has something to say about this, so it wouldn't happen.

Like I said, in an ideal world, anybody should be able to do anything they want without consequences. We live in the real world, where perpetual motion does not exist etc.

Men who want to assault women will do so, regardless of their attire. I guess harassed walking home in jeans and tshirt in my neighbourhood. I think drunkeness is a lot stronger factor than clothing in that respect.

Yes but does leering really count as harassment? I just enjoy the view. So I do not think it is an invitation for a maniac to rape or harass them.

I believe the phrase is "Look, but don't touch".

Window shopping is another.

You look with your eyes, not with your hands* (or anything else)



http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/g ... e_0008.jpg












*unless you are blind

Please note I did not add the ™ to Window.

Ooh I'm really short sighted. Does that mean I get free grope if I'm not wearing my specs

</bad taste joke on a serious matter>

Do you think blind people use the excuse that they were window shopping when they are arrested for sexual assault?

Of course.

The question is; do they get away with it?