I Dress In Anything I Please

Rape. It is a form of sexual assault that is driven but lust and passion. Rape is perceived as an inevitability in our civilization;  a terrible yet common, harsh reality. Men as well as women, are victims of rape. There is no minimum  age for rape; even if you are a minor, an adult, or even a baby, you can be raped. This topic is hotly contested, with some claiming that it it usually the victim’s fault that she or he is raped.

Rape leaves  an indelible mark on the victim. Rape occurs due to a variety of reasons. Blaming the victim, it appears to me, will never be a viable strategy to ending rape. Many people believe that the way teens dress is the reason why many of them get raped. That, however, was never the issue. It is never, in my opinion, the victim’s fault why they get raped, molested or any type of sexual assault that exists. Nobody would ever want for such a terrible thing to happen to them. How and why would anyone in the right mind ever blame the victim about what they were wearing during the vile act. It barely matters what the victim was wearing and it shouldn’t matter in the first place.

Most of you will probably say things like “The wouldn’t have been sexually assaulted or raped if it weren’t for what they were wearing.” or ” The rapist was just attracted to the victim because the clothes they were wearing are too exposing and is showing so much skin.” I’m curious. Can anyone tell me how defending rapists and sexual offenders offenders is beneficial to you? Yes, the victim’s attire may be revealing and may have been the reason for the rape. They make a valid point, which is why we should learn how to defend ourselves against sexual predators. Many people believe that becoming fully clothed will prevent you from being raped since you will not draw or attract the attention of any potential rapist.

I recently read an article from Texas A&M University that included the victims’ clothing. I looked at the images and realized that my point had been confirmed. The victims were completely clothed, with the majority of them wearing a shirt and some sweatpants. One of them even claimed that when he was assaulted, he had just finished working out and was wearing a Nike shirt. This piece, in my opinion, strongly supports my viewpoint.

I’ve also been cat-called because of what I was wearing as a teenager. Not just once, but several times. It kept me awake at night, convinced that there was something wrong with the clothes I was wearing. But why should I be catcalled when I’m wearing something that makes me feel confident and attractive? Everyone has the right to wear whatever they want, as long as it is appropriate for the event.

I believe that how a person dresses have no bearing on whether or not they commit a crime, and that victim-blaming will not excuse this sexual behavior. We’re all dressed in clothes that make us feel good, and no one deserves to be raped or sexually insulted as a result. This is the moment for us to finally address this issue and change our minds. Rather of teaching someone how to dress, teach yourself and those around you how to respect.