Viewpoint

Victims can take steps to prevent sexual assault

One needs to beware letting political viewpoints to impede reality. In Anna Philips' response to Josiah Silverstein's letter to the editor of March 30th ("Writer shouldn't blame sexual assault victims" 4/3/2000), the author aims to remove focus away from the assault survivor, and criticizes Silverstein for implying that the victim may have been at fault for the attack. Sadly, her response distracts us from an important issue: How not to be a victim in the first place.

Ms. Philips' very cleverly employs language as a tactic to reframe the debate. First, she uses the term "survivor" rather than "victim" a political act aimed at empowering the assaulted individual ("Victim" implies passivity). She defends the behaviors and choices of the victim/survivor by only focusing on the outcome - the assault. By arguing in this manner, we cannot criticize the behavior of the victim/survivor because to do so will result in the appearance of condoning the assault.

While refraining from "victim-blaming comments" might avoid impeding the survivor's "healing process", it also creates a new problem. Though Philips pays lip-service to personal responsibility, her argument absolves the victim of any. This was done, I suspect, to protect the victim/survivor from traditional stigmas that are applied to assault victims. But, by using these arguments to do so, we must also assume that the victim/survivor need not feel responsible for the consequence of their actions, because the victim/survivor was powerless to prevent the assault. This is patently false. We can take steps to gain a measure of control over the situations we are faced with.

We need to separate the victim from their behavior. Criticizing the victim's behavior as unwise prior to the attack should in no way constitute a moral attack on the victim. Instead, we can use the experience and criticism to draw some powerful lessons.

The victim's inebriated condition was very likely a contributing factor to the assault. Predators most often attack those who are easier targets; in the wild, lions tend to attack the defenseless - usually the old, weak, sick, young and straggling members of the herd. The predator exposes itself to smaller risk with a higher likelihood of success. Human predators behave similarly. In the wild, potential prey must be wary and alert.

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Those of us who are not predators must behave with care and wisdom lest our rights be threatened. We make ourselves targets by engaging in careless and oblivious behavior. This again, in no way, absolves the attacker's responsibility. If you want to be truly safe, than you should avoid exposure to unnecessary risks. Look before crossing the street. Wear reflective clothing when bicycling at night. Take an umbrella when the forecast calls for rain. Don't have unprotected sex. Don't walk alone through unlit alleys at 3 a.m. on Saturday nights. Be less of a target.

I will leave the healing process of the specific victim to whatever methods they wish to employ. I am certain, they are now painfully aware of the possible consequences of their behavior. We cannot control other people, and we often have to place our trust in others. Ultimately, exercising care, caution, and common sense is the best way to avoid an assault. Sometimes, we need a reminder.

- This viewpoint was written by School of Public Policy student David Goodman.