Caroline Potoclicchio's Post

Written by Caroline Potoclicchio

After attending a benefit for the Vera House in Syracuse, the theme of sexual violence against women has been prominent over the past couple weeks. During this benefit I learned about the white ribbon campaign, which is a campaign for not only women to be aware of sexual abuse, but also men to get other men thinking about how they can help decrease this abuse. The Vera House is a shelter for women who have been domestically and sexually abused. This house provides medication, therapy, food, and clothes for victims of sexual abuse.  One of the speakers commented saying "Men have the tools right in front of them to stop rape." Brownmiller touches upon this point in a different way saying that men have discovered that their "genitalia could serve as a weapon to generate fear". She also states that "a world without rapists would be a world in which women moved freely without fear of men." Another interesting point that she makes is that Little Red Riding Hood is "a parable of rape." According to Brownmiller, the wolves are the frightening men who are looking to prey on the women if they don't stay on path. "If you are lucky, a good, friendly male may be able to save you from a certain disaster." She also states that the once it has been established that all women want to be ravished, "it is bolstered by the claim that 'No woman can be raped against their will." Just from being a student at Colgate, I understand this point that she is making. There is a connotation that women may give men gestures but the truth is that men sometimes will read too much into polite or friendly gestures. There is also a claim that women can just say "No." However they can't say no if they are roofied or are unconscious from alcohol consumption. I think that the white ribbon campaign is completely accurate with trying to make men more aware about stopping sexual abuse. Women grow up knowing that this is a reoccuring pattern among their gender and now it is time for men to take a stand.