A Response To Your '#NotAllMen' Logic
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

A Response To Your '#NotAllMen' Logic

No one actually thinks "all men" are the problem, just too many men.

316
A Response To Your '#NotAllMen' Logic
Pinterest

The other day, a child was raped in a train station. Desperate for help, she flagged down a car and, after getting in it, she was brutally raped again by the man who picked her up. The horrific news of this crime was met with rightful outrage and heated comments condemning the patriarchal rape culture that has been the breeding ground for these awful circumstances that will affect this girl for the rest of her life.

Amidst the outcry, however, were a great number of comments reminding people that most men are not rapists and that the anger over this event should not affect the general male population.

While this argument is based on logic — only a very small percentage of men are, in fact, rapists— that is not the point.

Rapists do indeed comprise only a small percentage of the larger population but they are more likely to be repeat offenders with multiple victims. And yet every time sexual assault enters into the national spotlight, people (primarily men) crawl out of their hiding places to comment on everything that "not all men are rapists" and "most men are actually nice guys".

So to all those that feel that the comments of a news piece about something as horrific as rape is the appropriate place to air your grievances over being lumped in with criminals and perverts, this one is for you.

Screaming "not all men" is a major cop-out to avoid dealing with a sticky situation. Rather than deciding that a situation doesn't involve you and staying in your own lane or working to change the awful situation in the first place, people who use the "not all men" logic choose to actively ignore problems by still finding a way to make sure that we know it's still all about them.

"Not all men" is a baseless claim. The fact that not all men are scumbags is common knowledge. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there are good and bad people in every group, including any gender. You are not progressing the conversation in any way by reminding people of this obvious and irrelevant fact.

If you're not like these men, prove it. Fight with us to disassemble the social structures that continue to let things like rape and gendered violence continue to exist. Typing out nine little letters in a hashtag form isn't enough.

It never has been and it never will be.

"Not All Men" removes the blame from the social situations that have created this culture and promotes victim shaming. If the men refuse to take responsibility for these circumstances, the blame naturally falls on women.

Does every single man have to be the problem before something can be done to find a solution? 1 in 6 women is sexually assaulted. Is that in and of itself not a big enough epidemic to be worth doing something about? Does the problem only become relevant and important enough if every single man is at fault? Let's hope not.

So the next time you feel like you're being left out of a conversation that you feel entitled to be in and you feel like inserting a quick little quip defending your innocence (that no one ever questioned in the first place), re-evaluate your decision and remind yourself that this situation is so much larger than your personal involvement. And even if you know that you're not a part of the problem, unless you're contributing to finding a solution, feel free to keep your fragile babbling to yourself.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

43345
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

27254
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

952187
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

144503
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments