“You guys want to play the rape game? No? That’s the spirit!” (/r/jokes). Believe it or not, people think it's funny- and some even say and laugh about it in public. There are blogs, and websites dedicated to the word rape and mocking it. Next time you think about saying a rape joke, or using the word rape in the wrong context- consider this.
A girl goes to a college party and has a few too many- there is nothing wrong with that, let's face it we all do it every now and then and we should not be punished for that. But on this particular night, a boy who is to FEARFUL to talk to her when she is sober grabs her and decides to spark her attention. Now most of us know it is not hard to distract an intoxicated person, men or women, it’s a chemical reaction to alcohol and no one can control it. He convinces her to go back to another party with him and his friends but the next thing she remembers she’s alone and afraid. The room is dark, door closed and a chair pushed up against it. She panics and instantly sobers up. She laughs in discomfort and says she’s going to go back to her room, she’s not feeling well. But he says “NO”. Pushing her against the bed, causing bruises and blood to pour from her legs, he undresses her. She fights for a minute, but the alcohol in her system restricts normal movement. She closes her eyes and waits for it to be over, she repeats over and over “NO, stop, please you are hurting me”. A slimy, small drop of sweat falls on the left side of her face- it feels like it could burn through her; opening her eyes she sees the face that she will never forget. The one that will haunt her dreams for years to come and be the barrier between her and any real relations she will ever have. He looks down at her and smirks a grimacing smile that makes her eyes burn. She will not cry in front of him, she repeats it in her head over and over. When he finally lifts himself from her, she stumbles to her feet. Trying to get her balance and trying not to fall apart. She quickly puts on every piece of clothing and runs from the room- not quite sure of where she’s going but far from where she is.
Next time you think about the word rape, think about that instead of a joke. Someone who was raped could overhear what you think is so funny- you are laughing at them. You are laughing at the scars that mark their skin from the night they want to forget but never will. When you slap your leg out of enjoyment, they can physically feel the slap her rapist burned onto their now flawed skin. Maybe it's time to start a revolution- let's examine the sick, twisted, and weak people who do things to the innocent- who are too afraid to talk to the person they creepily admire and stalk- and how ironic it is that both the rapist and the person being raped both say no. Maybe it's time to joke about the fucked up people who do it.
“Who’s going to complain about rape jokes? Rape Victims? They barely even report rape.” (/r/jokes). 1 in 4 women are raped- is it still funny?
The tears shed every night years after the event- the kind of tears that stain pillowcases- from tears falling in the same spot constantly, the scars, and the years of therapy that people raped go through are the reasons rape jokes really aren’t funny- so STOP telling them.
