By Pamela Sweetwood
This forum is about the recent release of a recording. It’s not about the people or context, rather the tone and reaction.
It did create a substantial stir, mostly for the lewd language. I was disappointed that the aggressiveness wasn’t picked up by many or initially. I immediately thought how that thinking is the root of being violated. Others not being thought of as a person. There’s a presumption and arrogance accompanying this.
It boils down to consent. In analyzing culture and consent, I thought back how for many years you only heard about consent in legal cases
regarding rape.in the last few years, There’s a lot more attention to sexual assault on college campuses as a result of Title IX mandates.
As part of this, I’ve seen and read how consent needs to be taught and discussed as it applies to any tale of a relationship or interaction. We’ve presumed people know. A news show showed teens in various situations. Consent wasn’t understood. It’s often missed by parents, peers or in health class. Talking about sexual contact isn’t practiced.
Dismissing this as locker room talk is an injustice to most men. Most men are better than that. Id buy that argument if they were pre-teens.
Acceptance of locker room talk is what feeds our rape culture. Disagree that sexual assault is a problem? After the tape was released #notokay was created asking people to submit their first sexual assault. I challenge you to look at the postings. It provides a snapshot of the extent, range and impact. Please consider and discuss with others the need for consent.
Pamela Sweetwood was an ISU student, like many, who never left town. She works in higher education and has a history with many community non-profits organizations.
The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Cumlus Media, Inc.
