Dear Editor,
On Sept. 15, the Dispatch published a story headlined,
”
Woman thinks she may have been raped after a party.
”
The article itself, and the comments it elicited on your Web
site, are a poignant reminder of the victim-blaming mentality that
fosters and sustains the prevailing rape culture. While the media
and society are generally empathetic and supportive of crime
victims, sexual assault and domestic violence victims are still
attributed partial, if not full, responsibility for their assaults.
Unfortunately, the victim’s judgment, morality and honesty are
often the focus in rape cases. I cannot imagine an article with the
title
”
Man believes he may have been beaten.
”
Story, Web comments perpetuate myths about violent crime of rape
Dear Editor,
On Sept. 15, the Dispatch published a story headlined, “Woman thinks she may have been raped after a party.”
The article itself, and the comments it elicited on your Web site, are a poignant reminder of the victim-blaming mentality that fosters and sustains the prevailing rape culture. While the media and society are generally empathetic and supportive of crime victims, sexual assault and domestic violence victims are still attributed partial, if not full, responsibility for their assaults. Unfortunately, the victim’s judgment, morality and honesty are often the focus in rape cases. I cannot imagine an article with the title “Man believes he may have been beaten.”
Public perception regarding sexual assault is based largely on myths and patriarchal gender role expectations. Our goal is to dispel said myths and their negative impact on our communities.
Myth: Victims make false accusations of sexual assault or rape. Fact: Nearly all rapes are truthfully reported, and in fact, rapes are vastly underreported. Shame, fear of reprisal and/or not being believed, intimidation and other factors unique and particular to rape contribute to making it one of the most underreported crimes. The National Victim Center reports that nine out of 10 rapes go unreported.
Myth: Someone who was drinking or drunk when sexually assaulted is partially to blame. Fact: Alcohol may increase the risk of sexual assault as it can impair a person’s ability to recognize and respond to potentially dangerous situations. However, a victim’s use of substances is NOT a free pass for an assailant. Sexual assault survivors are never responsible for the attack and each time this myth is perpetrated; sexual perpetrators are alleviated of some measure of responsibility for their actions. This is unacceptable. An intoxicated individual is incapable of giving consent or protecting themselves, as stipulated in the California Penal Code on Rape, section 261: (a) Rape is an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person not the spouse of the perpetrator, under any of the following circumstances: … 3) Where a person is prevented from resisting by any intoxicating or anesthetic substance, or any controlled substance, and this condition was known, or reasonably should have been known by the accused.
Myth: Women want to be raped. Fact: The belief that women secretly want to be raped is another form of placing the blame on women and justifying aggressive masculine behavior. Women never desire rape.
Myth: Women provoke rape by the way they dress or the way they flirt. This myth suggests that men wouldn’t even think about rape were it not for women acting sexy. Fact: Rape is an expression of power and control. Women of all ages are raped (we have worked with rape survivors from a few months old to 86 years of age). A survivor’s clothing and behavior are not the cause of rape. Rapists might justify their actions by pointing to the survivor’s behavior, but that is an excuse rather than a reason. Further, though not as frequent, males are also victimized by sexual assault.
In conclusion, no one ever deserves to be raped – it is an inexcusable and devastating crime that impacts too many people each year, even in our own community. If you or someone you love is in need of support, please call our 24-hour, toll free Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 1-877-END-SADV.
Perla Flores, program director,
Solutions to Violence Department, Community Solutions
Feral cats a huge problem in Gilroy – poison has to be an option
Dear Editor,
My husband and I live on 30 acres at the base of the east hills in the county limits just outside of Gilroy. We’re very much aware of the presence of feral cats. Recently there are more and more. Each one I see angers me to no end. Please don’t misinterpret “anger.”
My negative feelings are toward the presence of feral cats. Cats are incredible PETS and should be treasured as such. Domestic cats are not a native predator. When introduced to an environment they upset the natural chain. We have a small flock of pet bantam chickens. Our flock consists of all feathered footed birds. They do not fly and stay within the confines of our fenced yard. Just as our dogs do.
Our free range flock is regularly attacked by feral cats. Some of our flock were hand raised. They’re friendly and social. One of my hens is 6 years old. Last month my husband had to finish off a 2-year-old hen who I watched hatch, after she was attacked by a feral cat.
She was still setting on her eggs protecting them from the fate she was to encounter. I heard the rooster squawking and came out of the house to see a cat flee over our six-foot fence. The natural predators like opossums, raccoons, and fox stay far from the yard, but close enough to hunt the field mice and squirrels. The cats “hunt” within the yard in my opinion for two reasons.
One, they’ve been conditioned not to see humans as a threat and have lost their sense of elusiveness. Two, there are now so many there is more competition for territory. Feral cats should not be encouraged. If they can be caught to have them altered, please do not return them to prey on wild birds like quail. Quail are the state bird and their population is on a steady decline. Quails declining, feral cats increasing – coincidence? … I think not!
Feral cats are free to be killed on the roads, spread feline illnesses, defecate in children’s play yards, and spread litter by ravaging in trash cans. Cats are DOMESTIC animals. Humans have introduced them to the wild and humans should protect the wild from them. I believe everyone would agree, encouraging feral dogs would be absurd. Why are feral cats accepted?
Decon is perfectly legal to be use as rat poison. Many use it to control rodents ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY. Cats are unaware of property lines and masters of entry. They fall victim to poison often. Just as killing a rat in your barn is legal, so is killing a cat in your hen house. Why allow cats to get themselves in such unfortunate situations? I can remember placing each of my cats carefully into a grave in our yard after their (long healthy) lives came to an end. Many times I stop to see if cats on the road have an ID collar. Could this be some one’s escaped companion? If I was to loose my cat I’d be distraught and would appreciate knowing it’s fate. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find one with ID.
“Feral cats” are a rural problem but, in the city there are also menacing cats. My In-laws live in Gilroy and have many encounters with neighborhood cats. Many people let their cats out to “hunt” or relieve themselves. This is such disrespect for their neighbors. Hunting is not limited to rodents. It can be pulling the wings off a caged bird on a patio. Because cats are so clean they prefer to defecate in yards as far from their homes as they can get. Sandboxes are very inviting as a feline toilet. Cleaning scat out of a toddler’s teeth is something I’ve had to do far too many times. Cat doors are great in theory. Allowing a domestic animal to have free range is a recipe for disaster.
If I had a dog door and allowed my dog to come and go out my front door as he pleased we would all agree that is irresponsible and endangering the dog. Why are cats given a free pass?
While I applaud organizations like “Town Cats” in Morgan Hill for their extraordinary rescue efforts I adamantly disagree with the release portion of trap-neuter-release. The cats that are being released are put through an adjustment period enclosed for a month to imprint their new location as their territory. They’re then feed regularly and allowed to roam free. While the current practice of sending feral cats to shelters or rescues is not ideal, releasing them is not a solution. Would that be an option for feral dogs?
Kendra Fortino, Gilroy
‘Mexican-style rodeos … cruel and have no place in today’s world’
Dear Editor,
Kudos to Santa Clara County Supervisors for taking a stand against some of the worst aspects of rodeos known as charreadas (“County supes target Mexican-style rodeo,” Sept. 22).
Mexican-style rodeos, known as charreadas, are cruel and have no place in today’s world. In charreadas, the events are purportedly designed to test “horsemanship.” The “step of death” involves leaping from the back of one horse onto the back of a wild horse and riding until the animal becomes exhausted from trying to buck the person off.
“Roman riding,” or “death jump,” calls for a charro to straddle two horses and force them to gallop toward and leap over a parked car. During the terna en el ruedo, which is the equivalent of team roping in a North American rodeo, riders must rope a calf as quickly as possible, one by the neck and the other by the hind legs. The victimized calves may suffer from paralysis, throat and neck injuries, and broken bones.
Horse tripping rounds out the program of horrors. Deliberately torturing animals for entertainment should outlawed everywhere. Readers can learn more at
