LEONIE O'DOWD,
Sir, - The Department of Justice campaign highlighting drug-assisted rape has evoked some responses which are of concern, particularly those linking rape with alcohol use.
It is true that some victims have drunk alcohol prior to the rape. But we need to be careful about conveying or even suggesting the message that the victim is therefore to blame for the attack and so feeding dangerous and destructive myths and attitudes. For too long women, and men, in our society have been socialised to doubt and blame themselves if they are raped. This leads to most victims choosing to tell no one, and dealing with the impact of this most devastating crime entirely alone.
Women have always restricted their behaviour to take account of the possibility of rape, and as a result lead circumscribed lives. Most rape, however, happens in familiar surroundings and is perpetrated by a familiar person, so even if a woman never ventures outside her own door this does not guarantee her safety. The focus must not be on women as being at fault for not censoring their activities. Ours is a culture where alcohol consumption is glamorised and is, for better or worse, a central part of social life.
While drinking may increase a person's vulnerability to any type of crime this does not mean the victim should be held to blame. The focus should be on the behaviour of the rapist. Six Irish women in a hundred have experienced rape in their adult life. One in five have experienced sexual assault. These figures show that there must be a significant number of men in Irish society who are rapists. There is a lack of focus on their behaviour and their responsibility.
Let us ask the man for whom alcohol is a factor in his perpetration of sexual violence to consider his drinking habits. Let us say to the victim of rape, whether male or female, child or adult, teetotaller or party-goer: you are not responsible for the crime perpetrated upon you. Your vulnerability, wherever it lay, should not have been used against you. Rather, the more vulnerable you are, the more you should be protected from harm. Perhaps the person who raped you was someone you trusted, from whom you would have expected protection.
Let us convey a strong message that people can come forward for assistance and support without fearing they will be blamed for the savage act perpetrated against them. - Yours, etc.,
LEONIE O'DOWD,
South Hill,
Dublin 6.