Who’s afraid of women?

I am writing in response to Heather Mac Donald’s , “What campus rape crisis?” Mac Donald cites statistics that indicate many young women are hesitant to report, or even characterize, unwanted sexual contact as rape. Is there any surprise there? Given the way our society, the media, other men and women (such as Mac Donald) examine and judge women’s behavior in contexts from frat party to corporate board room, is it any surprise that women -- particularly college-aged women asserting their independence and self-determination for the first time -- are hesitant to speak truthfully about their discomfort, trauma, lack of memory, or downright embarrassment about being raped? Rape is dramatically underreported not because it does not happen, but because the response of law enforcement, counselors, teachers, fellow students and even parents all too often reaffirm what the victim already suspected -- that somehow the rape is her fault.

Certainly binge drinking is not a safe activity for anyone -- male or female -- and has lots of associated risks, from a hangover to alcohol poisoning to a lifetime struggle with alcoholism. However, the logical extension of Mac Donald’s argument is that anyone who is binge drinking is subjecting himself or herself to the possibility of an attack of any kind. By that logic, drunken frat boys should have no opposition to being robbed or beaten while under the influence of alcohol. After all, they were binge drinking, so they had it coming.

Sure, alcohol is used as a social lubricant to perhaps lead to sexual activity. But nowhere in that social contract is a guarantee that sex will occur. Drinking does not equal sex. I am also sure that there are some morning-after regrets. But in an environment in which hooking up and drinking to loosen social mores are commonplace, all that is required to get over that regret is a hearty laugh and an eye roll, not trumped-up allegations of rape.

As the executive director of the Victim Rights Law Center, a civil legal service provider to victims of sexual assault that is based in Boston with a satellite office in Portland, Ore., I hear from hundreds of rape victims every year. Each and every one of those victims showed tremendous courage to report the rape because none were greeted with an inviting and encouraging response. All have had to fight to get their rights vindicated. All have had to defend their actions leading up to and following the rape. All have suffered tremendous personal loss as a result of the rape. All have felt the heavy hand of reproach.

Mac Donald’s indictment of women is an old story, dressed up in new clothes. Women’s sexuality, independence and assertiveness are all too frightening if left unchecked. Mac Donald does a tremendous job of checking women, and making us shudder at the reception we would get if we did reach out for help.

Lydia C. Watts is executive director of the Victim Rights Law Center.