Fairy Tales and Disney Charm

Although violence in video games is so extreme that is has caught the attention of concerned parents, and members of society as a whole, it is not new, not even close.

Violence in video games, as well as in the mass media has existed as long as media has existed, even in 18th century fairy tales. Just because there is no guns, does not mean there is no violence.

Snow White - The Queen tries to poison Snow White

Cinderella - Cinderella is treated as a slave

Hansel and Gretel - Hansel and Gretel kill the bad guy by baking her in an oven - not to mention that she was trying to EAT THEM to begin with

Little Red Riding Hood - The Wolf intends to eat and kill Red Riding Hood and her Granny

Beauty and the Beast - The Beast is portrayed as a killing monster, and the only way to save Belle is to kill him

The Lion King - Anger and animosity between Scar and Mufasa

The Little Mermaid - Ursula trying to kill Ariel

The list goes on and on...

Nowhere to Turn

That isn't the case. There are so many causes, agencies and everyday people combatting against violence against women both online and offline. Both men and women are standing up to fight against hateful language, assault and rape.

Here are some of those amazing people and organizations:

http://www.notinthekitchenanymore.com

http://gamersagainstbigotry.org

http://fatuglyorslutty.com

http://www.theactioncommittee.ca

http://www.ihollaback.org

http://saynotoviolence.org

http://www.awhl.org

Hey, Slut!

In video game culture, anonymity offers strength and power to say things one normally would not say otherwise. 

Examples from fatuglyorslutty.com include: "how big are your boobs?" and "I bet ur fat" - however, this online language is slowly leaking out into real life.

While walking around downtown guelph, in jeans, boots and a jacket done up to my neck I had not only boys screaming obscenities, but girls as well. And hey, if girls are saying it about girls, why can't boys say it about girls?

Walking down the street and talking to friends, a girl yells "SLUTS" followed by a car of boys yelling "suck my dick". It had nothing to do with the way we were dressed, or the way we were acting. It was the fact that we were in the right place at the right time that we were getting harassed.

Now tell me, how does that work with the myth that women are "asking for it" by the way they are dressed, or the provocative way they are acting?

Girls need to stop calling other girls whores, and sluts, it makes it okay when boys do it, and boys need to stop screaming at every girl walking down the street just because society has said that by being a girl, she is asking for it. 

Next time you hear someone who can't defend themselves, stand up for them and have a voice, don't fall silent. 

A Voice to the Voiceless

Imagine being so scared you have no words...

Imagine being silenced by the police who are supposed to help you...

Imagine being abused by a friend, a neighbour, a family member...

Imagine having no one to turn to...

Imagine having no voice...

Project Unbreakable gives a voice to the voiceless - allowing those who have been hurt by strangers, friends and those they are supposed to be protected by, their family, to share how they have been hurt and what has been said to them during the worst moments of their lives.

Check out their link: http://projectunbreakable.tumblr.com and open yourself up to the art of healing

I Raped That ____

The use of the word "rape" in everyday language is impulsive and harmless, right? WRONG!

Using the word rape as if it is so insignificant that it can be applied to an exam, being beaten, or an expression of victory "I raped that exam" or "I just got raped in that game" blurs the understanding of the word itself.

For those of who are looking at this and saying "I never say that", if you don't say anything while your friends laugh at the term, you are part of the problem and NOT the solution.

Think twice before you want to say "I raped it" because every time you do a woman that was raped loses some dignity, and some credibility, every time you make rape to be less than it is, other people follow you and sexual assault becomes a joke. 

Rapelay - Innocent Fun?

For those of you who think the rape culture is not prevalent in the gaming industry, you are sadly mistaken!

RapeLay is a video game that was created in 2006 that has since been deemed illegal and pulled from shelves, however it is still widely available online and people SEEK IT OUT!

The game centers on the male protagonist, whos goal is to stalk and rape a mother and her two daughters - the player is IN CONTROL of the situation, the sexual position and how much dominance he takes over these women. 

In forums for the game questions such as "Right, so I've been playing this for a while and filly broke one of the girls...but in doing so, I got her pregnant. I've read various FAQs but none of them are specific on how to choose an abortion in the game. Is there anything specific I'm supposed to do, or will the option just show up in 2p mode next time I choose her?" see: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/933221-rapelay/43529775

When I have talked about this game to people, I get the same reaction "WHAT?! THIS GAME EXISTS?!" It exists, and it is scary. People think it is fun to terrorize, demean, rape, assault women, and if that is not enough, they can get them pregnant and abort these babies.

RapeLay - How can you say that it is just innocent fun? Since when is it a game to terrorize women?

She Said No...But She Didn't Mean It

Rape myths are so commonplace in society, that individuals do not even know what is real and what is myth. Let's set the record straight.

Myth #1: 
Women are responsible for their own rape or assault
Truth #1:
Women are NEVER responsible for their own attack - the onus is on the ATTACKER

Myth #2:
There is a usual reaction by women, if they do not react in this way, they are lying
Truth #2:
Every person is different and responds differently to an attack - just because there are no tears, does not mean the woman is not scarred

Myth #3:
In most sexual assault cases, women will have cuts, bruises or other injuries
Truth #3:
Emotional trauma is just as hurtful as physical trauma and not all rape includes physical violence

Myth#4:
Women are "asking for it"
Truth #4:
NOBODY is asking for it and NOBODY deserves it - REGARDLESS of they way they are dressed, the way they act, or where they spend their time

Myth #5:
Sexual assault is impulsive and uncontrollable
Truth #5:
They are about CONTROL, POWER and DOMINANCE  - they are usually PLANNED ATTACKS

Myth #6:
If there is no struggle, there is no assault
Truth #6:
Fear is powerful, and it is crippling - the issue is not physical resistance - it is CONSENT

Myth #7:
Only attractive women get raped
Truth #7:
The attractiveness is irrelevant 

Myth #8:
Going home with a man on the first date sends the wrong message about sex
Truth #8:
This woman is NOT OBLIGATED to do anything

Myth #9:
Women often falsely report out of anger for boyfriends/husbands
Truth #9:
Sexual assault is one of the MOST UNDERREPORTED crimes

Myth #10:
Rape would not traumatize a prostitute
Truth #10:
Rape is about violence, and these prostitutes are NOT asking for it!

Myth #11:
The victim of the attack is the only one who suffers
Truth #11:
It affects the victims friends, family and neighbours - and the fear affects ALL WOMEN

Myth #12:
Husbands and boyfriends cannot be offenders of sexual assault
Truth #12:
Women have the RIGHT to say no - this right is protected by Canadian law

Since when is saying no, not enough? Since when do victims become the offenders? 


For more information visit: http://www.theactioncommittee.ca/sexual_assault.aspx