Critique of “rape: A Bigger Danger Than Feminists Know”

Critique of “Rape: A Bigger Danger Than Feminists Know”

By Camille Paglia

There is no doubt that rape is an extreme problem in society today. Camille Paglia engages in the debate of who really is at fault in the crime of rape and what needs to be done in order to cease the problem. Paglia seems to think that the female gender is given no choice but to be exposed and be subdued to be the less esteemed of the two sexes. She contrasts the idea of sex according to past generations and the new generation. Also, she shows how the changes in time alter a woman’s ability to decipher what is right and wrong. Nevertheless, Paglia gives very little proof that “feminism…has put young women in danger by hiding the truth about sex from them” (221).

It seems that Paglia has a feminist view when it comes to talking about men but gives women little credit where credit is due. Her view of a woman is perceived that they are very weak human beings and are easily lured to the power of men. However, her point of view on men is that they will always be after sex and will do whatever it takes to get it, particularly in college years. “A girl who lets herself get dead drunk at a fraternity party is a fool. A girl who goes upstairs alone with a brother at a fraternity party is an idiot” (222). There is no doubt that a girl needs to keep her guard up when she enters a party. However, there is always the surprising idea that some people may help a drunken girl at a party instead of raping her. Perhaps the girl who goes upstairs alone with the brother knows what she is doing and has every intention of going through with things. That does not necessarily make that girl an idiot. Some girls are just as prone to be after sex as men are and vice versa.

Paglia has the mindset that all men and all women are at their most basic instincts. She finds that “Masculinity is aggressive, unstable, combustible.” (225). This is horribly mistaken. Masculinity is controllable and concentrated. It is true that rape does take place, but the idea which she plays out is that sex never happens without consent when more than a vast majority of sex is consensual. Rape occurs when consent is not given by one member involved in the sexual activity. There is always the possibility of mixed signals being given throughout the night and consent is not always positive between the couple. This puts the act of rape at more of a broad standard.

One thing Paglia holds constant is that women, no matter where they go or who they go with, they must be cautious. “When she makes a mistake, she must accept the consequences and, through self-criticism, resolve never to make that mistake again.” (224). Not every night out will be a story book fairy tale. The strongest women will be able to bounce