"I Was Raped" T-Shirt Causes Debate

According to a New York Times article by Susan Dominus, 37-year-old Jennifer Baumgardner, a feminist activist plans to sell 'I've Been Raped' t-shirts as a strategic way of making the topic of rape more acceptable to speak about in our American society. It is claimed that one in six females are raped and that 60% of these rapes never get reported because this subject is taboo to talk about.

There are pros and cons to both sides of the t-shirt debate, with both sides adamant in their beliefs of how to handle the subject of rape. Some feel that the t-shirts belittle the traumatic personal event, while others agree with Jennifer Baumgardner that the subject of rape would have more arrests if it were as easy to report as a robbery.

I come from a family of at least three generations of rape victims. I may not know about all rapes that occurred because prior to the 1940's rape and sexual topics of all kinds simply were not talked about. Our family is not unusual in having multiple generations of rape victims, but we are unusual in the fact that some of us have talked openly about our experiences and feelings with other generations.

Rape is a violent crime; nobody asks to be raped, and nobody enjoys the experience. Rape happens in all age groups, and it happens to both sexes. Rape is a power issue and it has nothing to do with any feelings or desire for the person being raped. Being married does not excuse an act of rape received from your partner; the act of rape is always a crime, but a crime that most people are afraid to report.

After being raped, if you report the crime, you can expect to be raped again through gossip, jokes, uncaring medical professionals, law enforcement agencies nervous about what to say to you, and later in court when it will be announced publicly that you deserved the treatment that you received because of your haircut, because of your choice in clothing, or because you didn't know that it was unsafe to live with your spouse before they attacked you. Somebody will always blame you for this crime happening to you.

These 'I've Been Raped' t-shirts can maybe act as a life-line to a newly raped victim who is looking for quick and specific information after a rape about where to go and what to do. The shirts can open conversations about rape around college campuses and unite like-minded people into networks of volunteers ready to help others go through the situation that they've already lived through.

Wearing a banner claiming that you've been raped is not going to be for everybody, and probably not going to be comfortable for a newly raped person to be doing. For the strong personality types, these shirts just might catch on.

People wearing these 'I've Been Raped' t-shirts would have to understand before putting them on that their whole story will be gossiped about again in unkind ways, but maybe there are a few special people out there who are willing to go through this ordeal in order to help others. For those people, I believe that these shirts are a great idea.

Many rape victims are insecure about the possibility of being raped again. For these people, an 'I've Been Raped' t-shirt would be thought of as putting on a banner inviting a second rape to happen. I can understand totally why this group of people would not want to wear one of these shirts; although, they may feel a little comfort from seeing others in these shirts and the knowledge that they are not alone with their experience.

Everything else imaginable is on a t-shirt these days. I won't be offended when these 'I've Been Raped' t-shirts go on the market and are worn by the strong victims in public.