Jennifer Baumgardner's "Rape" T-Shirt
Does it Help or Harm Women?
Jennifer Baumgardner, she of the "I Had an Abortion" T-Shirt of 2004, has decided to expand her expertise to include "I Was Raped" as a current T-Shirt. She eschewed a couple of ideas including one that was in her words "Too Shocking" wanting one that helped women "own the experience. Her ultimate collaborator was Vinnie Angel, who had created his own iconic piece of work "Vinnie's Tampon Case."
That is pretty much the story other than to say that there are a number of people who think that this latest effort by Ms. Baumgardner will hurt rape victims; really?
The situation here is pretty easy to dissect. Jennifer Baumgardner is one heck of a business woman. What she is doing is taking advantage of the bad luck of other people, but she really isn't doing anything that Jerry Springer or Maury Povich doesn't do.
The women that I talked with were not interested in making their rape experience some situation where they could psychologically "take ownership" of it. The problem was they already had ownership of the rape, what they wanted was ownership of answers; what they wanted was ownership of justice; what they wanted was ownership of change.
Today in high schools I see that when it comes to sexual rights, there is still a double standard; a male who is sexually active is a stud; a female who has the same lifestyle is a slut.
If it weren't so sad, one might be inclined to laugh about this situation; rather than being up in arms over the fact that the issue of rape is still amazingly prevalent; we would rather debate whether or not a "T-Shirt Maker" is impacting rape in any way by some slogan she thinks "gives women ownership" of rape.
Is Jennifer Baumgardner a doctor? Is she a counselor? No, she is past editor of Ms. Magazine; has coauthored a couple of books that are slanted towards feminism. Does she have an ax to grind? Is she interested in giving an accurate answer to the problem and impact of rape? Better yet, is she qualified to give an accurate answer to the problem and impact of rape? You tell me.
In my opinion, in this instance, what we have is a glorified "T-Shirt Maker" at odds with people who would rather argue about solemn issues after the damage is done; if you want to take them seriously go ahead. I prefer not to.
References:
cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com
holtzbrinckpublishers.com
Published by Gary Davis
Retired Insurance CEO. Trained in medicine and medicines. Trained in mental health particularly manic depression as well as most illnesses (from medical underwriting. Business owner, business, marketing,... View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentSick.
I think it is just a publicity stunt and a shameful way to make money.............utilizing the victims and their painful emotion to make money..........I wouldn't be able to sleep at night with this kind of act
As a former victim of rape, all I can say is that by wearing a shirt that "advertises" an incident you'd rather "forget", is an idea that's best tossed.
There will be those who will stare and make lewd comments, sneer, and possible even take it as an open invitation to "be next".
Rape X is a device under development. It is worn like a tampon and has microscopic barbs in it that lock into the rapist's anatomy and can only be removed at the ER. LOL, if someone is going to be injured, better the rapist than the woman.
How terrible...the situation is difficult enough then to publicize. You are right on Gary we now have glorified T shirt makers!
Very well said, and how true it is how we all get labeled now adays, nice job on this and i agree!!!