Go Brownmiller!

A critical analysis of Susan Brownmiller’s views in the “Feminist Theories of Rape” reading. 

               First I will mention some things that I agree with and that have been influential to feminism as we know it. Brownmiller’s theory that rape is inspired by political motivations to dominate and power is a huge step forward in the way women thought about sexual assault. Before this even I though men raped because of an innate biological structure or uncontrollable sex drive which Brownmiller also agrees with. However this view is juvenile, and oversimplifies this issue. Just because you have the tool to commit the crime does not mean the crime will happen without some outside forces. I like to compare this to a quote by Joe Rogan which in my interpretation is, “just because you have a fork does not mean you will jab it into your eye”, you can abuse anything. To further this you can use any object to cause harm, but that action does not occur without an ulterior motive.

                Another idea that I strongly agree with is that rape is used to promote fear in women, and also that women are political pawns. Right now the biggest global issue is the rape phenomenon in India, which could be argued, is used to keep women in a state a fear, maybe to keep them quiet and submissive. It is not only creating a conflict with the government but interest from around the world to intervene. It is being used to control India’s women and keep them oppressed. 

                Something that I do and do not agree with is the separation of power (violence) from their means (sexuality). I agree with this because in the court system especially women are judged by sexual aspects of the crime. If we think of rape in terms of power instead of sexuality we understand that it is irrelevant what actions of the women might have triggered a sexual reaction in the perpetrator. It is a good thing to separate those two, because if rape were purely sexual, every man would not be able to control his need to rape women.

                 At the same time I agree that there is a biological component to the crime of rape, it is a sexual crime making it different from physical abuse however I think it is different in the vocabulary only. Many crimes can be thought of in terms of the intrinsic need they fulfill; in my opinion it is mainly to feel a sense of power in a world that might feel very out of control. The main contradiction in Brownmiller’s perspectives is the idea that we need to change the political and social structures in order to eradicate rape, but also men will rape anyways because they have the tool to rape. However the idea that men rape no matter what may have come from a pissed off feminist tired of hearing the excuses society makes for these “men”.