View of Radical Feminists

             In this entry I would like to respond to the reading “Feminist Theories of Rape” by Cahill. The aspect of the article that I will be responding to is the Radical Feminist perspective which states that all heterosexual sex is considered rape. I disagree with the position taken because of what we learned in class from the Sexual Assault centre Presentation and from the reading of the Sexual Assault Centre training manual where I am completing my CSL placement by editing their manual.

                 Mackinnon’s argument that rape only differs from “normal” heterosexual sex by the quantity of force used in the encounter, or others words all heterosexual encounters are violent and rape is only different on the spectrum of coercion and force. This position does not allow for variation of an individual’s personal preference of likes and dislikes during intercourse. Stating that all heterosexual sex is equivalent to rape is very disempowering to women who enjoy heterosexual sex because this position puts women as the passive recipient and implies that it will not matter what she actually wants, because all the sex that she is having is taking something from her. However, at the Sexual Assault Centre Presentation on Tuesday one of the ideas touched on was about the concept of consent and what it is. Consent can be given, but it can also be implied through actions. This is a much more empowering look that women can be agents for what they want. Consent is active and people are “always a no” until they say yes (Sexual Assault Centre Presenter, Sept. 2013), not the other way around. Women are able to be active agents and take charge of when and with whom they would like to have intercourse with. Placing women as active agents to have the ability to say “yes” and actively participate is more empowering than Radical Feminism stating that a women cannot enjoy sex.

              In my CSL placement I am editing the Sexual Assault Centre (SAC) training manual. This manual contains information for the centre’s volunteers when they are speaking to clients of all genders and identities. This manual states that it is important to not assume about the sexual identity/gender of the client or of the perpetrator. Radical Feminist views are in direct conflict about this because Radical Feminist views assume the person who experienced the sexual assault is female and the offender was male. However, the SAC views are in line with Radical Feminists that living in a Patriarchal society means that are increased rates of sexual assault because of male privilege.   

Cahill stated that Mackinnon’s opinion is that sexuality is “integral to identity” (43) therefore being a sexually active women is important. Thoughts?