Thoughts on Chrissie Hynde's views on rape... stressor warnings rape and victim blaming.

Firstly here is a link to the story and her views

Link to guardian article

Secondly I wish to convey how very sorry I am that she feels she is equally to blame for her rape and assault. The horror of that experience is bad enough, to blame yourself after all of these years, to be such a strong, intelligent woman and to believe the brainwashing of society and patriarchy that the victim is ever to blame for their rape, that's just sad and wrong.

However, as bad as that is it is simply unpardonable to take that and apply it to other victims.

“If I’m walking around in my underwear and I’m drunk? Who else’s fault can it be?” she said.

“If I’m walking around and I’m very modestly dressed and I’m keeping to myself and someone attacks me, then I’d say that’s his fault. But if I’m being very lairy and putting it about and being provocative, then you are enticing someone who’s already unhinged – don’t do that. Come on! That’s just common sense. You know, if you don’t want to entice a rapist, don’t wear high heels so you can’t run from him,” she said.

How any victim deals with their own assault is their deal, I personally feel deeply sorry for the clear issues she has with that, and her inability to really heal and move forward. However, to slut shame and victim blame other victims is simply horrendous.

To victim blame is to say to the rapist "you're not responsible for your actions" it says "your victim, the person you raped, is to blame, they dressed provocatively, they were drunk, they spoke back to you, they smiled at you, they broke up with you, they were too ill for sex with you..." it buys into the rapists narrative, to their view of their crime. They too blame their victim.

I worry for Chrissie Hynde, I worry for her blaming herself. I worry for victims who read her words and blame themselves, who think they have to take responsibility for their rapists actions.

Just think about it, everyone who is going on about "common sense" and people not wearing heels or having a drink or living a life, what you're saying to victims is "you were raped/assaulted? Your rapist however isn't responsible for raping you, you are responsible for them raping you."


That is simply sick. Once you buy into a rapists narrative then you are 100% in the wrong, you've crossed a moral line that unless you very publicly denounce you're prior opinion there is no coming back from.

Think about it you're buying the narratives of rapists.

You have a choice of who to blame for rape, either the victim or the rapist; - you are choosing the rapist.

Some sources below on victim blaming.

http://freakoutnation.com/2015/08/chrissie-hynde-slut-shames-rape-victims-does-not-go-down-well/

http://boingboing.net/2015/07/13/the-jackie-fox-rape-disclosure.html

If a victim does tell you there narrative please if you can't be supportive, just shut up and listen. Taking the rapists narrative is pretty much evil.