Racy costumes could attract unsafe attention

There is something seriously wrong with a society that tells women to not get raped, rather than telling men not to rape. I am seriously disappointed in the Graphic for perpetuating this view. Costumes don’t cause rape– rapists do. Furthermore, this mindset is degrading to men as well by assuming that they can’t control themselves around women wearing revealing costumes. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks this is disgusting. This view is why women who have been raped blame themselves and fail to report it.

I totally agree with Lindsay. I’m curious who on the Graphic staff thought this position was okay to publish. This misogynist content makes me embarrassed that I spent four years writing for the Graphic.

I agree with what Lindsay Jackows said: this is a very problematic article. I doubt that it was knowingly written to shame women or perhaps perpetuate further sexual assault by planting the idea that men simply “can’t control themselves” or are justified in assaulting women who dress in “sexy” clothing because they were “asking for it”; or to discourage women (or men) from reporting assaults because they will fear their motives will be questioned when they do– speaking out is difficult and traumatic enough without having to fear victim-blaming.

I, too, think that a written apology is in order.

Rapists are the only thing that cause rape. Not the way we choose to dress. Not the places we choose to hang out.

Unprofessionally written, shallow and demeaning. Don’t apologize, just take it down.

Begging disaster to strike? Keep some strong men around? This article is grossly in the wrong, as the others have said. The Graphic should be embarrassed to have printed this.

I’m going to leave this here: http://nyti.ms/SM8ntK

Comments on this page are moderated, yes? I respect and encourage freedom of speech and opinion, and I’m thankful that you guys have allowed respectfully dissenting comments to be published. But I’m honestly a little bit shocked that someone published the comments from “thomas Franks”: calling commenters “Frigid hitches”, asking people to “seriously, die in a fire”, and suggesting that rape survivors only come for neighborhoods that discount human lives?

Thomas Franks, while those things are meant to shame people who take issue with this article, I’m afraid they actually betray your ignorance. The main problem with this article is that it follows a common pattern of our society in trying to teach “don’t get raped” instead of “DON’T RAPE”. The fact is, women who are covered from head to toe in clothing are raped. Women who are completely sober are raped. The majority of rapes are acquaintance rapes, meaning they are committed by someone that the woman knows and likely trusts.

While taking certain precautions in not unwise, it becomes very problematic when we look for reasons that the victim was at least partially to blame: was she drinking? Was she dressed sexy? Has she had sex before? Was she flirting? I’m sorry, NO. I am a 24 year old female who occasionally has a couple drinks, and I’ll be damned if that’s an invitation for someone to rape me. In fact, by law, me being drunk automatically removes me ability to consent! We live in a society that tells women that are worth is based on how we look, that from childhood onwards virtually only offers us “cute” costumes, which are basically just the “sexy” versions, and then chastises and degrades them for wearing them? Pretty wrong. And like Lindsay Jackows said, assuming that men “can’t control themselves” around sexy outfits and should basically be expected to turn into predators is pretty degrading to men. I love and appreciate my guy friends and boyfriend, and I think much more highly of them than that. And as for people who say that “flirting” or having previous partners means the girl is partially to blame… well, there’s a very fine line between flirtatious and friendly. And I can blatantly cross that line, AND STILL NOT BE ASKING TO BE RAPED. If I choose, I can kiss someone… that does NOT give everyone or anyone else in my life or in the world to kiss me, and does not mean that I am obligated to go any further! If a girl is intoxicated, she is seen as partially to blame for her actions. If a male is intoxicated, he is seen as LESS responsible for his actions. That’s pretty messed up, don’t you think?

To address your comment that rape happens only in communities that “disregard human life” and certainly NOT on the Pepperdine campus, here are some statistics for you:
-“1 in 4 women in college today has been the victim of rape, and nearly 90% of them
knew their rapist.”
-60% of male college students “indicated some likelihood of raping or using force in certain circumstances.”
-Men are more likely than women to assume that a woman who drinks alcohol on a date is a willing sex partner. 40% of men who think this way also believe it is acceptable to force sex on an intoxicated woman.
-43% of college men admit using coercive behavior to have sex, including ignoring a woman’s protest; using physical aggression; and forcing intercourse; 15% acknowledged they had committed acquaintance rape; 11% acknowledged using physical restraint to force a woman to have sex.
-College rape victims receive external physical injuries in over 47% of all rapes.
-Of the college woman who are raped, only 25% describe it as rape.
-Of the college women who are raped, only 10% report the rape.
If you think that Pepperdine is a magical campus where all the men and women are completely protected from this violence, both on and off campus, I’m sorry to say that you are mistaken. I know this through personal experience, and your comments are offensive and hurtful to me personally.

For too long, well-meaning people have continued to teach “don’t be raped”. But I would look at those above statistics and say the better question is, “What aren’t we teaching our sons?”

I would suggest an article explaining what the laws are regarding consent entails would be much more useful: intoxicated people cannot grant consent, “no means no”, but even beyond that, consent must be ACTIVE: ie, “Can we _____”, Is it okay if I ____” with a YES. Not saying no doesn’t count as consent! Guys, look out for your girl friends AND your guy friends! Understand a woman has the right to wear whatever she wants, and is NEVER asking for it.

I might not change your mind, Mr. Franks, but perhaps over time we can change the mindset of society as a whole regarding sexual violence and blaming the victim.

Here here, Jazz! I’m glad I read your response before replying to Mr. Franks. You’ve covered pretty much every basis of the rape culture that continually blames victims instead of rapists.

Just one thing to add: It is in no way presumptuous for me to expect to live in a world where I don’t have to worry about the men around me raping me. It is not only problematic for women, but men as well to promote this culture. It is completely degrading to men for us to assume that their natural function is rape and harassment. to assume that they are so base that they lack all self control or basic recognition of the humanity of others. To assume that when men see a woman in a “sexy” outfit that their automatic instinct is to harass or rape her. I would like to think that we can hold men to a higher standard than this. I would like to think that we can consider them civilized human beings who see the value in others. Ending rape culture isn’t about avoiding rape, its about teaching men and boys that no woman ever asks for rape. No matter what she is wearing and where she is, men do not have license to harass her or rape her.

Everyone has a right to safety, no matter what his or her decisions are. The rapist, the person who decides to take away someone’s right to safety, is to blame. no one else. Say no to victim blaming!

Also, this article is based on the false premise that rape is about sex. It is not. It is about power, control, and dominance over another. It is a sick action that comes from a diseased mind. A REAL MAN DOES NOT RAPE, not if a woman is wearing a turtle neck, and not if a woman is wearing pasties and a tutu.

Hopefully this article brought awareness to this unfortunately common, misinformed view that is partly to blame for perpetrating rape culture. If women are ashamed to come forward, this evil will continue to exist in the dark.
Hopefully the author of this article will take a long look at their views; survivors of abuse to not deserve to be re-victimized by those who do not understand the issue at hand.

If you think that we will be able to create a upopia where men don’t rape, by advocating for such things, well, good luck that, but you have surely never been inside a man’s brain. We’d certainly be better off eliminating alcohol use to eliminate such interactions. But I am sure you wouldn’t want to do that, and I am not advocating such things. Maybe when you get raped, drunk, amidst confusion of hooking up with a friend that’s also drunk to the point at which he cant control his actions, and you don’t know who to blame because most of the time you do want sex when you crawl into bed with a friend, drunk, past 2 a.m., and that person knows you usually want sex at that point, then you will say, “damn, maybe I shouldn’t have dressed like that to lead him on, and drank to the point at which I couldn’t control my actions, because my actions suggested something to him,” and realize that this is not a political argument, rather a self-help argument that wants you to be sovereign over your own actions and your life’s outcomes, and thinks you can be, rather than relying on the government to provide you with an entirely equal, fair and just world, which it cant do.

Allegra Hobbs, aren’t you perspectives assistant? The section this article was originally published? I don’t know how things work over there, but couldn’t you have had the chance to notice the article (or even its title) before publication? If you are ashamed to be affiliated with the Graphic, are you saying you’re ashamed with yourself?

No matter what I look like, no matter how I’m dressed, no matter my sexuality, no matter my sexual experience, no matter who I’m with, I deserve integrity, safety and respect. Even if I’m attractive, even if I’m naked, even if I seem completely uninhibited, even if I have a lot of sexual experience, I still deserve integrity, safety and respect. I do NOT deserve to be raped, nor do I ask to be. No matter what.

this was posted on jezebel. the article speaks louder than anything i will ever say:
http://jezebel.com/5955693/pepperdine-student-paper-publishes-insane-piece-on-dangers-of-dressing-like-a-slut-on-halloween

Pepperdine University, a private Christian college overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the celebrity-enclave of Malibu, CA. The school is known for its sports teams, mandatory attendance at spiritual events, and for its strong journalism department — with “Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs” majors pulling in 22 percent of its students. Their student-run newspaper, the Pepperdine Graphic is the oldest student organization on campus and keeps a very active online presence publishing new stories regularly.

Unfortunately, something stinks down at ye olde Pepperdine Graphic. The paper recently ran a “Perspective” piece by student Caitlin McLaughlin entitled, “Racy costumes could attract unsafe attention,” and it’s not the greatest. No, it’s not the greatest, at all.

About Halloween, she writes:

Who can resist the urge, therefore, to put on the raciest outfit they own? It’s the perfect opportunity to take a stab at your overly protective parents or make that awful ex-boyfriend teem with jealousy!

But, have you properly acknowledged the risks? It can be very dangerous for women to dress provocatively on Halloween. When female college students decide to adorn themselves with minimal attire and walk the streets looking for a fun night without the least bit of protection, they are begging disaster to strike.

Ouch, this is filled with so many incredibly loaded words and statements, it’s hard to know where to begin. “very dangerous for women to dress provocatively,” “have you properly acknowledged the risks?,” “begging disaster to strike.” I could obviously go on, but let’s read more:

Leave your lights on even when you’re not in the room. For you party hosters: keep an eye on who enters your party. Be cautious about whom you approach, because that man in the blue might not actually be a police officer. Ladies: be careful to whom you are showing your curves and make sure to keep some strong men around you who you know and trust to ward off unwanted admirers.

I hope your Halloween night is filled with candy and laughter and the right kind of thrills and spooks, not the ones that will scar you for life. Personally, when asked for a trick or treat, I would always recommend the treat!

So, let me get this straight. You can either: dress in a floor-length potato sack with other potato sacks to cover your arms and seductive woman-face, keep an FBI-style documentation of every person who comes through the door, know that the people dressed as cops are probably sexual predators in tear-away cop stripper uniforms, don’t talk to anyone, only eat candy, but not too much candy, and stand in the corner of a brightly lit room with your back to the wall and pray to not get raped. Is that everything? And then, if you do get sexually harassed or assaulted, know that it’s your fault because you weren’t wearing enough potato sacks — so sorry, now you’re scarred for life. If you had just watched that door better.

Weirdly enough, the only part of this whole damn mess I don’t take offense at is the rhyming insanity at the top — in college, we were all poets and you know its.

However, I would argue that the piece itself is not the biggest problem with this situation, the fact that it was published in the first place is.

I know the Pepperdine Graphic is a student-run paper and they’re only beginning to figure out how shit works in the real world, so consider this a crash course. At any given paper, there’s a pretty specific chain of commands. Before McLaughlin even started writing her misguided screed, she would’ve pitched the idea and talked it over with, most likely, the editor for the section it would publish in — in this case, the Perspectives Editor. That’s the first time she should’ve been redirected or stopped. If she made it to the Editor in Chief (EIC), she should’ve been stopped, and If, by of some act of cruel journalism god, she was approved to write it, then when it was turned in for edits, you guessed it, stopped. I cannot fathom how this piece made it through so many barriers to publication. Or, I can, it just drives me crazy!

You see, students write for the school paper ostensibly to get journalism experience. McLaughlin is presumably paying to be poorly served by her editors, who were presumably trained by Pepperdine’s journalism staff. No, the faculty absolutely should not have a say in the student paper’s content, but the quality of a paper’s content absolutely reflects the education the faculty provides.

It is the responsibility of the department to teach ethics and judgment, and telling women to cover up and watch themselves on Halloween for fear of harassment or worse, is irresponsible. I’m hoping that this incident is being both debated and discussed at the Pepperdine Graphic and in their journalism classes, and I’m hopeful an editorial apology or retraction is forthcoming.

It appears the journalism departments in our country are failing students when it comes to these topics — just take a look at Boston University’s god-awful April Fool’s rape “joke”, the University of Arizona’s homophobic cartoon bullshit, and The Harvard Voice’s suuuper racist piece on Asian students.

University education isn’t cheap, and I would hope the kids emerging from the system come equipped with at least some knowledge of how things work. That, and more importantly, a solid judgment that allows them to stop the presses when it matters most.

This article is a poignant example of what is wrong in our society. When a women is sexually assaulted, we do not ask “how can we help?” or “what do you need?” We ask “what were you wearing?” and “were you drinking?” These questions leave a survivor feeling like the assault was his/her fault and very isolated. Is that the kind of society we really want to be? I am honestly shocked that this was allowed to be published.

As a Pepperdine alum, I will say that though I am disappointed (but not surprised) by this piece, I am proud that so many folks are coming here to call out the wrongheadedness of it.

“Kilroy”,

As you pointed out, I am Perspectives Assistant – I do not hold an Editorial position. My job is to write a weekly column, and to offer my assistance when and where it may be needed elsewhere. My job is not to moderate or read the other content in the Perspectives section. Nor is it my job to ultimately decide what content is published. That is the job of the Perspectives Editor and Assistant Editor. Most weeks, I do read the remaining content, but failed to do so in this instance, and was completely unaware of this article’s existence. My failure to be made aware of this article prior to its publication does cause me disappointment, because I certainly would have done everything within my power to prevent its publication. However, it is not the result of me failing to perform my duties as Perspectives Assistant.

This has been a wake-up all for me personally, however, and rest assured I will be more directly involved with the selection and publication of all content within the section, not because it is in my job description but because I do not want to be affiliated with a publication putting forth content I find offensive. I would like to be affiliated with a publication that puts forth content of which I am proud.

come on, graphic, you should be better than this.

There is a difference between “victim-blaming” and “advocating personal safety”.

This uses some strong language, but they are just possible safety tips at heart.

Well said Miss Caitlin McLaughlin. She’s only speaking the truth and it’s not palatable to those who choose to dress provocatively in the name of Halloween or any other occasion for that matter. Why is this story so offensive to so many at a Christian university? Of course no one has the right or excuse to rape you regardless of how you’re dressed but you bring unnecessary attention and lust to yourself when you expose yourself. Why do you need to show your body off and dress provocatively in the name of Halloween or any other occasion for that matter? Given the demonic history of Halloween, it makes sense why people dress provocatively or in evil costumes. I’m sure this comment will make even more people angry but the truth usually does when you don’t want to deal with it or you’re uneducated about it. What about what God has to say about how we should carry ourselves and present ourselves at all times. And to Allegra Hobbs, be careful that you don’t impose on someone’s first amendment right to Freedom of Speech. Looks like you need to spend more time as an assistant before you move into a more responsible position of editor.

To all students at Pepperdine University, I say to you as I always say to my daughter, make sure you live your life in a way that pleases God and represents God at all times.

It is a good article that simply advises caution – there really are some bad characters out there. I sat on a jury of 12 on a famous murder case in Carson City. A young woman living in her first apartment after leaving home was brutally stalked and strangled to death after being knocked in the head with a board. Well, it turns out that the killer had attacked other women in the past. One time he attacked two at once and they beat him up that time, as testified by the woman from Santa Clara – she had met him at a party during her college days and danced with him briefly; thereafter he had been making unwelcome overtures to her over a period of time before he attacked. Yes, coeds should be very careful especially on Halloween and on New Years Eve.

Instead of squabbling to be politically correct, preserve free speech. There is no call (except emotional) to chastise the author for giving free advice that you are free to take or leave.