A (crazy?) thought on "rape is about power, not sex"

TracyMorganFreeman · 2012-02-08T01:47:28+00:00

Sex itself can be very intimate. The participants are at probably their most vulnerable state. This brings an aspect of control-either being a submissive or dominant role-to even consensual sex.

Part of sex is power, but the power of self actualization, the power of humanization, and probably the power of trust. The emotional components of sex inform this, as do they do much of our sexual gratification. This is still distinguishable from the power that stems from violence, and I feel when one uses the term power in the "rape is about power, not sexual gratification", they are equivocating.

I think saying sex in any form is just about power or just sexual gratification is incredibly naive.

2012-02-08T03:49:10+00:00

Some rape is about power, but by no means all.

I think the 'rape is power' paradigm has taken over, and I think it's a bad thing. It makes rape harder to identify for victims, imo.

Some rape, definitely is all about just getting off.

hamsterwheel · 2012-02-08T05:46:48+00:00

It depends on context. Maybe some kid date raping a girl and having sex with them is about sex. Absolutely horrendous, but about sex. However if (in a more extreme example) someone pins a girl down and threatens to kill them and proceeds to rape them, thats about power. They could get sex many other ways, but to have that ability to force them to do it gets them off.

themountaingoat · 2012-02-08T07:17:22+00:00

I don't know what is really meant by saying rape is about power and not sex. To me the claim is meaningless unless what is meant is clarified more, in the sense that the person needs to say what would determine the difference between the two cases if we had all possible information.

JeremiahMRA · 2012-02-08T09:29:06+00:00

I wanted to tell you in the future you might get better answers by searching Google.

For example, that's how I just found this fine article on the subject: http://www.the-spearhead.com/2011/03/26/patriarchy-porn-and-rape-mistakes-of-feminism/

I found this by searching:

is rape about power site:the-spearhead.com

Some other good queries are:

is rape about power site:avoiceformen.com

is rape about power "men's rights"

You'll often get better answers like this than by relying on a sub-reddit that is being bombarded by feminist trolls. There is a whole host of information already out there ripe for the picking.

AryoBarzan · 2012-02-08T09:37:39+00:00

I don't necessarily believe rape is ALL about power. I do believe it may play a role in some rapes but certainly not to all. I believe many rapists are under-sexed and that attractive clothing not only turns them on, but is used as an 'accomplice' to their rape. A woman in high heels and a short skirt is going to have a lot harder of a time running away than, lets say, a woman in running shoes and sweatpants.

TracyMorganFreeman · 2012-02-08T02:19:46+00:00

I don't think that is correct.

If men had all the power, why would they need to assert/take power through the violent act of rape?

2012-02-08T11:29:51+00:00

I have said this before and I will say it again. The "rape is all about power" spiel is just an extension of typical feminist rhetoric where women feel like they shouldn't ever be responsible for anything. If feminists admit that rape is about sexual gratification, then they are admitting that there are men who are denied sex, and so women are indirectly responsible for the rapist's actions. When people say that rape is all about power, they are just trying to make it seem like these rapists are only doing what they do for a power trip, and will do it regardless of how much consensual sex they get.

IHaveALargePenis · 2012-02-08T19:13:07+00:00

It's women projecting themselves onto those rapists. They basically think "if I wanted to rape a man, why would I do it?" and come to the conclusion that it's because it would make her feel powerful. So the opposite is obviously true. You also have to remember than to women, sex is power. If women didn't have vaginas we wouldn't be buying them all those free meals, taking them out on the town, chasing them our entire lives, and doing everything possible to please them.

If rape was truly about power and not sex, then why are we charging all those "rapists" who fuck a passed out girl and move on? Where's the power in that? What about when a boyfriend/husband rapes his girlfriend/wife? What if no real abuse took place?

It's pretty retarded to claim that rape is about power, but it also kind of makes it worse. Like if someone fucks you against your will, that's bad, but if someone basically tortures you for their own sadistic pleasure, then you've truly been violated in other peoples eyes.

pumpkin_seed · 2012-02-08T01:35:40+00:00

I've been thinking about this topic recently. I've heard the statement before, and always found something wrong with it but didn't think about it much.

But it has to be about sex. If it was only power it would just be a man beating a woman. The only power I can see present is the man taking control of of his situation and forcing an ending that may not have been possible otherwise.

JeremiahMRA · 2012-02-08T09:08:39+00:00

You are absolutely correct.

Here's a comment on the topic from the following link: http://www.avoiceformen.com/2011/05/06/slutwalks-stupidity-in-a-tube-top/

As I understand it, feminists want rape to be about power so that women can be absolved of any blame.

Paul Elam's response:

Totally correct. ALL feminist theory, from DV to rape, to phony wage gaps, to so called rape “culture” is an extension of Patriarchy Theory, asserting that all these problems stem from male hegemony over women.

It ALWAYS absolves the “victim,” putting her in the exalted position. She is powerless, therefore no blame can be assigned her for anything, including the fact that she makes less money than a man because she chose to be a receptionist instead of a brain surgeon.

MartialWay · 2012-02-11T04:12:02+00:00

Very few things involving an erection and an orgasm aren't about sex. You could argue it's about power AND sex, but if it's not about sex, you would be "pushing a rope" and it wouldn't even be physically possible.

gregx201 · 2012-02-08T01:12:08+00:00

i think rape is a sexual fetish that some men have , just like women like to be gang banged

luciansolaris · 2012-02-08T02:09:37+00:00

Rape is all about power...

... she who cries rape, has all the power.

luciansolaris · 2012-02-08T01:13:03+00:00

[permanently deleted]

Title	A (crazy?) thought on "rape is about power, not sex"
Author	TracyMorganFreeman
Upvotes	3
Comments	52
Date	February 8, 2012 1:07 AM UTC (14 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/pfitp/a_crazy_thought_on_rape_is_about_power_not_sex/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/a-crazy-thought-on-rape-is-about-power-not-sex.1028063 https://theredarchive.com/post/1028063

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