In the centerspread of the Oct. 3 Oracle, the following hypothetical scenario was put forth for students to consider. You’ll find some anonymous students’ reactions below, and we hope that you’ll offer your own analysis of the situation in the comments section at the bottom of this page:
The Scenario:
WHAT IF…
Katharine Johnson is a freshman in college who is notorious for getting extremely intoxicated at parties and sleeping with boys on a whim. She goes to parties every other night, and at one of the parties, Katherine meets an attractive sophomore, Geoffrey Day. They’ve been drinking the entire night and become very flirtatious with each other. She’s wearing her favorite outfit: a see-through crop top with a brightly colored exposed bra and a tight, black elastic mini skirt. Both intoxicated, Geoffrey and Katherine go up to an empty room together. She knows her friends left early and she thinks she should leave soon too, but Geoffrey convinces her to stay. They’re about to have sex, but Katherine becomes unconscious. Geoffrey continues to be sexual with her even though she is unable to communicate with him.
The answers offered by a few South students when we asked… who is to blame?
SHE SAID…
– “Both: she was being really promiscuous the whole evening but also he shouldn’t have had sex with her because she didn’t give permission.” -Junior girl
– “It’s her fault for getting drunk but it’s not her fault for being raped while intoxicated.” -Junior girl
– “A girl can look hot without getting raped.” -Junior girl
HE SAID…
– “It’s a little bit [her fault], but not really. When you wear those types of clothes it’s kind of implied that you want to be noticed but that doesn’t make it okay for him to do stuff to her.” -Senior boy
– “If you’re going to get yourself drunk with another guy, it’s not surprising that he would try that.” -Senior boy
– “Dressing like that is not the problem, having sex with a bunch of guys… that kind of behavior [makes her a slut].” -Junior boy
What do you think? Please scroll down to comment in the space below…
