Hashtag combats idea of rape survivor privilege
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George Will wrote in the Washington Post that college rape survivors held a 'coveted status that confers privileges.'
And thus, a hashtag was born.
#survivorprivilege is being too scared to ever leave the house, use the phone, or interact with others
— the myriad (@myriad) June 9, 2014
Being in a "safe," "supportive," "unthreatening" environment is not "privilege". It's a right. #survivorprivilege
— Sarah B. (@SarahAshleigh5) June 9, 2014
In his column, Will argued that fostering a sense of safety and support for rape survivors in college campuses creates a privileged class of over-sensitive victims while stripping away the due-process rights of men.
Will expressed skepticism of the widely-cited estimate that one in five women are sexual assaulted while attending college, citing that just 12 percent of assaults are reported, contributing the difference to an over-blown estimation of assault cases. However, the true statistic is unknown because so many rapes and assaults go unreported due to of a culture of victim blaming in and out of universities.
But where Will really missed the mark — and what the hashtag highlights — is the idea that when it comes to violence, there is a double standard, but not the one Will assumed. Will assumed that safety and justice are privileges for women, while in reality, they are basic rights for men.
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