There was a recent news story that did much to anger those who work with women who have been “date raped”. Helen Mirren, a British actress, who won awards last year for her portrayal of the Queen, did an interview with GQ in which she claimed to have been raped several times, many years ago, when she was a student. Helen is 63 years old now.
The reason some people have been upset with Helen, over that interview, is that she seemed to down play the experiences. She said there was no extreme violence, she was not hit…but rather, was locked in a room and made to have sex. She did not file charges in those incidents. She also said that if a man and a woman were about to get intimate and the woman changed her mind, and the man continued; that was indeed rape. However, in that circumstance; she didn’t feel that a woman could then turn around and take that man to court for it. Those are highly controversial remarks when taken individually or out of context. To some people…those comments smack of judgementalism…that those situations aren’t worthy of prosecution of a person who sexually assaults another. Those comments appear inflammatory to many folks.
Most people are clear that if a stranger attacks another person and forces sexual relations…then that is rape. It is true enough…it is. But there are other forms of rape as well that aren’t as clearly defined for some people. (more…)
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