Analysis of “They Told Me to Change My Clothes. I Changed the Law Instead.”

Analysis of “They Told Me to Change My Clothes. I Changed the Law Instead.”

Gina Martin’s story of being upskirted and the process of creating a law to label it a criminal offense is an important one to discuss in light of the concepts we have covered this week. Rape culture, contradictory rape myths, and himpathy are just a few of the key topics that can be used to help explain why upskirting is such a problem and how we can begin to address it. Rape culture perpetuates the idea that sexual violence is acceptable, which can have harmful effects. For example, it can lead people to downplay or dismiss acts of sexual violence and make it harder for victims to come forward and be believed. In Martin’s case, we see rape culture when people tell her that she should have been more careful or that she was lucky the man didn’t do anything worse. These reactions place the blame on Martin and imply that she was somehow responsible for what happened when in reality, it was the man who committed the act of upskirting, and he is the one who should be held accountable. The essay will explore how rape culture, himpathy, and contradictory rape myths support upskirting and make it harder for victims to come forward.

Himpathy is defined as undue or excessive sympathy for a perpetrator of a crime or wrongdoing (Sweeny, 2020). In other words, it is when someone feels more empathy for the person who committed a crime than for the victim. In Martin’s case, we see himpathy at play when the police officer she spoke to told her that the man who upskirted her was probably going through a hard time and that she should have some empathy for him. This is an example of how himpathy can be used to downplay or dismiss an act of sexual violence. Empathizing with the perpetrator takes the focus away from the victim and makes it seem like the act wasn’t that bad (Sweeny, 2020). This can be harmful to victims because it can make them feel like they are not being taken seriously or their experience is not valid. It is important to remember that himpathy is not the same as empathy. Empathy is when you understand and share another person’s feelings. Himpathy is when you have too much sympathy for a crime or wrongdoing perpetrator.

Contradictory rape myths are attitudes and beliefs that justify and excuse sexual violence (Canan, Jozkowski, & Crawford, 2018). These myths can be harmful because they make it harder for victims to come forward and be believed. They also blame the victim and excuse the perpetrator’s actions. In Martin’s case, we see contradictory rape myths when people tell her that she should have been more careful or that she was lucky the man didn’t do anything worse. These reactions imply that Martin was somehow responsible for what happened when in reality, it was the man who committed the act of upskirting, and he is the one who should be held accountable (Canan, Jozkowski, & Crawford, 2018). It’s important to discuss upskirting in light of these class concepts because it can help us to understand why it is such a problem and how we can begin to address it.

The first step in addressing upskirting is to create awareness about what it is and why it’s a problem. This can be done by having open and honest conversations about the issue. It’s also important to educate people on consent, respectful behavior, and how to support victims of sexual violence. By doing this, we can start to change how society views upskirting and clarify that it is unacceptable. We can also begin to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and create a safer and more respectful environment. For example, the UK has recently made upskirting a criminal offense (McGlynn & Rackley, 2017). This is a positive step in the right direction and shows that change is possible. However, we need to do more to support victims and create lasting change. We need to continue having open and honest conversations about upskirting and sexual violence. We need to educate ourselves and others on consent, respect, and how to support victims (McGlynn & Rackley, 2017). Finally, we need to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and work towards a society that does not tolerate sexual violence.

It is important to watch Gina Martin’s TED Talk “They Told Me to Change My Clothes. I Changed the Law Instead.” In her talk, Gina discusses her experience with upskirting and the process of creating a law to label it a criminal offense. This is important because it helps raise awareness about upskirting and its impact on victims. It also shows that change is possible if we work together to address the issue. By having open and honest conversations about upskirting, we can begin to change how society views this issue and make it clear that it is not acceptable. For example, the UK has recently made upskirting a criminal offense. This is a positive step in the right direction and shows that change is possible. However, we need to do more to support victims and create lasting change. We need to continue having open and honest conversations about upskirting and sexual violence. We need to educate ourselves and others on consent, respect, and how to support victims. Finally, we need to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and work towards a society that does not tolerate sexual violence. 

References

Canan, S. N., Jozkowski, K. N., & Crawford, B. L. (2018). Sexual assault supportive attitudes: Rape myth acceptance and token resistance in Greek and non-Greek college students from two university samples in the United States. Journal of interpersonal violence, 33(22), 3502-3530.

McGlynn, C., & Rackley, E. (2017). Why ‘upskirting’needs to be made a sex crime. The conversation.

Sweeny, J. (2020). “Brock Turner Is Not a Rapist”: The Danger of Rape Myths in Character Letters in Sexual Assault Cases. UMKC L. Rev., 89, 121.