Thank you for this. It perfectly articulates why Emma Lindsay’s article, while making some very good points, rubbed me the wrong way.
Yes, men need better social and emotional skills and support — but many experience loneliness and insecurity without raping or attempting rape. There’s a fundamental lack of respect for women’s bodies that is not being properly addressed here.
Trying to empathize with attackers in order to get to the root of the problem might be a worthy pursuit, but one must not forget that rapists decide to prioritize their desires (unlike urinating, sex is a desire, not a need) over their victim’s rights and needs.
I don’t think Emma would disagree, necessarily; I just wish the article had more clearly acknowledged that side of the coin instead of using passive language like ‘women…get raped’.
