NOW: ‘If you loved me, you would’ Equals ‘Forced’ Sex
Background: In my December blog post California NOW Launches ‘I Love Consensual Sex’ Campaign, with a dash of cautious optimism I discussed a blog post by Mandy Benson, President of CANOW, called “I Love Consensual Sex,” , wrote:
“Oh yeah. Definitely. Absolutely. I really, really do. Yesssssssss…..I just love consensual sex.
“California NOW in partnership with chapters across the state are launching the I Love Consensual Sex campaign, hosting I Love Consensual Sex Day in April 2008 during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Most people don’t want to talk about rape, but lots of people want to talk about Consensual Sex. This campaign will open up communication about consent, asking and teaching people what consent is and how to ask for exactly what you want.”
I noted:
“On a initial level, the campaign seems male-positive, and seems to acknowledge something that some feminists have had a hard time acknowledging–women enjoy having sex with men. That sounds like a good thing.
“Predictably enough, my suspicion comes in when Benson alludes to a feminist definition of ‘consent.’ In some ways feminist groups have done admirable work in helping rape victims. In many others they’ve tried to make the definition of rape so wide that many consensual sex scenarios fall under it. Feminists have also denied the large problem of false rape accusations, which has also caused great harm.”
In a recent blog post on the California NOW website, Lisa Covington wrote:
“What comes to mind when you think of consent? Some words that come to mind are agreement, mutual and coerced.
“Yes, I said coerced. Because many times when a person does not agree to consensual sex they may be coerced or pressured into agreeing to it. Sometimes we are faced with the question, ‘If you loved me, you would’ or ‘I thought you loved me.’ That is NOT consent! Consensual sex is when you both agree, not when one person forces the other.”
Wonderful — trying to manipulate your girlfriend into having sex with you by guilting her is now the same as “one person forc[ing] the other.” Outrageous.
To be fair to CANOW, Covington is described as a “guest blogger.” However, the blog post was posted by Mandy Benson, President of CANOW. If I’m told or I learn that Covington’s blog post does not accurately reflect Benson’s or CANOW’s views, I will be sure to inform my readership.
I’m not holding my breath…
|
Possibly related posts...
| More from Glenn Sacks
Stumble It!
