The only way we can really fight the scourge that is our country’s violence against women is through education, but it appears the actual Department of Education is still playing the victim-blaming game.

Attention has been drawn to a textbook, issued by the Department, that essentially blames a woman for causing her own rape.

The page from the textbook has been widely shared on Facebook, so let’s take a closer look at what the fuss is about:

We can’t enlarge that without blurring the text somewhat, but here’s what Angie says:

Help! I was at a party with my friends. I lied to my parents; I told them I was going to a friend’s house to study. I lied because I knew they would not give me permission to go.

While I was at the party, we drank a lot of beer and spirits. Then my friends starting acting badly. They pushed me in a room with a guy I did not know and locked the door. They just laughed when I banged on the door to be let out. This guy was so horrible, he raped me.

I feel I can’t even report this because my parents will know I lied to them. What can I do? I am so hurt and now I am scared of getting pregnant of getting HIV or another STI. I wish I never went to that party…

Question one – List two ways in which Angie’s behaviour led to sexual intercourse.

Hold on…what? Her behaviour is being questioned, as if she is somehow complicit in her own rape?

Question two – What could the possible effects of Angie’s situation be?

Question three – Give Angie advice: what should she do now?

The answers, from the teacher’s guide. Yes, we’re serious:

That last answer there – she should ‘learn from this and not repeat the mistakes she made’.

Blame, blame, blame.

Women24 expressing their anger:

From my own experience of rape culture, I can take a guess that the two behaviours that this textbook is asking for is likely Angie lying to her parents [emphasised more than once] and Angie drinking alcohol.  Girls, don’t lie to your folks or have drinks because then your vagina is free game.

On top of that, calling rape sex, and then asking students to explain what the victim did to land up ‘having sex’, is not only factually wrong but a giant middle finger to the bill of rights. This dangerous rhetoric is what instills silence into girls, and what makes boys believe that forcing a girl to have sex is not the same thing as rape.

In summary, this:

Being disobedient or defiant is not the cause of rape. Being alone, or naked, or drunk, passed out, are not the causes of rape. Rapists are the cause of rape.

Someone at the Department of Education would do well to remember that.

[source:women24]