Mirren’s date rape comments cause controversy
Posted on Monday, September 1, 2008 at 6:53pm
one response
Perhaps Helen Mirren won’t be so idealised now following her comments on rape which will be published in the October edition of GQ. I can tell from reading some of the feminist blogs that she is rather unpopular at the moment. With rape convictions at an all time low, those campaigning on behalf of victims of rape and domestic violence will not look on favourably at Mirren’s remarks. She believes that if a woman voluntarily ends up in a man’s bedroom- and if the woman says no, she means no to any sexual activity, yet Mirren does not deem this to be a criminal offence!. She states-
“I don’t think she can have that man into court under those circumstances. I guess it is one of the subtle parts of the men/women relationship that has to be negotiated and worked out between them.”
What is subtle about rape? Why is there even a question mark surrounding the fact that this man should not face any conviction whatsoever? It is perplexing to say the least. It seems to suggest that the woman is somehow responsible for the way that a man treats her under such circumstances.
In accordance to this type of attitude towards rape, there have been numerous high profile instances where women have been under the influence of alcohol, and where their claims of rape have been questioned as a result- yes, the complicated matter of ‘consent’.
How are Mirren’s comments supposed to provide women with the confidence to take a case to court, to have to go through the trauma again and again, knowing that the offender will probably not be convicted? Considering that Helen Mirren has admitted that she has been a victim of date rape on a few occasions, you may think that she would have more sympathy for victims of rape, and the way women feel in such scenarios, but it doesn’t seem to be the case unfortunately.
