Fake Playboy Post That Shouldn't Be Fake

When a new site was launched yesterday called Party with Playboy announcing that the company was devoting their annual college party guide to issues of rape and consent, and then when said site was quickly revealed not to be the work of Playboy, most people thought it was the work of the group FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture. They've now confirmed that yes, it was them.

Well, sort of. FORCE wants to clarify that while they helped with it (as did hacker "hacktivist" Dan Staples who also helped with the Pink Loves Consent project), the campaign "was mostly carried out by a national conspiracy of college students." The campaign successfully duped many into thinking Playboy really had produced this content, largely because of fake articles written on sites like BroBible and Huffington Post that made it seem valid:

Students from over 25 school across the country banded together to create the historic hoax. Consent enthusiasts hosted consent-themed tailgating parties, played games of “Ask First” beer pong, and excitedly pushed the prank on facebook and twitter, which is how it exploded all over the internet on Tuesday.

FORCE is also critical of Playboy's request that the Party with Playboy site be taken, which is sort of unfair, given that it'd be weird if the company didn't want it taken down: it's in clear violation of trademark laws, they didn't actually make the site and it implies that they have been promoting rape with their previous guides:

Trying to take down a website that is getting thousands upon thousands of people excited about consensual sex? Sounds like a party foul to us! We here at consent conspiring headquarters have one thing to say to Playboy: why not join the consent party, already??!?!! Of course you're invited! Consent is for everyone!

The goals of FORCE make a lot of sense, and their methods are incredibly effective, especially in an age when protest culture outside of the internet can seem hackneyed. Even more impressive are the many college-age women who banded together because this is an issue they care so much about. Perhaps the next step is approaching a brand like Playboy first before forcing them to deny that they made something that became so popular so quickly and seeing if they want in on it. Perhaps its naiveté, but given what we know about their history as a largely progressive company, I'm not sure they'd say no.

Source: Jezebel

Once again displaying why I HATE The Daily Mail

http://vagendamag.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/glorying-in-drugs-girls-and-sleaze.html

Read and loathe with me. Thank you. 

My response to the average Daily Mail writer.

On of the things that I hate is they way they carry on about the 'sexualizing of children' yet continue to post pictures of young girls of around 14 and describe them as 'flaunting their enviable figures'. Creeeps.

So Angry. 15 Year Old Rape Victim Punished in The Maldives

Trouble in Paradise

A View By Daphne and Dorothy

I was reading the newspaper yesterday and there was a tiny little article dedicated to something that I think needs a lot more attention. The case of rape in the Maldives of a fifteen year old girl by her own step father, where she under the national law, which has elements of Sharia law, is being sentenced to 100 lashes for pre-marital sex.  The claims that she has admitted to having pre-marital consensual sex with a man beside her step-father, don't seem to stand up at all, as he remains undiscovered, identity-free and really it would not be enough evidence to convict someone of anything in any court of law. Basically it appears the girl is being punished for being a victim of sexual abuse. I also think that it is damaging that Sharia Law is being used to support this disgusting abuse. Sharia Law is  connected with the Islamic faith, and some see it as the Islamic justice system of course most (sane) people will completely disagree with the way this girl has been treated, and I think as a result this could cause an amount of animosity towards other Muslims, who may be tarred with the same brush, so to speak.

To me this is like putting someone in prison because it rained yesterday or someone halfway across the world got diagnosed with cancer. IT WAS NOT HER FAULT. Rape is rape. She had no choice in the matter, how this could happen on this wonderful, mystical planet we inhabit is beyond me. I thought that society had evolved one tiny iota beyond this, beyond drowning women in the duck pond because she had a cat and was therefore a witch. I hate the fact that there seems to be 'levels of rape', like certain types are worse than others. Like Daphne said, RAPE IS RAPE, the level of violence used may cause more scars (physically) but it doesn't lessen the situation. It's like the whole  'legitimate rape' scenario in America, where some dumb-ass American politician suggested that because the victim became impregnated the rape wasn't legitimate  This was based on every weak, and unjustified theory that on occasion when violated the female body rejected the pregnancy, these claims are founded on absolutely nothing worth any form of consideration. Ever.

Amnesty international have done their bit to try and change the verdict, but the fact of the matter is this poor girl has gone through something incredibly traumatic, not to mention giving birth to a child fathered by her step father at such a young age, which was then killed. All this being known to her own mother, who allowed it to occur. To put her through anything more seems inhumane on so many levels. She has had so much taken from her already how they can further degrade this girl is really beyond comprehension. Yet I don't feel like there is enough outrage. Where is the outcry? I am outraged, I want to fly to the Maldives and smuggle her into my own home. I want to start a campaign to get holiday makers boycotting the Maldives until something is done to help this poor girl, CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY TO THE MALDIVES PEOPLE. Hear Hear.

Until the international community stands up and recognizes that rape is one of the most serious crimes someone can commit, it is a violation of everything intimate and personal. Women world over are subject to this atrocious and heinous act, many unreported. The recent documentary about the hidden rape scandals in the U.S army is just one representation of how nothing has really changed, these men are getting medals. We are rewarding rapists.

Sometimes, well most of the time I feel completely powerless, and it depresses me that I get so worked up about something like this, and I want to change the world and I can't, because I know that no one will listen to my voice. I feel ashamed for getting excited about trivial things such as leather look nail varnish when we see the pillaging of peoples souls happen all around us. And I don't just mean this particular rape, but all the acts of violence, such as the epidemic of rape hitting Syria, for more go to this great article:

War rape: The forgotten pandemic sweeping Syria

This seems to be ignored by the media, instead there are currently are 1600 more articles on the Kardashians than Syria on the Daily Mail website. Vomit. 

For more on the Maldives case
http://minivannews.com/society/raped-victims-punished-failed-by-law-in-the-maldives-53760

The Issues of Travelling Alone, Feminist Rant.

A Discussion with Daphne and Dorothy.


This summer I plan on doing a bit of solo travelling, as a single, young female this has been met with a lot of anxiety from some of my friends and I was quite shocked.

Firstly, I don't plan on working street corners or going into seedy, drug-filled, basement raves so I didn't really get the concern for my well being. And then it was followed by 'aren't you scared of you know... rape'. Now this had me thinking. I mean, my mum says it to me quite regularly, oh don't wear that and do that. But mothers worry so she can be forgiven, doesn't make me any less angry. Here is a list I've compiled as to why:

1. Being a woman and being alone should not make me an identity-less rape target. It is like any other form of crime but if preventing myself from being a victim means living in fear, never going anywhere alone and covering MY BODY to hide anything that may excite or entice a male onlooker is frankly no way to live.
2. What I wear in actual fact probably has little weight on the matter, if a man goes out with the intention of raping a young lady, if an individual is sick enough to want to commit this crime, then I doubt he is going to go 'Oh look at her respectable knee length skirt, she is clearly not an ideal victim for my disgusting lack of humanity'. 
3. Women's outfits are actually a walking weapon factory, we are warriors when we go out. And Dorothy for one is not afraid to inflict a little damage if anyone gets too touchy in a club. Rings like knuckle dusters, spikes and studs on clutches and ankle breaker heels are all in our arsenal. The amount of damage a stiletto can inflict is impressive, not to mention being kicked by a girl wearing wedges hurts like a bitch.

I agree with what you are saying, these  are depressing reasons that people dissuade travelling alone. But at the same time not everyone is as noble as we want them to be. If you get into a 'sticky situation' you will have no on-the-ground support. The thing that I'm worried about is your trusting nature.

We shouldn't have to live in the world where being trusting is a crime. I want to be able to live and say that I have taken risks and at the end of the day RAPE IS NEVER MY FAULT, I shouldn't have to be fearful of doing anything to encourage such a heinous crime. 

Yeah, we shouldn't. But the fact is that we do. This isn't just about rape, its about of potential situations that when alone would be very uncomfortable.

Those situations apply to men too though, and men travelling alone is encouraged because it is 'character building' and they 'find themselves'. I'm sick of feeling like a walking target or a ticking time bomb waiting for the inevitable rape or lucky escape. It happens to one in three women so I'm just as likely travelling as I am on an unlucky night out in my home town. At least I am getting out there and living a little bit when taking the dangerous risks of being a woman...

That's what I'm saying, the rape issue is just as risky at home, but I would advise a potential traveler  female or male to take a co-traveller  As a precaution. You will be a vulnerable person, especially when people realize your alone. But at the same time, it will be amazingly character building, it's you call to take that choice however.Your a very sociable person, I'm not really, in the same way.

The point of travelling alone is that it forces you to be more sociable. Staying in hostels you meet like-minded solo travellers with similar interests and experiences to share, hostels are relatively safe places nowadays and security is pretty excellent, so the real threat is the sort of stuff I do at home anyway. I don't intend on running around and latching on to strangers, I just fancy a bit of self reflection. 

Wherever you go in the world there will be bad and good people. Personally, I would just like to have someone by my side that I could definitely rely on if push comes to shove. I just think that travelling alone would definitely decrease your personal security. Just make sure your carrying hairspray at all times, it's just as good as pepper spray.
Dorothy

I'll bear that in mind! 
Daphne

How To Stop Rape, Some Brill Suggestions

Rape Crisis Scotland has recently published some really fab suggestions, wanted to share with y'all, I think they kind of speak for them selves..