Dear Editor:

A new word has emerged from our political rhetoric — “enabler.” It’s first introduction led to the discovery of another term — “rape culture.” Because enablers blame others, I chose the medical definition: “... one that enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior by providing excuses or by helping that individual avoid the consequences of such behavior.” Victims of a rape culture run between the ages of 3 to 85 for females and 8 to 14 for males.

In the 1970s a serial rapist began raping young girls and women, and police were blaming victims for clothes they wore, and the media reported it as facts. Women knew better and began to organize. My friend, Marion Gauger, was an organizer providing the police with more factual information to help them treat these acts as a crime. The police took notice when the rapist began to rape young boys and Marion’s group worked with them to establish standards for rape victim investigations, which spread across the country.

Enablers continue in today’s society, thereby maintaining a rape culture without understanding that rape is not sex. It is an act of a bully who wants to do harm to their victims. Unfortunately, it is still referred to as a sex crime.

Why do these enabling acts exist in a highly educated culture? Perhaps we need to understand the thoughts of a 90-year-old grandfather remembering the rape of his own mother, stating he did not understand why rape mattered for adult women. He said this knowing of the changes in laws, and continuing rape crimes. He said this having loved one woman for his entire life. He said this even though his own mother had died from her rape having been severely beaten.

We are all enablers, including the politician who blames the female for the male’s responsibility, or who objectifies his own daughter for her “sexual attributes.” Silence is an enabler when we hear these dangerous statements or when we see a bad act happening and do nothing.

Unless we begin to raise awareness and understanding — that acts against the will of another is a crime against morality, and a criminal act — the rape culture continues. Is that what we want?

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb