Read previous round here. Table of Contents here.
As I previously said, the debate took a new turn when Mr. Alok issued a clarification. This post is not a debate but a discussion. It is probably the most boring part of the whole series, but also vitally important.
As I previously said, the debate took a new turn when Mr. Alok issued a clarification. This post is not a debate but a discussion. It is probably the most boring part of the whole series, but also vitally important.
The Clarification
Just a clarification regarding attribution theory.
Attribution and implicit theories do not just explain how people construct post
hoc explanations; their prime concern is to explain how people approach things.
If post hoc attributions are significant for victim dress and attribution of
vulnerability, then it is likely that perception of vulnerability is
significantly influenced by dress. This is not to say that proper dress is any
guarantee against rape because, like most human phenomena, rape has
multiple-determinants. A robbery analogy may be easier to understand. People
may perceive that a house is vulnerable if the doors are open without security,
valuables are known to be inside, and the house is located in an area where
robberies are not uncommon. Once robbery happens, then people may attribute
vulnerability to a house if they know about these facts. However, even if the
house were well-secured and in a safe locality, robbery might still happen. The
evidence linking attribution of vulnerability and victim dress needs to seen as
the evidence for perception of vulnerability and victim dress. Needless to say
that 'vulnerable' and 'deserving' are entirely different. Advocacy may be more
fruitful if it targets that "a woman doesn't deserve rape because of her
dress" rather than "a woman doesn't become vulnerable because of her
dress".
My Reply
Thanks for your permission.
You're effectively saying that we should mellow down our
campaign so that our immediate goals are met.
Somehow this reminds me of the moderates in the INC in
1885-1905 who followed the policy of prayers, petitions and protest.
I'm not saying that they were a total loss, but the whole
point of the moderates was that they laid the groundwork for the Radicals who
did the actual work.
I for one believe that the feminist agenda has remained
moderate for far too long.
As it appeared, he wasn't arguing for mellowing down. This is where the next debate starts.
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