It's okay for women to be raped

My Opponent's Arguments1. Women freeze when sexually assaulted.My opponent argues that somewhere between 50-88% of rape victims freeze while being raped or assaulted. However, what he fails to realize is that this is part of a natural survival instinct present in other mammals known as fight-flight-freeze. While others may try to defend against their attacker or get out as quickly as possible, the more common reaction is to experience a sort of paralysis. "'[F]reezing up' or 'numbing out'—in a word,dissociatingfrom the here and now—is about the only and (in various instances),bestthing you can do. Being physically, mentally, and emotionally immobilized by your consternation permits younotto feel the harrowing enormity of what’s happening to you, which in your hyperaroused state might threaten your very sanity. In such instances some of the chemicals (i.e., endorphins) you thereby secrete function as an analgesic, so the pain of any injury (to your body or psyche) is experienced with far less intensity." [1]Even one of the sources my opponent cited stated something similar to this, [2] but he conveniently ignored that detail.This attitude towards rape and sexual assault only perpetuates victim blaming. While the woman experiencing the assault might not have fought back, just stop and think: could she fight back? Did she really want this to happen to her? If cases of dissociation, the answer to both of those is obviously no.Think about it this way: imagine that you were mugged and you didn't fight back because you were in paralysis. Would it be your fault? Did you want to get mugged? Absolutely not. Apply this same situation but to a rape victim and you will see an eerily similar story.2. Women can control the physiological trauma of rape.My opponent claims that the trauma of rape is "mental harm caused by a woman's own behavior which she can and control," but he never goes through my list to explain why. However, I will show why this isn't true when pertaining to the side effects of being raped.Posttraumatic stress disorder - As the title suggests, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is caused by an event that is seen as traumatic by a person either experiencing or witnessing it. These can include military combat, mugging, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, death of a family member, and of course, rape. [3] This isn't a condition which the victims can change, as the suggested causes of developing PTSD are as a survival mechanism to avoid experiencing another traumatic event which becomes unhelpful and hindering to daily life, abnormal adrenaline levels, and a hippocampus that becomes reduced in size after such event.Nightmares, Flashbacks, and Sleep Disorders - I lumped these three together because they happen to commonly stem from PSTD as negative side effects. In nightmares and flashbacks, the victim is forced to relive the event (or in this case, rape) in vivid detail. One simply doesn't choose to have a flashback, either. It is commonly caused by PTSD triggers, which are sounds, places, people, behaviors, sights, and smells that make the repressed memories of an event flood back to them. [4] This can cause panic attacks or flashbacks.Depression- Someone with depression doesn't just choose to be this way; they can't escape it. Depression is caused by "faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical problems", [5] along with severe chemical imbalances. Again, one doesn't choose any of this.Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders - Both of these are sadly common and inadequate methods of coping with the abuse. This can be prevented by seeking treatment, but due to fear of ridicule and self-blame, victims rarely do. All that can be solved here is limiting the stigma associated with rape victims so they can receive the proper help they need.Difficulties trusting others - When your body is violated in the form of rape, it becomes increasingly difficult to trust other people, and with good reason. Like PTSD, it is a survival mechanism that becomes ineffective, as it interferes with your daily life. However, if they could, don't you think the rape victim would want to trust people again? Wouldn't they want to live a normal life again? Unfortunately, you can't just flip a switch and automatically trust again; it takes time.Borderline Personality Disorder - Borderline Personality Disorder is yet another mental illness that can be caused by physical, verbal, or sexual abuse. [6] I have said it before and I will say it again, no one chooses to have a mental illness.This is not the fault of the woman raped; it is the rapist's fault for doing this to her.3. The woman is at fault for the choices she makes that lead to her getting raped.My opponent argues that the choices women make lead to them being raped. Yes, in the scenario that my opponent presented, the woman made some irresponsible choices like accepting drinks and a ride home from strangers, but she didn't decided to be raped because of those choices. No one chooses to be raped. For example, with this same logic, if a wealthy old man who was home alone at night and left his door unlocked was robbed, it wouldn't be his fault.Also, another flaw I found with this argument is that most rapists don't rape strangers, but people they know. In fact, 82% of rapes are committed by an acquaintance, relative, or friend, as opposed to the 18% committed by strangers. [7]4. False rape accusationsshow that rape isn't as serious to women as we are taught to believe.The fault I find with this argument is that it doesn't even prove a point as to why rape is okay, but just focuses on false rape accusations. Again, as the resolution states, my opponent is supposed to prove why rape is okay, so this argument is irrelevant and can be dropped entirely.5. Women who are raped can produce another human being.This is easily my opponent's most outrageous argument. He doesn't even give it any detail! Anyway, my opponent doesn't understand the harm of this. Not only is the woman raped, but she also has to carry her rapist's child, despite her unwillingness to have sex with him in the first place. This argument promotes the rapes of thousands of women each year because they have a potential to carry an unwanted child, and that might be the sickest part of all.ConclusionIn this round, I refuted all of the arguments I could find that my opponent made. Thank you. Next round, I will address his various rebuttals against me. I look forward to it.So long and goodnight.Citations[1]https://www.psychologytoday.com...[2]http://www.fosters.com...[3]http://www.nhs.uk...[4]http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net...[5]http://www.health.harvard.edu...[6]http://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.com...[7]http://www.911rape.org...