From: hhenderson@vax.clarku.edu
Subject: RE: Paglia (was: Cross-Writing)
Organization: Clark University
Date: 12 JAN 93 04:49:23 GMT


Mike Godwin wrote:

>Her position about feminist prescriptions is simply this: the notion that 
>rape is a social construct is misleading and dangerous, because it gives 
>rise to the expectation that properly indoctrinated males won't commit 
>date rape. This expectation, Paglia says, both disempowers women and puts 
>them in danger. 

Michael Sean Rooney wrote: 

>        Paglia's position disempowers everyone because it diminishes 
>moral responsibility.  Men can excuse themselves as "programmed" towards 
>"the fun of rape," while women have to properly kowtow to "the elemental 
>powers of sexuality."  This is irrational bullshit demeaning human freedom. 

In Paglia's view, and my view, only immoral and unethical men commit rape. 
Immoral and unethical men can invent any excuse that they like, but they are
still responsible for their actions.  In speaking of "the fun of rape",
Paglia means to undercut the orthodox feminist position that rape is *always*
a crime of violence, not a crime of sex -- her belief is that violence,
danger, and power struggles are part of the appeal of sex, and hence rape is
a sex crime.  As far as women "properly kowtowing": it sounds like you're
saying Paglia considers women passive creatures, obligated to satisfy men's
rapacious desires.  Can you quote the passages in which she states this view?

I disagree that her argument is "irrational bullshit demeaning human
freedom".  Paglia's arguments are staunchly in favor of freedom.  Here are
excerpts from interviews with Paglia, included in _SA&AC_:

     The point is, these white, upper-middle class feminists believe that a
     pain-free world is achievable.  I'm saying that a pain-free world will
     be achievable only under totalitarianism.  There is no such thing as
     risk-free anything... My generation demanded no more overprotection of
     women.  We wanted women to be able to freely choose sex, to freely have
     all the adventures that men could have.  So women began to hike on
     mountain paths and do all sorts of dangerous things.  That's the risk of
     freedom.  If women break their legs on mountain bikes, that's the risk
     factor.  I'm not defending the rapist -- I'm defending the freedom to
     risk rape.  I don't want sexual experience to be protected by society...
     Sex is a turbulent power that we are not in control of: it's a dark
     force.  The sexes are at war with each other.  That's part of the
     excitement and interest of sex.  It's the dark realm of the night.  When
     you enter the realm of the night, horrible things can happen there.  You
     can be attacked on a dark street.  Does that mean you should never go
     into dark streets?
     ...  People say, oh, she's a biological determinist.  But that's not
     what I'm saying at all.  I say again and again: it is necessary for us
     to behave as civilized beings.  Ethics is something we learn.

It's quite clear to *me* what her position is, and I maintain that it is
empowering to women.

Heather
HHENDERSON@vax.clarku.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books