Women's groups, however, stop short of asking for the death penalty for those found guilty of rape. They fear this punishment would prevent incest survivors especially from reporting abuse, since they may not want the blood of their fathers or other relatives on their hands. It also wants compensation for rape survivors. At the same time, though, AWAM and other women's groups say whatever is lacking in the law is but a reflection of the flawed societal attitudes regarding rape, its perpetrators and their victims. AWAM researcher Ong Julynn, for instance, rues the fact that there is high tolerance for men who go around bragging about their sexual prowess, which they equate with being ''real men''.
Masculinity allows aggression, which leads to rape.
But she says this does not stop people from looking with contempt at a woman who has been raped ''because losing her virginity carries a social stigma''. These double standards largely explain the prevailing insensitivity of even authorities and health workers toward rape victims.