Day of Blogs

Debi, previously of Burning Words, recently started a blog called Medical and Obstetric Rape Awareness Group.  She partially introduces the blog as follows:

For the majority of women, their time in hospital is at least comfortable, with each procedure and process being explained to them and their consent being sought for all actions.  Unfortunately, for some women, that is not the case, and they can leave hospital with their new baby, or having undergone a gynaecological procedure, feeling violated, traumatised, and in shock.  It is acknowledged that occasionally things will go wrong, emergencies will develop, and actions will be taken quickly by the staff without much time to talk anything through with the patient.  That, however is no excuse for some of the incidents I have read about (women giving birth being slapped by medical staff, for example), and it does not negate the medical staff’s responsibility for obtaining informed consent from the woman, as far as that is possible.

Debi recently shared her story of violation at the hands of a doctor and was ruthlessly attacked and insulted by another blogger for the mere suggestion that rape might be a proper word to describe the forcible penetration she endured for no valid reason.  What was particularly interesting about it is the way that it paralleled how those of us who have shared sexual violence stories have often be treated online.

Debi acknowledges that the use of the word “rape” in this context is controversial.  But I also think that she makes some excellent points regarding consent.  After all, since when are anti-sexual violence advocates in the business of arguing that motives behind an assault matter?  Why would we call one man who forcibly penetrates a woman with an object without her consent a rapist, and yet call another an inconsiderate doctor?  I can’t think of a good answer.  And do we have any business telling a woman who defines her experience as rape that she should not?

These are interesting and important questions that I’m not sure I entirely have answers to just yet.  It’s worth giving a look and a think.