Calling the Shots Since 1772 B.C
Since Hammurabi’s Code, written in 1772 B.C., men have defined rape for their own benefit in order to alleviate any consequences resulting from what women consider rape. Now, men are becoming more empowered and are realizing the vital role they play in preventing sexual assault by taking a stand against it. One example of this newly found male empowerment, the My Strength Campaign, is designed to prevent the sexual assault, belittlement, and mistreatment of women. Through this campaign, men are encouraged and taught to defuse any threatening situations where the possibility of sexual assault exists. Finally, men are taking a proactive role in promoting positive, safe environments for females, with no risk of sexual assault.
One vital, promotional aspect of the My Strength Campaign are the advertisements that promote the campaigns’ essential message. These ads display men’s overwhelming, yet simplistic, ability to prevent female mistreatment. Each poster incorporates a couple that conveys a connection between the observer and the couple in the image. The most paramount aspect of the ads are the slogans that appear, describing how men are changing their views concerning sexual assault. These slogans promote the woman’s role in deciding any sexual contact and respect for those decisions, such as, “So when she changed her mind, I stopped.” Other slogans support men’s position in prevention, including, “So when I paid for our date, she didn’t owe me,” and, “I’m the kind of guy who takes a stand…on my campus…with my friends…to prevent sexual assault.” They all express the idea that women are the ones in control of what occurs between them. Since men are, for the most part, taller, stronger, and heavier than women, it is the men’s responsibility to realize the influence and power they have over women. Before most men stayed silent in the face of female mistreatment, but now men are taking a stand. These campaigns are the beginning of the “fight” against sexual assault, and men are continually being enlisted to fight against the perils of sexual assault. ” Uncle Ben from Spiderman once said, “With great power, comes great responsibility,” and now men are finally realizing the responsibility of their power.
Various sexual assault prevention programs target women in preventing their own assaults. Prevention programs teach to dress appropriately, to not accept drinks from anyone, and to never leave a drink unattended, but women aren’t the ones who should be focused upon. Rape is under man’s control, just as it’s always been. Men, as always, are defining rape as it suits them. There is one slogan in the My Strength Campaign that is an excellent example. The expression, “So when she changed her mind, I stopped,” makes it seem as if the woman in this situation is in complete control. The roles however, are still consistent: men are in control and do what they “feel like.” Had he gone a tad further than the woman wanted to, however in his mind he still wasn’t doing anything inappropriate, to him, rape did not occur. Men hold the power and decide for themselves when it is appropriate or inappropriate to go any further. Men also hold the ability of coercion, which may sway women to go further than what they are actually comfortable with. If this were to occur, men would conclude it is not rape, as the woman didn’t stop him.
No human being is a mind reader, especially men. Therefore it is impossible for a man to read a woman’s mind during any sort of sexual activity. When a woman decides to stop, the man has to realize this by not reading her mind, but by understanding any signals she may give off, interpret them, and act on them correctly, every time. But how is this possible if men are not mind readers? It isn’t. Men’s interpretation of women’s signals are determined by their preexisting definition of rape. This could vary radically with what a woman really wants. Men defining rape is just as it has been. Though today’s definition of rape isn’t written on clay tablets, as Hammurabi’s Code, an man’s established definition of rape is difficult to change. Therefore, until women are really added into the conversation, men will continue to define it. What rape is to a woman, may not be to a man, which makes all the difference.
Work Cited
“A Comprehensive Approach: The Strength Campaign.” Men Can Stop Rape, Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
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Counterintuitive Fall 2022 
This is a fascinating approach, Taylor. It adopts the argument of your “opponent” instead of arguing against it. It says, in effect, Taylor is wrong; today’s men are more enlightened than their ancestors. They understand their size and strength advantages relative to women, and that women’s relative disadvantages make women feel vulnerable. Men are ready to act more maturely.
While it’s good to identify valid arguments that run counter to your own, it’s essential to be ready to refute those arguments so that they don’t undermine your own conclusions. Are you prepared to refute this point of view? On what basis? That it’s an admirable sentiment but doesn’t reflect most men’s views? That its effectiveness, if any, hasn’t changed the actual tragic numbers of rapes that occur?
If I may, I have to point out some problems with the first paragraph you can then apply to the others.
With some essential changes:
Grade recorded. Improvable with revisions.
Asking for guidance to make my last paragraph even stronger! Thank you!
Couple of things here, Taylor. First, it’s very good already. But then . . .
—To whom “it seems” is unclear. Does it seem to you women are in charge? No. But your sentence says you do believe they are. What you need is some way to say “according to” whomever believes women are in charge. Understand?
—To be correct, “One such slogan” would have to refer back to some mention of slogans, but it doesn’t. So far, it’s just “a slogan.”
—“So when she changed her mind, I stopped,” is not a phrase; it’s a complete sentence. It might be a slogan. So maybe you can fix two problems with one correction.
Most importantly, you’re missing an essential argument I think you’ll appreciate. While you’re examining the slogan, ask yourself this important question WHICH ANY WOMAN IN THE ROOM WOULD ASK IF SHE HAD BEEN ASKED: How did you know she changed her mind? To know, he would have to be able to read her mind, understand her clear preference, interpret her feelings correctly. So once again, he is in charge of the transaction. The woman is obligated to make her feelings known, but the man is in charge of interpreting what she tries to make known.
Helpful?
what if she says no out loud to him?
Then, for once, a woman has been listened to. That’s what we want, right?
Also, the first bullet of your feedback is a bit unclear. Can you please explain it a bit more?
When an author says, “it seems,” it means the author believes it.
When I say to you now, “It seems I did not write my first bullet clearly,” I am acknowledging that I was unclear.
On the other hand, if I say “it seems to Taylor my explanation was unclear,” that means I disagree with you.
I don’t remember what your sentence said, but it was of the first type and meant that it seems to you, to Taylor that is, that women are in charge of the conversation.
Better?