Topic > Rape culture: victim blaming and shifting responsibility

Women are not “allowed” to wear “provocative” clothing or go out at night because if they do they will be raped. But what makes a woman's choice of clothing "provocative"? Are short skirts and high heels provocative or are skinny jeans and sneakers considered provocative? Whatever a woman wears, why is it her fault that she was raped? Why is it her fault that her clothes “provoked” her rapist? Why isn't it her rapist's fault that he couldn't control himself and not rape her? It's not like her choice of clothing meant it was okay for him to rape her just because he couldn't "hold back." Why is it almost never the rapist's fault if he raped someone? Why is it usually the victims' fault? Surely if I were raped they would tell me that “I was asking for it” and one of the first questions I would be asked would be “what were you wearing?” What if I wore jeans, sneakers and a sweatshirt? Does it still qualify as “provocative”? Was I still asking to be raped wearing that? Absolutely not, women should not be forced to change what they wear just to make sure they don't get raped. Because ultimately they would be raped regardless of whether or not they chose to wear a short skirt or jeans. A rapist doesn't look at his victim and think "oh, since she's not wearing a short skirt and heels, I won't do it"