The Consequences of Rape: What it Does to Victims (4)

Hello, World.

       I would like to finish this blog sequence by discussing the consequences of rape. Rape, as previously discussed, is a serious violation of the woman, because it directly violates the major symbol of a woman, her vagina.
      Rape, can be a very emotional disaster, which both physically, emotionally, and mentally damages a woman. In the Beauty Myth, by Naomi Wolf, the author discusses the effects of rape in her section titled 'Sex'. Firstly, she says that there is a "prevalence of sexual violence" which means that rape is common, and more important, violent. It has tremendous consequences (155). One such result is that it "prohibits female sexuality from developing organically, and makes men's bodies appear dangerous" (155). This is especially relevant to a rape victim, who, after she has been violated, will be scared to start a anew with men. Of course, I am not saying that all rape victims become lesbian. I am trying to say that rape, which is such a traumatic experience, can seriously affect and influence a women's perception of men.
       In addition, women, after they become victim to a rape incident, can and most likely will live a life in constant fear. They will be constantly paranoid because something that they thought would never happen to them, or that wasn't common is now a blatant reality to them. Now, they are scared that it will happen again, since they're first catastrophe was so devastating. Not only does rape make men's bodies appear dangerous and scare women from developing a normal relationship again, they become constantly paranoid and fearful.
      Another example of this is in the Vagina Monologues, by Eve Ensler. In one of her many personal stories, she discusses an incident with a man where the women does live in fear. The victim stated that her vagina was "never opened for business again" since 1953! (28). The consequences can be very drastic as is also seen in another interview: 'The Little Coochi Snorcher that could'. The woman interviewed talks about how she was raped, when she was ten, by her father's best friend. After that, she says her vagina is a "very bad place" or a "a place of pain, nastiness, invasion and blood" (79). The consequences are tremendous and impossible to avoid.
       To conclude this sequence, I would like to say that rape is something that is grotesque, scary, yet prevalent. It is something that affects both men and women, ALL, in negative ways. It cannot be ignored, and is something so traumatic that it needs attention. Victims, as hard as it is, need to speak out so that we can win this war against rape.

Goodbye, World.