Australian Soccer Player Advocates Victim-Blaming

Australian soccer player Peter "Spida" Everitt thinks blaming sexual assault victims for their own rape is a swell idea. Earlier this week, Everitt responded to allegations that two Collingwood Football Club players had sexually assaulted women after a game last weekend by implying it was the victims' fault for being such easy prey. He later "apologized" for his remarks, but then went on to spew more of the same victim-blaming garbage.

Everitt's initial comments were made via Twitter. Over several tweets, he imparted such wisdom as "Yet another alleged girl, making alleged allegations, after she awoke with an alleged hangover and I take it an alleged guilty conscience" and "Girls!! When will you learn! At 3am when you are blind drunk & you decide to go home with a guy ITS NOT FOR A CUP OF MILO! Allegedly..." Yes, girls, when will you learn that if you are drunk in the early morning, you are practically begging to be raped and that you have lost your right to say "no"? Later that same day, Everitt seemed disturbed that some people — gasp! — found his comments to be offensive by pointing out that he "never mentioned the word rape." Sure, okay ... but isn't that part of the problem, not a part of his defense. Refusing to call a rape a rape doesn't make you a better person, Everitt.

Today, Everitt stepped even further into crazyland as he continued his (alleged) defense of his tweets. He told a Melbourne radio station that, while he didn't condone rape, women who come forward with rape allegations, yet ultimately are unable to convict the accused in court, should be "named and shamed" because sexual assault victims "need to take responsibility at some stage." That's right: victims who, for whatever reason, aren't able to put their attackers behind bars deserve further trauma and humiliation of public exposure and scorn. It's their responsibility. Heaven forbid we factor in the countless reasons why a defendant might be freed that have absolutely nothing to do with the veracity of the victim's account.

Everitt's comments aren't just disgusting, they are dangerous. According to Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), 60% of sexual assaults already go unreported. Even if reported, there's only about a 50% chance an arrest will ever be made and, even then, prosecution and conviction are hardly a given. Of all reported rapes, only 16.3% will result in the attacker being put behind bars. Factoring in unreported rapes, this means that only a scant 6% of rapists will spend a day in jail. Now imagine if victims knew that unless they were in that "lucky" 6%, they'd have to face "naming and shaming." I can see how this scenario would appeal to would-be rapists, but I can't see how any one else could find a redeeming thing about it.

Photo credit: Magda Sobkowiak